(London, 05 April 2017)

 

London branch of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has asked the government of Pakistan to shun its attempts to make Gilgit Baltistan a constitutional province of Pakistan.

 

In a statement issued from London senior leader of JKLF Mr Mahmood Hussain has reiterated JKLF’s stand that making Gilgit Baltistan as constitutional province of Pakistan will have serious consequences on the long standing issue of Jammu Kashmir dispute.

 

Mahmood Hussain further said that people of Jammu Kashmir will strongly oppose and resist conspiracies against the sacred cause of freedom and the fundamental rights of the people from all parts of forcibly divided state of Jammu Kashmir of which Gilgit-Baltistan is an integral part till the end.

Statement said that such move by Pakistan has no legal, political, official or moral justification whatsoever. By taking this illegal and unjust step, Kashmiris are being forced to consider Pakistan in par with India.

 

 

Iftikhar Sharif

Press Secretary,

JKLF London Branch

London 11 Feb, 2017: Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) UK Chapter marked the 33rd martydom anniversary of Maqbool Butt Shaheed with a huge protest outside Indian High Commission in London.

Defying the subzero temperatures, party members as well as members of Kashmiri community flocked from all over the UK to protest against the brutalities of India in Jammu Kashmir and to demand India to handover the remains of Maqbool Butt, whose extra judicial killing at the hands of India in 1984 has proved to be the ignition for one of the longest freedom movements in the recent history. The location of protest has become synonymous with protest site for Kashmiris as well as Indian minorities suffering from Indian state sponsored terrorism, and today's protest was one of the largest at the site since the dark day in 1984.

Protesters chanted slogans denouncing Indian terrorism and oppression in Jammu Kashmir and vowed to continue fighting for freedom and raising their voices against foreign occupation of Jammu Kashmir at every platform. Jammu Kashmir is the most militirized regions in the world, yet occupiers India and Pakistan have failed to breakdown the ever growing unarmed resistance of Kashmiris,and the protests today highlighted the fact that this resistance is growing by the day.

As done at the previous protests, a memorendum was due to be handed to Indian High Comissioner in the UK to demand the return of Maqbool Butt's and Afzal Guru's remains, immediate stoppage to Indian brutalities in Jammu Kashmir and for Kashmiris to be given their unfettered right of self determination. However, the magnitude of the protest and significant presence of media and local audience led to the Indian High Commission refusing to accept the Memorandum . It was yet another instance where the veil came off the fake claims of India of being a democracy.
India does not even have moral courage to face peaceful people of Jammu Kashmir and accept a memorandum.

Speaking to the media, senior JKLF leaders paid rich tribute to Maqbool Butt and urged India to stop killing innocent Kashmiris, as such brutalities are only serving the purpose of strengthening their indigenous freedom movement in Jammu Kashmir and fulfil its promises and human rights obligations by allowing Kashmiris to determine their own political future.

Protesters vowed to continue this national freedom movement started by Maqbool Butt Shaheed until the dream of complete independent Jammu Kashmir is realised.

The protest was one of the series of events organised by JKLF UK Chapter to mark February as 'Month of Maqbool', with another large gathering expected in Bradford on 19th February.

Bradford: On Sunday, 19 Feb: Jammu Kashmir liberation Front (Bradford branch) organised a public event to commemorate 33rd martyrdom anniversary of great kashmiri freedom fighter and founder of the Jammu Kashmir's independence movement Muhammad Maqbool Butt Shaheed.

A large number of people from Bradford, Leeds and from other parts of the UK, including Maqbool Butt's son Shoukat Maqbool Butt, MP Imran Hussain, leader of Bradford council Suzan Hinch Cliff and dozens of local Lord Mayors and councillors participated in this anniversary program to pay tribute to Maqbool Butt Shaheed and his struggle.

During his speech, MP Imran Hussain assured the participants that as member of British Parliament and as a British Kashmiri he will continue to raise Kashmir issue in parliament. He stressed that over a million Kashmiries living in the U.K. should ask their MPs to play their part in the parliament to raise the issue  of Jammu Kashmir and human rights violations in the state. He paid tribute to Maqbool Butt and said Maqbool Butt sacrificed his life for an independent Jammu Kashmir, so option of independent Jammu Kashmir should be included in any future plebiscite.

President JKLF UK Chapter Sabir Gul also addressed to the gathering. He said that Maqbool Butt is our national hero and new generation of Kashmiries are scarifying their lives by following the footsteps of Maqbool Butt. He suggested that we should establish a national revolutionary government in Pakistani held Jammu Kashmir to bring this issue on international forums.

Shoukat Maqbool Butt also spoke to the public and emphasised that we have to strengthen our national freedom movement in order to achieve our ultimate goal of national independence. Maqbool Butt shaheed sacrificed his life for national independence, justice and for the creation of a tolerant society.

General Secretary JKLF UK Zone Syed Tahseen Gillani said that JKLF is the only political party present and active in all divided parts of Jammu Kashmir and It is leading the national freedom movement. He reassured the participants that JKLF will not let anyone divide our country or destroy our nonviolent democratic movement for freedom.

Chief Organiser Abrar Nisar urged the international community to play an active role to resolve the issue of Jammu Kashmir.

Spokesman Shakeel Mirza made it clear that issue of Jammu Kashmir is not a bilateral issue between India or Pakistan but in fact an issue of birth right of 20 million people of Jammu Kashmir.

Leader of Bradford city council Suzan Hinch Cliff, Lord Mayor Abid Hussain Jamati, Councillor Ghazunfer Khaliq, Councillor Muhammad Iqbal, Councillor Javed Akhter, Sajid Nawaz,Amjid Nawaz,Zia Ahmed,JKLF Branch President Muhammad Sodager ,General Secretary Bradford Saghir Ahmed,Sajad Wasti, General Secretary JKLF Luton branch Liaqat Ali Lone,Malik Latif,senior leader JKLF Aslam Mirza and Ahsaan Ansari also addressed to the gathering.

They condemned the recent statement by Indian army chief that peaceful protestors will be treated as militants. They also reminded India ,Pakistan and international community of their promises to resolve Jammu Kashmir issue according to the aspirations of the people of Jammu Kashmir. JKLF UK leadership made it clear that they will continue their struggle until victory.

JKLF UK has announced their next Maqbool Butt Shaheed anniversary program will be held in Stoke on Trent on 26 of February, followed by Bedford on 5th March and Birmingham on 12th March.

London, 30 Jan: JKLF UK Chapter has announced to commemorate month of February as Month of Maqbool Butt Shaheed. In a statement to media outlets, Zonal Spokesperson Shakeel Mirza has said that all JKLF branches in the UK have been instructed to organise programs,seminars and conferences during month of February to mark the 33rd martyrdom anniversary of the founding leader of Kashmiri movement.

The spokesperson stated that on 11th February JKLF UK along with other Uk based Kashmiri organisations will protest outside Indian high commission London to expose and highlight human rights violations in IOK and to demand that  Maqbool Butt,s remains should be handed over to his family.

JKLF UK has announced to double up its diplomatic efforts in order to muster up support from international community for the unfettered right of self determination of people of Jammu Kashmir. The party is also considering taking up the Jammu Kashmir issue with International Court of Justice, human rights organisations and UNO to expose the illegal occupation of Jammu Kashmir, human rights violations on both side of ceasefire line and to remind international institutions of their forgotten promises and commitments to the beleaguered people of Jammu Kashmir.

On behalf of the UK Zone of the party which is leading the diplomatic front of Kashmiri independence movement, the spokesperson warned Pakistan against her illegal and dangerous plan to make Gilgit Baltistan as her 5th province. JKLF has reiterated the dangerous implications that such a move will have, including the damage it will cause to internationally accepted disputed status of Jammu Kashmir issue. The spokesperson added that such illegal integration will provide India an excuse to absorb Ladakh and Jammu as its own provinces, and will further escalate the tensions in the region.

JKLF will not accept any suggestion or design about the division of Jammu Kashmir under any circumstances and will continue to resist any such plans in Jammu Kashmir as well as on international forums. He added that the party demands Pakistani government to restore state subject rule in Gilgit Baltistan region of Jammu Kashmir.

Press Release: London


The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) UK- chapter today pledged to continue with their international campaign for independence of their homeland Jammu Kashmir , following the  parliamentary debate on the issue in UK Parliament, where a resolution was passed in support of  the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu Kashmir.




In the Parliamentary debate on 19th January, lead by the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir, Mr.David Nuttall MP, the efforts of the JKLF and other Kashmiri groups in the UK were recognised and members of parliament paid tribute to British Kashmiris for their commitment and lobbying effort for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu Kashmir issue..



The motion, which was passed unanimously in the parliament chamber stated: "The House notes the escalation in violence and breaches of international human rights on the Indian side of the Ceasefire Line  in Jammu Kashmir; calls on the UK Government to raise the matter at the United Nations; and further calls on the Government to encourage Pakistan and India to commence peace negotiations to establish a long term solution on the future governance of Kashmir based on the right of the Kashmiri people to determine their own future in accordance with the provisions of UN Security Council resolutions”.





The debate on this motion where 29 MPs, ministers and shadow ministers from Labour, Tory and SNP took part, was a culmination of a strenuous mass lobbying campaign carried out by the JKLF and other Kashmiri organisations in 2016 following the uprising in the Kashmir valley where over a hundred civilian protestors were killed and thousands injured and blinded by the use of pellet guns.




British members of parliament paid tribute to those killed and those who have carried on with the campaign for their political rights for over 7 decades and deplored the international apathy and indifference displayed by the UK foreign office.





Debating on the motion, MPs stressed that the people of Jammu Kashmir must be given the same right to take control of their future as the one exercised by the UK in the EU referendum. MPs David Nuttall and Philip Davies said Kashmiris should be afforded the same right to self-determination as was given to the British people in the form of the Brexit vote. Intervening, Mr Davies said: “Surely it is not a question of supporting either the Indian government or the Pakistan government, it’s about supporting the people of Kashmir."



JKLF have been campaigning for the unfettered right to self-determination and independence to be recognised through public protests, parliamentary meetings and international lobbying. The mass lobby campaign in UK and Europe was launched earlier last year at a press conference held at JKLF’s International Secretariat in London and the head of their International Political and Diplomatic Campaigns, Azmat Khan, given a mandated to seek collaboration with other Kashmiri groups and double up joint efforts. Kashmiri leaders met with the UK foreign office official before UK Prime Minister’s visit to India and also asked the Labour Party’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, Emily Thornberry MP, to take up this issue with the Prime Minister, Teresa May, which was done by a letter to the foreign secretary Boris Johnson next day.





Earlier in the year, a JKLF delegation comprising of Chief Organiser Abrar Nisar, spokesman Shakeel Mirza, and Shafiq Qadri met with the Chairman all parties parliamentary group on Kashmir,  Mr.David Nuttall MP in Bury, and briefed him of the dire situation on Kashmir and the wife of the JKLF chairman Yasin Malik spoke with Mr Nuttall regarding his deteriorating health and illegal detention in occupied Kashmir.




Senior JKLF leaders, including General Secretary Tahsin Gillani, UK Spokesman Shakeel Mirza, Shams Rehman and others attended the annual Scottish National Party d(SNP) conference, where they met with former party leader, Alex Salmond, who promised to support such a motion  in British parliament.




In the recent months JKLF UK branches and office bearers  were instructed by the President Sabir Gul to meet with their local members of Parliament and to apprise them of the need for a change in UK foreign policy on the issue of Kashmir. The UK zonal leadership have  continuously engaged with other political parties and have pledged to double up their efforts to show a unified voice to the world on Kashmir. They have written to the members of parliament for their efforts and expressed gratitude in recognising the Kashmiri voice and pleas for unfettered right of self determination.




The evidence of JKLF UK Zone's diplomatic efforts could be seen and heard today in British parliament ,where British parliamentarians acknowledged that people of Jammu Kashmir seek a peaceful resolution of the  issue and want their country to become a bridge of peace rather than a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Kashmiris firmly believe that a peaceful and equitable solution of the Kashmir issue is the key to a peaceful and prosperous South Asiain sub continent - a sentiment that was reiterated by JKLF patron in chief Late Amaan Ullah Khan on numerous occasions.

Ends.

JKLF UK Zone Department of Publicity and information.

Text of the full debate is available below

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-01-19/debates/5E3E7217-2415-4B94-8748-3D9E6B1E759B/Kashmir


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