Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah observed Kashmir Solidarity day organized with a declamation contest, between the school students, organized at the Consul General’s residence.

The event was attended by students of Pakistan International schools in Jeddah, members of Kashmir Committee including Mohammed Amil Usmani, Aamir Ghani Munir, Dr. Mujahid Zafar, Ghulam Nabi Butt and Choudhry Mohammed Azam, media representatives and number of members from Pakistani and Kashmiri community.

Mohammed Atif Dar, head of Chancery (HOC) at Consulate General Pakistan Jeddah conducted the event and welcomed all guests. The function started with the recitation of few verses from Holy Qur’an by Kabir Yousuf.

Shaiq Bhutto, deputy consul general, and Najibullah Khan, vice consul, read out the messages of the president and the prime minister of Pakistan respectively.

Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Arshad Munir Consular (Press) said students of Pakistan International School presented their speeches on topic of the Kashmir Solidarity Day. The speeches highlighted the atrocities being carried out against the Kashmiris in Indian occupied Kashmir.

The students expressed solidarity with Kashmiri brethren in their just struggle for right to self-determination, urged India to demonstrate sincerity for resolution of the longstanding Kashmir dispute and come to the negotiating table for resolving the issue. They also urged the international community to exert pressure on India to resolve the issue according to the UN resolutions.

Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan, in his speech, said that the purpose of observing this day is to express solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir; to pay homage to the Kashmiri martyrs; to condemn Indian flagrant violations of human rights, and to reiterate Pakistan’s support to the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He urged the international community to play its role in fulfilling its obligation to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir according to the UN resolutions. He added that resolution of this dispute would bring durable peace in the region.

He added that Jammu and Kashmir dispute will remain central piece of Pakistan’s foreign policy till its resolution in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that the purpose of inviting the younger generation to the occasion was to have their participation in the event and give them an opportunity to share their thoughts on the issue. He appreciated the valuable participation of both the schools in the event.

Masood Puri, president Kashmir Committee (KC) Jeddah, told that Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of the partition and needs to be resolved according to the UN resolutions. He urged the consciousness of the humanity to take note of the atrocities being carried out against the Kashmiris and pleaded for early resolution of the dispute so that these people also lead a normal life like other human beings.

Consul General also awarded certificates of appreciation to students along with principal Dr. Mohammed Akram (Aziziyah) and Adnan Nasir (Rehab).