National News

ISLAMABAD,(APP): Secretary General Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani Saturday voiced
serious concern over the ongoing gross human rights violations
and unabated carnage in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and
renewed pledge to resolve the issue through peaceful means.
Addressing a joint press stake-out along with Advisor to
the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, he said the
OIC would continue exposing the grave human rights violations
in the occupied valley till resolution of the issue in
accordance with the United Nations Resolutions and wishes of
the Kashmiri people.
The OIC general secretary also renewed support to the
right of self-determination for Kashmiri people and said that
it was an international and legitimate issue.
He admitted that mere issuing statements over the very
serious situation in IOK was not sufficient by the world
bodies and reiterated a political situation to the worsening
issue.
“The international community has the role to play in
this regard,” he said, adding the world must realize that
human rights violations should be addressed promptly.
The OIC general secretary has been on an official
visit to Pakistan.
Narrating the ordeals of the Kashmiri people in the
IOK, he said violence and aggression continued besides,
there was a complete media black-out.
He expressed the hope that a comprehensive dialogue
between India and Pakistan would take place to address
the core issues.
Advisor to the PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz
condemned the use of lethal force by the Indian occupation
forces in the IOK against the defenseless Kashmiris, who
were protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings,
terming it ‘deplorable’.
In the last 40 days, more than 80 Kashmiris were
martyred, 6,000 injured and over a hundred have lost
their eyesight due to pellet guns firing, he added.
The advisor thanked the OIC for consistently supporting
Pakistan’s stance over the issue.
“Peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,
in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions, which
is in line with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and
Kashmir, is an imperative for the regional peace and
stability,” he stressed.
Sartaj said the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir would be
meeting again in September 2016, during the General Assembly
Session in New York in the face of the gross violations of
human rights in IOK.