Peterborough event highlights Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination
London: In a show of solidarity with the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, an event was held at the Peterborough Council under the banner of Kashmir Campaign Global to mark the Right to Self-Determination Day. The gathering was attended by a diverse group of people, including political, social, and human rights figures.
According to Kashmir Media Service, among the participants were former MP and current Mayor of Cambridge, Paul Bristow; Councillor Ashfaq Ahmed; Councillor Amjad Iqbal; Councillor Aurangzeb; Councillor Qaiser; Councillor Imtiaz Ali; former Councillor Ansar; the Chairman of Palestine Solidarity; PML-N leader Raja Naveed Arif; Advocate Amjad Farooq; District Councillor Ghafarat Shaheed; central PML-N leader Raja Javed Iqbal; Chairman of Kashmir Campaign Global, Zafar Qureshi; and Secretary General Ashfaq Ahmed.
At the start of the event, Chairman of Kashmir Campaign Global Peterborough, Raja Ejaz Shaikh, thanked the participants for taking time out to attend in support of the Kashmir cause. He said that 5 January reminds the world of the promise made by the international community to the Kashmiri people that they would be allowed to decide their future according to their own will, a promise that unfortunately remains unfulfilled.
Dr Ashfaq, Deputy Secretary of Kashmir Campaign Global, spoke in detail about the history of Kashmir, the current situation in IIOJK, and the responsibility of the international community, stressing that the time has come for practical action rather than statements.
Zafar Qureshi, Chairman of Kashmir Campaign Global, further underscored the significance of January 5, the Right to Self-Determination Day. He expressed confidence that despite Indian repression, the struggle of the Kashmiri people would ultimately succeed.
Former MP Paul Bristow said that anyone who truly believes in human rights cannot remain silent on the issue of Kashmir. Councillor Amjad Iqbal stated that the Kashmir issue is a globally recognised dispute and that serious and practical steps are now needed for a just resolution.
