Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Pakistan will continue to extend its political, diplomatic and moral support to the oppressed Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination, promised to them by the international community through numerous UNSC Resolutions, said Khalid Majid, Consul General of Pakistan. The Pakistani envoy made the remarks at a meeting organized by Kashmir committee (KC) Jeddah to observe 89thYoum-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir (Kashmir Martyrs' Day) at Lasani restaurant in Jeddah on Monday. The consul general, who chief guest at the event, said: "We commemorate this day to tell our younger generation about sacrifices of our Kashmiri brethren who, in past, raised their voice for rights of Kashmiri people. We have to keep these sentiments alive." "The annexation of Kashmir to the Indian Union is a sheer violation of the UNSC resolutions and international laws," he added. Speaking at the occasion, Pakistan's permanent representative to the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said that though the Kashmiris have been facing the cruelty at the hands of Indian government since long, the Modi government has further aggravated the situation by ending special status of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He called upon India to immediately stop gross, systematic, and state-sponsored human rights violations in Kashmir and allow international human rights and humanitarian organizations unhindered access to the occupied state. Today we demand that all the Kashmiris under detention may be freed and the lockdown should be lifted, he added. Earlier, the chairman of KC Jeddah, Masood Ahmed Puri, while narrating the historical significance of the day told the audience that on July 13, 1931, 20 Kashmiris were massacred by the Dogra government of Kashmir, in Srinagar, who had raised their voice for just cause. The incident marked the beginning of the modern era Kashmir freedom struggle, traversing through different phases, including civilian protests, political struggle, he told. Other members of the Kashmir committee also expressed their views telling that the Dogra government-imposed restrictions on Muslims in the performance of their religious duties and these martyrs had raised voice against this unjust decision. They paid rich tribute to the Kashmiri martyrs for their contribution in Kashmir freedom fight. Deputy Consul General Shaiq Ahmed Bhutto, Consular (Press) Arshad Munir, Community representatives, and members of the Kashmir Committee were also present.
