By Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Academic and literary organization, Pakistan Writers Forum, and Al-Kidmat, one of the leading welfare organizations in Jeddah, held a seminar on “the current situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) and our responsibility" at a local restaurant here, last Thursday.

Eminent poet Zamurrad Khan Saifi welcomed the audience and gave a brief introduction of the PWF and Al-Kidmat and their services.

Amir Mohammad Khan, chairman Pakistan Journalists Forum (PJF), presided over the gathering while Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman, president of Al-Kidmat Saudi Arabia, was the chief guest.

In his presidential address, Khan said India has consistently denied the right of self-determination to Kashmiris. “The Kashmiri people are currently deprived of basic human rights. They have been forced to fight for freedom from India.”

Chief guest Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman said that people of Jammu and Kashmir have been in curfew for more than 60 days.

He said thousands of martyrs have sacrificed their lives in the last 72 years, but the Muslim community and the Ummah are silent against illegal Indian rule and the barbaric acts committed by India’s security forces.

Syed Niaz Ahmed, president of the Pakistan Writers Forum, thanked the attendees and cooperation of the seminar organizers Zahid Hussain, Touqir Ahmed and Anas Zubair.

Mohammad Amanatullah, Shamsuddin Altaf, Mustafa Khan, Nooruddin Wasi, Dr. Saeed Bibani and Jamil Rathore also addressed the gathering.

Following resolutions were presented which were passed unanimously.

1. The UN should stop the massacre in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir by sending its peacekeepers and protect the rights of Kashmiris in accordance with the relevant UN resolution.

2. In the Myanmar state of Arakan, UN peacekeepers should be sent to stop the human tragedy and to ensure the settlement of Rohingya Muslims under their supervision.

At the end Mohsin Ghouri made supplications for the Kashmiris and Muslim Ummah.