DNA

ISLAMABAD, FEB 6: Pakistan High Commission in Ottawa and its three Consulates in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal arranged a series of programmes including pictorial exhibitions, seminars, documentary screening, demonstration and media interactions to highlight the human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and express solidarity with Kashmiris facing the worst kind of oppression under illegal Indian occupation.

The High Commissioner of Pakistan Mr. Zaheer A. Janjua inaugurated the photographic exhibition which was attended by a large number of Pakistani diaspora. Mr. Janjua highlighted the Indian brazenness and bravado subjecting the defenceless Kashmiris to endless atrocities. He underscored that the annulment of Articles 35(A) and 370 has added complexities to the Kashmir dispute, plunging the region into perpetual turmoil. This move has not only altered the independent status of Jammu and Kashmir but also exacerbated demographic disparities, particularly impacting the Muslim majority regions under Indian control. The relentless suppression of dissent and blatant disregard for human rights not only sow insecurity among Kashmiris but also contribute to a nefarious strategy aimed at achieving control and dominance, he added.      

In a video message, the High Commissioner also reiterated that the unanimous endorsement of the ultra-nationalist Modi government’s illegal measures, including abrogation of the Indian Constitution’s Article 370, have no legal or political impact on the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. Resolutions 91 and 122 of the UN Security Council explicitly declare that no unilateral step taken by any of the parties to the dispute would constitute a final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, these actions of Modi government are ultra vires to their own constitution as consent of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is required, which currently stands dissolved. This is clear manifestation of the Indian judiciary’s surrender of its own legal and ethical standards to the demands of the Hindutva regime.As Jammu and Kashmir remains the most militarised region in the world,he called upon the international community to stop India of massive violations of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir, rescind the unilateral and illegal measures and implement the United Nations’ 13 Resolutions.

On this occasion, messages of the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan were read out to the audience. Moreover, various documentaries and songs dedicated to Kashmiris’ struggle were screened and broadcast on the social and local electronic media. The day’s leading event was a seminar hosted by Consulate Vancouver.