Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Minister for SAFRON & Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridi has said that peace in Asia is intertwined with peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute and the Members of the Parliaments of Europe, United Kingdom and United States of America need to act and help save suffering humanity in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK).
Addressing a delegation of Parliamentarians from United Kingdom and European Union here at a seminar hosted by Young Professionals, the Minister said that the western world needs to act rising above commercial and political interests, ‘The US, EU and UK Parliamentarians needs to play a lead role in saving the suffering humanity in Indian Occupied Kashmir as you have powerful voices. Who can understand the importance of peace and human rights better than you as Europe was first to accept migrants from across the globe. There was a time when might is right was order of the day. But now you are leading the world and it’s time for you to act and intervene to save suffering humanity in the IoK,’ the minister said.
The MPs from EU and UK included among others Mr Richard Corbett MeP, leader of the Labour Party in Europe; Ms Lorraine Kirkwood, Assistant to Richard Corbett; Ms Irina Von Wiese, MeP and Member of the foreign affairs committee; Mr Richard Burgon, MP Shadow Secretary of State for Justice; Mr Imran Hussain, MP shadow Secretary of State; Mr Mohammed Azam, JKSDMI Secretary General and member of National Policy Forum; Raja Najabat Hussain, Chairman of JKSDMI; Councillor Ms Nazia Rehman from Wigan North of England; Ms Yasmeen Qureshi, Member of Parliament North East; and Ms Shafaq Mohammad, Member of European Parliament.
Shehryar Afridi said who better can understand the importance of peace and human rights than the Europe. He said Muslims were so much moderate that centuries back, missionary schools were allowed work in northern parts of today’s Pakistan. ‘I along with millions of Pakistanis got education from these missionary schools. Today, we are today knocking at doors of the west as Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) is bleeding but to no avail. The IoK has witnessed so much bloodshed and oppression over the past seven decades but the world keeps mum due to certain economic and political interests linked with India,’ he said.
He said peace in Asia is interlinked with Kashmir resolution. ‘Peace is Asia is mandatory as if we add Russia to Asia, this region hosts 50 percent of the world population. But the world is deep in slumber and pays no heed to human rights violations in India where minorities are being lynched on roads and women are being raped with impunity,’ he said.
