Global Peace
ISLAMABAD: On Youm-e-Istehsal day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored the necessity of granting due rights to the people of Kashmir and Palestine as the only viable solution to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
In a televised address to the Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, the Prime Minister stressed that the resolution of these conflicts is essential for regional and global peace.
PM Sharif expressed confidence that a future would come when both India and Israel would be compelled to grant the fundamental rights to the people of Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He warned that any alternative approach would only lead to further destruction and instability.
Acknowledging Pakistan’s status as a nuclear power, the Prime Minister emphasized that while Pakistan possesses this capability as part of its defense, it has never contemplated using it for aggression.
Instead, he advocated for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and cooperation to address the Kashmir dispute effectively.
Reflecting on the impact of India’s actions on August 5, 2019, which intensified the situation in IIOJK, PM Sharif highlighted the severe consequences of these measures.
He pointed out that the region has since experienced attempts to suppress the Kashmiri leadership and curtail media freedom.
The number of political prisoners remains high, and numerous political organizations have been banned. The Prime Minister criticized the routine harassment of innocent people, arbitrary detentions, and the frequent ‘cordon and search operations’ carried out by Indian forces under oppressive laws.
PM Sharif reassured that Pakistan would persist in its moral support for Kashmiris and continue to advocate for their rights on international platforms until they receive the basic freedoms they are entitled to.
He honored the resilience and ongoing struggle of the Kashmiri people, recognizing their endurance in the face of longstanding adversity.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to notable Hurriyat leaders and activists who have bravely opposed Indian repression, including Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas, Sardar Ibrahim Khan, Mirwaiz Muhammad Yousuf, Syed Ali Gilani, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Altaf Ahmed Shah, and Moulana Abbas Ansari, as well as younger voices like Asiya Andrabi, Yaseen Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Mussarat Alam Butt, and Burhan Wani.
Regarding the situation in Palestine, PM Sharif highlighted the grave humanitarian crisis, noting that over 40,000 Palestinians, including many children, have been killed.
He condemned the extreme measures taken by Israeli forces, which he claimed have reached unprecedented levels of brutality.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the recent martyrdom of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and the arrest of the Imam of the Aqsa Mosque, who had spoken out about Haniyeh’s death.
In response to these events, Pakistan observed a day of mourning, and funeral prayers in absentia were conducted across the country to honor the victims.
