ISLAMABAD, JUL 19 /DNA/ – Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR) in collaboration with Legal Forum for Kashmir (LFK) held a webinar titled “75 years of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan: Pakistan’s role and responsibilities towards IOJK” on July 19, marking Kashmir’s Accessionto Pakistan Day. The webinar was organized as part of the discourse to promote the ideology of accession of the entire Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan.

The speakers of the webinar included Mr. Muzammil Ayub Thakur, President of World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM); Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad Baba, Spokesperson, Muslim League Jammu & Kashmir; Advocate Bilal Shakil, Legal expert and political worker from AJK, Ms.MadihaShakil, Research scholar and HR activist from AJK; Nayeem Ahmad, Doctorate Scholar, IIUI.

While addressing the panel, Mr Mukhtar Baba said that Kashmir’s Accession resolution of is as important as the Lahore Declaration. He further added that Muslim Conference being genuine representatives of the people of Kashmir made the call for complete accession to Pakistan even before the Islamic republic of Pakistan had yet come into being. He accused India of diluting the UN resolutions despite being the first party to approach United Nations for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Advocate Bilal Shakil expounded the importance of the accession resolution and the role played by executive members of the Muslim Conference, Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan in particular for drafting such a comprehensive resolution that paved way for the freedom of AJK from the clutches of Dogra Maharaja. He added that Kashmiris are Pakistanis by conviction and by choice. He also proposed that the legal aspects of the accession resolution need to be explored.

Mr Muzammil Ayub Thakur while making insightful remarks said that Pakistan is incomplete without the accession of IOJK. He added that despite the passage of 75 years IOJK still lies in the clutches of the Indian Occupying Forces (IOF). He implored that Pakistan needs to up the ante, and launch proactive diplomacy and lobbying so that Kashmiris attain their legitimate right of self-determination. He also urged the Kashmiri diaspora to know about the narrative of Kashmiris and to correct the semantics and terminologies in order to better serve the cause of the suffering Kashmiris.

Mr Nayeem Ahmad explained the historical context of Kashmir’s accession resolution with Pakistan. He alleged that the grave human rights violations at the hands of Indian Occupying Forces (IOF) in IOJK are due to the delay in the provision of the right of self-determination to the Kashmiris.

Ms MadihaShakil demystified the apprehensions pertaining to the validity of the accession resolution. She further added that the Governments of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir must ensure all kinds of support to the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir, and be the voice of the voiceless people whose voices have been muzzled by 900,000 Indian Occupying Forces.