ISLAMABAD: As a large number of people gathered in Islamabad after Friday prayer to form a ‘human chain’ in a show of solidarity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan called out the international media for continuing to give “headline coverage” to the ongoing Hong Kong protests but “ignoring the dire human rights crisis” in the held valley.
Kashmiris have been living under curfew-like conditions since Aug 5 when the hardline BJP government revoked Article 370 of the Indian constitution which had ensured a special status for the disputed valley since the partition.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was slated to join the human chain as it passed through the Prime Minister Office, also addressed the participants as well as the nation.
In his address, the premier regretted the “wall-to-wall coverage” of the Hong Kong protests by international media, and the relative silence surrounding the treatment of the people of Kashmir.
Earlier in the day, drawing parallels between Hong Kong protests and Kashmir lockdown, he wrote on Twitter: “I am puzzled as to how international media continues to give headline coverage to Hong Kong protests but ignores the dire human rights crisis in IOJK — an internationally recognised disputed territory illegally annexed by India with 900,000 troops imposing a siege on 8 million Kashmiris [contd] for over 2 months, with a complete blackout of communications, thousands imprisoned — including [the] entire spectrum of political leadership plus children — and a growing humanitarian crisis.”
“In IOJK, 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed over 30 years fighting for their right to self-determination as committed to them by the international community through UN Security Council resolutions,” he added.
For over 2 months with a complete blackout of communications, thousands imprisoned,including entire spectrum of political leadership plus children, & a growing humanitarian crisis. In IOJK 100k Kashmiris have been killed over 30 yrs fighting for their right to self determination
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 11, 2019
The tweets came ahead of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting to reconfigure ties strained by tough talk on the occupied Kashmir issue by both sides.
Xi had earlier met Prime Minister Imran in China. A joint statement issued after talks between President Xi and Premier Imran said that China is paying “close attention” to the situation in the Kashmir and that it should be properly based on the UN Charter.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Imran will participate in the formation of a human chain today to show solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir who have been facing curfew for over two months.
The chain would be made after Friday prayers. It will start from D-Chowk and the premier will join it at Gate No 1 of Prime Minister Office (PMO).
PTI’s Chief Organiser Saifullah Niazi has directed party workers to reach D-Chowk to form the human chain.
More details to follow
