ISLAMABAD  - The National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday expressing solidarity with Kashmiri people unanimously passed a resolution, which impressed upon the Indian government to include Kashmiri people in Pakistan-India dialogue process.
The resolution, moved by Chairman Kashmir Committee Maulana Fazlur Rahman, clearly says that Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir dispute is based on principles, which has also been acknowledged by the international community as well as United Nations (UN) in its resolutions.
Reiterating Pakistan’s moral‚ political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people, the resolution says that the Kashmiri brothers and sisters have sacrificed their lives for the right to self-determination. The resolution also called upon India to initiate result-oriented‚ meaningful and time bound dialogue process with Pakistan.
“The final settlement of Jammu and Kashmir should be in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people through an independent and fair plebiscite,” the resolution says, noting that the resolution of Kashmir dispute is also imperative for promotion of bilateral relations between Pakistan and India and it could bring peace to the region.
It also condemned human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and demanded of the Indian government to respect the human rights of Kashmiri peoples. “Rights of Kashmir people regarding self-determination‚ speech and movement from one place to another should be respected,” the resolution says and called upon the India to withdraw its troops from the disputed territory besides conducting investigation into unaccounted graves. India should release all the political detainees in Occupied Kashmir and abolish all the black laws, it added.
The lawmakers from treasury and opposition benches expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir asked the Indian government to include Kashmiri leadership in the resolution of the issue.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman, who took the floor thrice, said that there was a need to remove disappointment from the hearts of Kashmiri people. The chairman Kashmir Committee further informed that Pakistan, like previous years, would observe solidarity day with the Kashmiri people on February 5. “We always supported the right to self-determination of Kashmiri people,” he added.
Sharing other solidarity steps with the Kashmiri people, he said that a delegation of the Kashmir Committee will present a memorandum at the office of United Nations today (Wednesday). Other delegation will take part in human chain at Kohala Bridge for this purpose.
Taking part in discussion, PkMAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai said since Pakistan came into being the issue of Kashmir has been a bone of contention. “We need to ask from the hearts of Kashmiri peoples,” he said, adding that it was necessary to grant right to self-determination to the Kashmiri people. “We must support what they want,” he added.
Another senior legislator Tahir Iqbal said they want the solution of the issue in accordance with the UN resolution. “There was need to involve Kashmiri leadership in this matter...It could lead to world war,” he said and thanked Kashmiris for allowing Mangla Dam’s construction on their soil.
He also shared that around 500,000 Kashmiri people have been martyred while 27000 children turned orphans in the area. It needs to understand that both India and Pakistan are atomic powers.
MQM lawmaker Abdul Waseem, on his turn, said that there was need to take practical steps. “Peace is the first priority,’ he said, adding that there was no need to make it problem of ego.
PPP senior lawmaker Nawab Yusuf Talpur said incumbent government needs to reconsider its trade agreement with India.
Adding his share, PTI lawmaker Shafqat Mehmood said the settlement of Kashmir issue should be in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people through an independent plebiscite.
Having same remarks, JI leader Sahibzada Yaqoob, on his turn, said rights of Kashmir people regarding self-determination should be respected.
The house, on second private member day of the current session, also passed a resolution that the government should take steps to resolve the issue of dams on waters of Pakistan.
Participating in debate about immediate measures to resolve issue of construction of dams by India, several lawmakers expressing serious concerns came up with different proposals, including construction of small dams, review of Indus Water Treaty and saving of floods water, etc.
Taking part in debate, Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch assured the house that it was matter of life and death for the country so all possible steps will be taken. Pakistan had inherent right on three rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. He said the construction of dams by India has decreased power production from Neelum-Jhelum.
PKMAP lawmaker Abdul Rahim Mandokhail said there was need to seriously handle this matter. Another lawmaker Shahabuddin said that there was no need to revisit treaty, as it might not be fruitful. He said that there was need to construct small dams.
The House also accorded approval to move two bills in the House and one was deferred after it was opposed by the government. The bills included The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment)‚ 2014 and the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill‚ 2014 (Amendment in Section 19).
Clarifying the issue raised about registering false FIRs in the bill, Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid said that he had reservations on registering false FIR, so the bill should be referred to concerned committee.
However, PPP lawmaker Ayaz Sooomro, who moved the bill, said that it would be referred to the law and justice committee.
To another bill about ‘Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill‚ 2014,’ Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab said that here was need to address the issue of delay of payment. The House, on call-attention notice about Mudarba scandal case, was informed that the government is taking appropriate measures to nab the person involved in this case.
The minister said that the persons involved in this scam are associating them with Tableeghi Jamaat by saying that they are giving benefit with interest. He said over 8000 people were looted under this Mudarba scam and NAB has arrested one of the culprits Mufti Ehsan in this case.
He further asked the affectees of this scam to register their claims against the culprits. He also asked them to share any information with the government, which could help nabbing them.
At the fag end of the proceeding, MQM lawmaker Muzamil Qureshi, on point of order, requested PTI chief Imran Khan to be part of the Taliban committee to negotiate with the government on peace talk.