KC London to step up campaign for Kashmiris’ rights

Worcester—The Kashmir Centre London has vowed to strengthen in the entire United Kingdom the campaign for restoration of rights of the people of occupied Kashmir. The two-day programme organised by the Centre at Worcester and Birmingham for councillors and parliamentarians concluded with this resolve that one million signatures would be obtained from the Diaspora for a comprehensive debate on Kashmir situation in the House of Commons.

An exhibition on the human rights situation in occupied Kashmir was also organised at the county council hall in Worcester. The exhibition coincided with the Universal Periodic Review India 2012. Along with the exhibition a documentary was also screened on this occasion, which presented the human right situation in the occupied territory according to authentic voices and institutions. It was titled ‘Humans without human rights’.

A panel discussion and interactive dialogue titled “Peace in Kashmir and end game in Afghanistan” was hosted by former Lord Mayor of Worcester, Chaudry Allah Ditta, in the Council County Hall. Representatives of six district councils participated in the event. Among others, the participants included Councillor Roger Knight, Councillor Lucy Hodgson, Councillor Rober Rowden, Councillor Aubury Tarbok, Councillor Liz Tucks, Councillor Andy Roberts, former Lord Mayor Chaudhry Abdur Rasheed, Lord Mayor Khawaja Mehmo od, Councillor Muha mmad Ahmed, Councillor Mariam Khan, Councillor Jabbar Riaz, Dr Khurshid Ahmed, former Assistant Chief Executive Birmingham Council, Chairman Kashmir Centre Brussels, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, President Advisory Council of Kashmir Centre London, Raja Mohammed Ayub, Mohammed Ishaq Khan and Sajid Yousaf.

Welcoming the participants, Chaudhry Allah Ditta, promised complete cooperation of all the councillors of Worcester for raising the profile of the long lingering Kashmir dispute with their parliament members. The Executive Director of Kashmir Centre London, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, who chaired the interactive dialogue, urged the elected representatives to play their active role in supporting the legitimate movement of self-determination of the people of Kashmir. “Kashmir needs international facilitation for honourable and just peace,” he said, adding that it would not be out of place to mention that Britain as a former imperial power had a moral obligation to correct a historical wrong and help in finding a resolution to the dispute.—KMS