Most G-B Assembly members skip Kashmir Day session

GILGIT: Two-thirds of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly members were absent from the 35th session held to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day on Tuesday. Out of a total of 32 members, only 11 members, including Speaker Nazir Ahmed, attended the session.

Speaking to HUM News English, Law Minister Ghulam Muhammad explained that the last assembly session was held in December of last year, and the next session was scheduled for March this year. However, he stated that the session was summoned unexpectedly, causing many members to be unable to attend.

“The quorum was complete to pass the resolution. Out of the 33 assembly members, one seat is vacant, and 11 members, including Speaker Nazir Ahmed, were present in the session. The quorum, which is one-third of the assembly, requires 10 members,” he added.

Minister of Excise and Taxation Haji Rahmat Khaliq, Minister of Social Welfare and Women Development Dilshad Bano, Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ghulam Muhammad, Special Assistant for Information Technology Suraiya Muhammad Zaman, Education Minister Ghulam Shehzad Agha, and assembly members Amjad Hussain, Kaneez Fatima, Col (retired) Obaid Ullah Baig, and Akbar Rajai attended the session.

Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ghulam Muhammad presented a resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which was passed unanimously by all present assembly members.

The resolution strongly condemned India’s occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and the atrocities committed against the Kashmiri people. It demanded that, in accordance with the United Nations-recognized resolutions, a free and fair plebiscite be held in Jammu and Kashmir immediately, allowing the Kashmiri people to decide their future.

The resolution also called on the Government of Pakistan to continue providing moral, political, and diplomatic support to the freedom fighters of Jammu and Kashmir on all fronts until the plebiscite is held.

The House declared October 27, 1947, as a dark day in history due to India’s aggression and illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. It emphasized that the people of Kashmir had never accepted Indian rule and illegal occupation since 1947 and have been continuously engaged in their struggle for freedom.

It noted that India was attempting to chain the freedom of Jammu and Kashmir, but the freedom fighters stood firm against every form of oppression and brutality, demanding the end of 77 years of Indian bloodshed and oppression.

The resolution declared that Kashmir was Pakistan’s lifeblood, and no nation can watch its lifeblood being cut. The resolution reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Kashmiris in their struggle for the inalienable right to self-determination.

It vowed to continue raising the issue of the killings, rapes, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations by the Indian occupying forces in international forums and continue to expose India’s heinous actions.