MUZAFFARABAD: Ral­l­­ies, public meetings and seminars were held across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Sunday to remind the United Nations of its pledge to let Kashmiris exercise their inalienable right to self-determination to decide the fate of their motherland.

On Jan 5, 1949, the UN Security Council (UNSC) had passed a resolution envi­saging the right to Kashmiris to decide between Pakistan and India through a fair, free and impartial UN-sponsored plebiscite.

The main function was held in Muzaffarabad with AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider as the key participant.

In his speech on the occasion, Mr Haider called upon the UN to appoint a special representative on Kashmir to mount pressure on India with regard to implementation of Security Council resolutions on the disputed Himalayan region.

Of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy, he said that it had failed [to deliver] over the past 72 years and there was dire need to revisit it without further ado.

On Jan 5, 1949, a resolution was passed envisaging right to Kashmiris to decide through plebiscite

“Since India has lost the status of a party to Kashmir dispute after its Aug 5 move and instead has become a proven occupier of the territory, Pakistan should advance its national Kashmir policy through its parliament,” he said.

“Whenever and whatever we talk, it’s in the interest of Pakistan. Our words may sound bitter to you but being activists of the freedom movement as well as students of history we realise the importance of Pakistan far more than others and, therefore, we call a spade a spade,” he added.

The AJK premier reiterated his suggestion for constitution of a forum comprising the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and AJK-based political parties to convince the international community on Kashmiris’ birth right to freedom.

Stating that Kashmiris’ future was linked with Pakistan, he stressed upon all national and political parties to set aside their petty political differences, forge national unity and take solid steps for freedom of occupied Kashmir.

He disclosed that a conspiracy was being hatched to establish a Kashmiri government in exile and made it clear that the government in Muzaffarabad was the sole legal and representative government of the state.

Earlier, Mr Haider and some other participants also cast their “vote” in favour of Pakistan in a symbolic referendum.

Later, the AJK premier led a rally from district headquarters complex to Azadi Chowk during which he kept on chanting pro-plebiscite and pro-freedom slogans along with other participants.

Speaking at a function on Saturday, Mr Haider said that not only rulers but also political parties of Pakistan had disappointed him with their role in tackling the Kashmir issue.

“I have objections against everyone; against the PML-N leadership, the PPP and other people who are always busy in a tug of war,” he said at the Manak Payyan camp of post-1989 Kashmiri migrants to express solidarity with young victims of India’s savagery in held Kashmir as well as along the LoC in AJK.

“Do they not see [how] the people in occupied Kashmir drape coffins of their loved-ones with green Pakistani flags? It has been 154 days to the lockdown [in held Kashmir]; how many [leaders from Pakistan] have visited us,” he asked.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2020