MIRPUR (AJK) - The visiting seasoned journalist from Indian-occupied Kashmir Dr Syed Shujaat Bukhari suggested close interaction among Kashmiri journalists from both sides of the line of control to help encouraging the CBMs between Pakistan and India to help resolved the long-standing differences between two arch rivals through peaceful means.
He was speaking at a reception hosted in his honour by Kashmir Press Club here on Thursday. Dr Syed Shujatt Bukhari, Editor-in-chief of leading English Daily “Rising Kashmir”, appearing from Srinagar, continued that people in Jammu & Kashmir state primarily, were of the view that the entity and unity of the state as it existed on August 15, 1947, was legally and politically intact.
He opined that honourable solution to Kashmir problem was essential so that people of the state could march along with people of both Pakistan and India to promote peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia.
Bukhari also emphasized on the important role of media in both parts of the Jammu & Kashmir state - AJK and IOK, to develop complete understanding of internal and external affairs being faced by the people and to help in removing conflicting opinion and misunderstanding on vital issues.
Speaking on the occasion, former AJK High Court chief justice (r) Abdul Majeed Mallick brought attention of the journalists in both parts of the State towards the importance of ongoing Kashmir freedom movement.
Justice (r) Mallick emphasized that the Kashmiri journalists community was facing two challenges within and beyond the territorial limits of the state to promote the cause of the freedom movement in its true perspective.
He elaborated that it was fundamental principal that the political and geographical entity as accepted in the security council of the UNOs and admitted by both Pakistan and India should be upheld and both the countries should be persuaded to implement the UN resolutions by facilitating the withdrawal of the forces and to hold free and fair plebiscite in the state under the UN auspices.
He eulogized the sacrifices rendered by the people of occupied Jammu & Kashmir to keep up the flag of freedom.
Speakers including seasoned Kashmiri journalists Ershad Mahmood, Altaf Hamid Rao, President Jammu & Kashmir Journalists Organization (JKJO) Hafiz Muhammad Maqsood, Club’s General Secretary Sajaad Haider Jiraal and others unanimously suggested promotion of bilateral visits and interaction among journalists from both sides of the LoC.
They floated the idea for immediate formation of Jammu & Kashmir Free Media Association comprising working journalists from across the line of control to materialize the plan.