Pakistan for solution of Kashmir, acceptable to Kashmiris: Maleeha
Pakistan Times Monitoring Desk

LONDON (UK): Pakistan remains committed to a political, peaceful, negotiated and a just solution of the Kashmir issue which is acceptable to the Kashmiris, said Pakistan's envoy to the UK Dr.Maleeha Lodhi.

She was speaking at Kashmir Award Ceremony organized by chairman of All Parties Kashmir Freedom Council U.K and Europe to mark the 73rd Kashmir Martyrs Day on July-13.

The basic objective of the event was to observe the martyrdom day in memory of the 22 Kashmiris who were gunned down by Hindu Dogra ruler Hari Singh's police on July-13, 1931, while protesting against his oppression in front of the Srinagar jail.

Optimism on Dialogue

Maleeha hoped the dialogue between Pakistan and India would address the substance of the Kashmir issue.

The representative of the Kashmiris, she said, would be associated with the dialogue at an appropriate level and at an appropriate time.

'Pakistan Times' UK Bureau adds: British Minister of Trade and Industry Stephen Timms and 19British MPs including Gerald Kaufman, George Stevenson Humphrey Malins CBE, Mark Fisher, Peter Pike, Marsha Singh, Lorna Fitzsimons, Clive Betts, Dr. Brian Iddon, Paul Goodman,Muhammad Sarwar Dr.Jenny Tonge, Claire Ward,Alistair Burt, Khalid Mehmood and Lord Nazir Ahmed were present on the occasion.

It was for the first time so many MPs belonging to different parties attended any function organized by the British Kashmiris here.

Quotes Mandela

Pakistan's High Commissioner said once Nelson Mandela said injustice anywhere is athreat to justice everywhere. Similarly Winston Churchill said that soul of freedom is justice.

Kashmir was not an territorial issue rather it pertained to the basic rights of the Kashmir people, she said.The Line of Control (LoC) is a part of the problem and can not become the basis for its solution.

The Kashmir issue could be resolved by pursuing the four step reasonable approach suggested by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, she said.

The First Step

First step is to accept the centrality of the dispute, second was to have a sustained dialogue.Third is to identify what is completely unacceptable to the either side and put that aside and fourth is to find a solution within the parameters of what's left on the negotiating table to produce a win-win outcome for all sides, said the envoy.

Maleeha thanked all British MPs and said their presence manifested their support for the peaceful solution of Kashmir issue.

She said Pakistan was committed to peace with honour in the region and a peace that was lasting.

Stephen Timms Reax

Speaking on the occasion British Minister of Trade and Industry Stephen Timms that Britain continued to support a peaceful solution of Kashmir issue.

He said "very serious human rights breaches are continuing" in Indian held Kashmir. The issue should be resolved after securing the consent of the all parties concerned,he added.

Lauds Process of Talks

Britain was encouraged by the current peace process between Pakistan and India and it continued to be optimistic.

He called for the involvement of the Kashmiri people in the talks to find a lasting solution of the issue.

MP Gerald Kaufman

MP Gerald Kaufman on the occasion said that a solution of the Kashmir issue should be such which is acceptable to the people of Kashmir.

He said "their issue is our issue" and this was an issue of "right and wrong." This is an issue of potential nuclear war. Kaufman called for its peaceful solution so that people of the region could live in peace and prosperity.

Solution is Ought to Reflect Kashmiris' Aspires: Lord Nazir

Lord Nazir Ahmed on the occasion hoped the issue of Kashmir would continued to be raised until it was resolved in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiris.He urged the community to keep the pressure on, till the policy of the Labour party on the Kashmir issue, become the policy of the Government.

Lord Nazir Ahmed appreciated MP Kaufman who changed the Labour party's policy on the Kashmir issue in 1995 by pledging to help resolve the issue.

MP Muhammad Sarwar

MP Muhammad Sarwar said the UK prided itself as the champion of the human rights and the gross human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir was crying for its attention.

He welcomed the peace talks between Pakistan and India but added the people of Kashmir continued to suffer in occupied Kashmir.

David Lidington

MP David Lidington said that the Conservative party was committed to two clear objectives. One was that there should be respect for human rights and dignity without any religious discrimination. Secondly it should be a priority for India, Pakistan and the international community to seek a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute which should be acceptable to the Kashmiris.

Raja Najabat Hussain

Chairman of All Parties Kashmir Freedom Council Raja Najabat Hussain, in his remarks, said British Kashmiris were encouraged by the support extended by the MPs by gracing the occasion.

Kashmiris were being martyred in Indian occupied Kashmir every day but their will to fight for their freedom would not be dampened until they achieve their right to self- determination, he said.

Councillor Muhammad Azam

Councillor Muhammad Azam said the commemoration of Martyrs day today was also to encourage the Kashmiri community in Britain to play an active role for solution of the Kashmir.He pleaded for an early involvement of the Kashmiris in the peace talks.

Maleeha Meets Cherie Blair

Earlier, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi held a meeting with Mrs. Cherie Blair and discussed with her the possibility of cooperation between women parliamentarians of the two countries.

It was Maleeha's second meeting with Mrs. Blair.They also discussed the inter-faith issues.

During the meeting, Maleeha emphasized the need of promoting inter-faith dailogue and understanding the role of women in Islam in its proper perspective.●