Sherry reaffirms Pakistan’s support for Kashmiris on Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Aug 05 (APP):Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman Wednesday paid tribute to the courage, resilience and sacrifices of the Kashmiri people on Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir, while condemning India’s August 5, 2019 unilateral move to revoke Articles 370 and 35A of its Constitution.

In a statement issued on the occasion, she said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had continued their just struggle for the right to self-determination despite immense hardships and oppression.

Sherry Rehman said the Narendra Modi-led government had unilaterally abrogated Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, with the objective of ending the special constitutional status and limited autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir.

She said the move was not only an attack on the rights of the Kashmiri people but also a violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The PPP leader said the Kashmiri people had never accepted the Indian government’s unjust decision and had remained steadfast in pursuing their legitimate rights.

She maintained that the move was aimed at suppressing the voice of the Kashmiri people, depriving them of their fundamental rights and altering the demographic and constitutional status of the occupied territory.

Referring to the situation after August 5, 2019, Sherry Rehman said Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir witnessed serious human rights violations, including mass arrests, prolonged curfews, communication blackouts and harsh security measures against civilians.

She said the policies of the BJP government were inconsistent with democratic values, justice and universally recognized human rights principles.

The Senator said the brave people of Kashmir had never abandoned their demand for the right to self-determination despite continued pressure.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s position, she said the country sought a peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

She said that Pakistan would continue extending its moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people until they secured their legitimate rights.