Pakistanis question efficacy of MPs raising Kashmir issue

Demonstrators in Pakistan who were speaking at an event here to show solidarity with Kashmiris, have questioned the efficacy of the MPs who were appointed to raise the Kashmir issue at the international level.

Citizens, politicians, lawyers, journalists and students of different universities on Friday said at the event that the MPs in the committee formed to raise the Kashmir issue were themselves not aware and could not speak on it.

The event was organised after Pakistan formed a committee of 22 MPs to raise the Kashmir issue at the international level as the Valley has been gripped by the worst violence since 2010.

Kashmir has been on edge since July 9, a day after the killing of top militant Burhan Wani in a gunfight with security forces.

At least 73 people, including two policemen, have been killed and thousands injured in the weeks of violence.

Human rights activist Asma Jahangir who was speaking at the event, asked what purpose would the Pakistani envoys' visit to Africa and Brazil serve, when those countries had nothing to do with the Kashmir issue.

"Unfortunately, governments have not been taking the issue seriously which can be gauged from the fact that in the past similar delegations were sent to different countries but they (the countries) did not even know if Ladakh was part of Kashmir," she said.

Jahangir said society should demand demilitarisation of Kashmir and the Pakistani government should raise this issue at the international level.

"After the death of Burhan Wani, youths of Kashmir came out of their houses on their own will," she said.

"Youths are not ready to live with India and they don't even want to live with Pakistan. They want freedom and we support them," she said.

Senator Farhatullah Babar from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said if Pakistan and India realised that Kashmir belonged to Kashmiris, the issue will be addressed within a few weeks.

"India cannot defeat Kashmiris by using pellet guns and making them blind," he said.

"Pakistani rulers should know that those who send militants to Kashmir, cannot serve the Kashmir cause. We also have to put our house in order," he said.

Senior journalist Hamid Mir said incompetent people were being sent to different countries to raise the Kashmir cause.

"It has been noticed at an international level and soon a Kashmiri organisation will send a letter to the Pakistan government in this regard," he said.

"Most of the envoys are not even aware about the Kashmir issue and cannot speak on it. If government is really serious it should send competent people," he said.

Another journalist said: "Unfortunately in Pakistan most of the people are not aware of the issue. Important books on the issue have been written by foreign writers."

--IANS

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