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ISLAMABAD, Nov 11 (APP):Muslim Institute, on Tuesday organized a seminar to mark “Black Day of Indian Occupation of Junagadh,” aiming to create awareness among the masses about the rightful claim on Junagadh as a part of Pakistan.
Speakers included Ahmer Bilal Soofi, former federal minister of law, justice and parliamentary affairs, Zahid Mehmood, defence and security analyst, Prof Dr Nazir Hussain, Member Board of Directors Regional Centre for Strategic Studies. The seminar also attracted number of students, teachers, experts and others.
Speakers also highlighted the historical events including accession to Pakistan with the consent of native and illegally military occupation through conspiracy in November, 1947.
Pakistan should need to actively highlight the Junagadh dispute on international platforms to safeguard its historical rights, natural resources, and cultural heritage, speakers urged.
The speakers stressed that Pakistan is incomplete without Junagadh and Kashmir, stating that both remain unresolved international disputes. They noted that under international law, the legal status of the Nawab of Junagadh, Ali Murtaza Khanji, remains intact.”
The speakers argued that India’s extraction of mineral resources in Junagadh and economic gains derived from the region are illegal, as Junagadh had formally acceded to Pakistan on September 15, 1947, through the Instrument of Accession signed by Nawab Mahabat Khanji and approved by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Junagadh, they noted, was the first princely state to join Pakistan after the partition.
They maintained that if India enters agreements with foreign companies to exploit Junagadh’s resources or damages Muslim properties—particularly mosques—Pakistan has every legal right to challenge such actions at international judicial and diplomatic forums.
Participants called for enhanced academic research on Junagadh to counter Indian misinformation online, and recommended establishing a “Junagadh House” in Islamabad to preserve historical records, strengthen Pakistan’s stance, and raise public awareness.
The speakers also recalled that Pakistan presented the Junagadh case at the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, and reiterated its position again in 1951, declaring India’s occupation of both Kashmir and Junagadh as unlawful.
Paying tribute to the late Nawab Muhammad Jahangir Khanji for his lifelong advocacy of the issue, they expressed confidence that the current Nawab, Ali Murtaza Khanji, will continue efforts at national and international forums.
The speakers emphasized that to keep the Junagadh issue alive, the entire Pakistani nation especially the media, educational institutions, civil society, and all relevant organizations must actively participate in promoting the issue on both national and international levels.
The speakers further stressed that research on the Junagadh issue should be conducted in universities to counter Indian propaganda effectively on the internet
“If we explore the information on internet, we mostly found the Indian narrative, which is contrary to facts,” speakers underscored.
They also hailed the authorities for including Junagadh in Pakistan’s Map, calling positive development towards the future.
Concluding the seminar, the speakers urged the media, academia, civil society, and government institutions to collectively promote the Junagadh cause, asserting that sustained national awareness and diplomatic engagement are essential to keeping the issue alive.