South Asia Watch, London
All Parties Parliamentary
Group on Kashmir should represent sentiments of people. Dr Shabir Choudhry
We people of forcibly divided Jammu and Kashmir need
support of all parliamentarians, civil society and human rights activists. In
this context, we expect All Parties Parliamentary Group on Kashmir to represent
true sentiments of the suffering people; and not represent those who occupy and
suppress us, said Dr Shabir Choudhry, Chairman South Asia Watch, London.
Dr Shabir Choudhry said, it is sad to note that the way
APPG operates is not satisfactory at all; and it appears that they are
promoting interests of one country, and not interests of the people of Jammu
and Kashmir, who are suffering on both sides of the divide.
When I learnt that the APPG, for a change, wanted to
investigate human rights abuses on the Pakistani side of the divide, I also
wrote a letter to the Chairman of APPG and requested him to provide me an opportunity
to present my case before the Group. I gave some details in the letter, as to
how Pakistani authorities and secret agencies curtailed my fundamental rights. I
wrote:
‘I would
like to appear before the APPG or have a meeting with you that we can discuss
this matter further. Your report cannot be complete without hearing the man who
is a British citizen and who, among the Kashmiri Diaspora is the prime victim
of Pakistani agencies and state’.
My letter fell on deaf ears, and no one even cared to respond
to the letter. General feeling among the nationalists of Jammu and Kashmir is
that the APPG is dominated by pro Pakistan members. The APPG, especially some of
its members appear to be ‘lobbyists’ of Islamabad; and instead of protecting
and promoting interests of the suffering people they are keen to propagate
views of Islamabad.
When I leant that President of Pakistani Administered
Kashmir, was once again, visiting Britain; and he was invited by the APPG, I
wrote another letter requesting the APPG Chairman to invite me as well that I
can also discuss denial of fundamental rights in Gilgit Baltistan and so called
Azad Kashmir. Like last time, he did not care to respond to my letter.
Sardar Masood Khan served Pakistan for many decades as a
Pakistani diplomat. Islamabad was pleased with his services, so after his
retirement, they rewarded him with another lucrative post. He was appointed President
of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He is not loyal to people of Jammu and Kashmir; his
loyalty is with those who appointed him. His loyalty is apparent in his speech
made during his last visit to Britain in November 2017:
“A total of 1.4 million expatriate Kashmiris and Pakistanis
were living in the United Kingdom, who should jointly raise the issue at
international level by highlighting the Indian atrocities in occupied
Kashmir.”
Respected members of the APPG need to understand that Masood
Khan’s mission is to advance the agenda of Islamabad. It is crystal clear that
he is not interested in the plight of the suffering people. He cannot, and will
not speak about fundamental rights of people of Gilgit Baltistan and so called
Azad Kashmir.
If the APPG sincerely wants to find out about human
rights abuses and problems of the people of Gilgit Baltistan and so called Azad
Kashmir, then they need to invite citizens of Jammu and Kashmir who aspire for
united and independent Jammu and Kashmir. If they want to please certain
quarters, and satisfy their voters then they are already doing a good job. END
Dr Shabir Choudhry, Chairman, South Asia Watch, London.
No comments:
Post a Comment