ISLAMABAD: The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has decided toprobe the ongoing siege in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and thedissolution of its legislature, which had been a member of the CPA.
It has asked Pakistan to submit a written application for an investigationin this matter, said a press release received here on Sunday.
This was stated by the President of the General Assembly of the 64thCommonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Rebeca Alitwala Kadaga, the Speakerof the Parliament of Uganda and the host of the conference.
Her statement came in wake of the powerful interventions made by Pakistan’sdelegates, led by Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Dr FehmidaMirza.
Dr. Mirza was followed by MNA Dr Aisha Ghous Pasha, who strongly objectedto the continued siege of Kashmir by the Indian occupying forces, callingthe Valley of Kashmir “world’s largest open-air prison”
While drawing the attention of the General Assembly, Dr. Fehmida Mirza saidthe legislature of the IOK, which was a branch of the CPA, had been held inabeyance by the association on account of its dismissal by the OccupiedState’s Governor.
However, she said the CPA had neither investigated nor looked into thereasons under which even the limited and controlled representation had beensnatched from the beleaguered people of Kashmir by occupying forces.
“The people of IOK are under siege since August 5. All electedrepresentatives of the valley are under detention and deprived of anyvoice,” said Dr. Mirza, informing the delegates that the state had remainedunder continued curfew for over 54 days now.
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Upon undue interruption by the Indian delegation, Dr. Mirza forcefullyvoiced her outrage for the rights of Kashmiris. Her intervention drewinterest from delegates from other Member States, who joined Pakistandelegation, yelling a loud “NO” as an Indian delegate tried to call theissue an internal matter of India.
Dr. Ayesha Ghous Pasha, while taking the floor, lamented the fact that theso-called largest democracy of the world had in fact choked people’svoices, where women and children were the worst victims of continued Indianaggression.
“CPA stands for defending democratic rights and freedoms of people of itsmember branches. If IOK is a legitimate Branch of CPA, any act of silenceor shying away from the continued breach of human rights in Kashmir willcast a dark shadow on this House,” said Dr. Ayesha.
Later, as the Indian delegates tried to justify the dismissal of theAssembly of the Indian held Kashmir, he was booed down by the House. TheChair, while taking note of the situation, ruled the Executive Committee ofthe CPA to investigate the matter on a written complaint, as moved by thePakistan delegation.
An eight-member parliamentary delegation of Pakistan, comprising MNA BashirMehmood Virk, MNA Shandana Gulzar Khan, MNA Uzma Riaz Jadoon, MNA ShaheenSaifullah Khan, Senator Sana Jamali and Senator Kesho Bai, besides Dr.Fehmida Mirza and MNA Dr. Pasha, is in the Ugandan Capital to attend the64th CPC.
