Srinagar, Dec 07: The APHC today conducted an impressive seminar, titled “Disappeared Persons, Graves with Unknown bodies, Custodial killings-who is responsible?” at Town Hall Islamabad in connection with the Human Rights Week. seminar, was hosted by Peoples league chairman Mukhtar Ahmad Waza

 The seminar which was convened by APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq saw participation of human right defenders, general public, Hurriyat leaders including Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Gani lone, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Musadiq Adil, Javaid Ahmad Mir, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Syed Saleem Geelani, Mohd. Ashraf Sofi, Hakeeem Ab. Rashid, Syed Bashir Andrabi,  Imtiyaz Ahmad Reshi ,jaffer Kashmiri  and Rashid Wani and others.

 During his inaugural address, APHC Chairman paid glowing tributes to the people of Islamabad for their immense contributions to freedom struggle by offering their lives and property. He said the heart wrenching incidents of Bijbhera Massacre, Chattisinghpora, Shopian etc and hundreds of other such incidents were still being mourned in Kashmir. He, however, said the silence of International community over such incidents was not only regrettable, but it also depicted the double standards attained by it.

 On the occasion, Mirwaiz paid glorious tributes to anti-apartheid icon and global defender of human rights, Nelson Mandela over his demise at the age of 95. He said the world still remembers his immense contribution towards defending the rights of people. He said the biggest tribute to this leader would be that international community should shun its double standards on human rights issues.

He said when people in East Timor and South Sudan are subjected to oppression, international community raises its voice, but when the same thing happens in Kashmir, it terms it as a dispute between India and Pakistan. He said the world community always refers to Kashmir as a border, regional or a bilateral issue between two south Asian Neighbours.

 Mirwaiz said Kashmir was neither a border issue, nor a regional one. He said Kashmir was a human issue and it should be treated on the account.

 About holding talks, he said Hurriyat was not averse to meaningful dialogue and it had held several rounds of talks with both India and Pakistan to solve the K issue.

Mirwaiz, however, said it was due to obstinate attitude of India that talks failed, adding, even the Hurriyat suggestions to create a conducive atmosphere to solve Kashmir issue were not considered by the Indian government. He said Kashmir issue can be solved either by dialogue between the stakeholders or by implementing UN resolutions in this regard.

 APHC Chairman said when Hurriyat talks of Kashmir it talks of geographical entity which existed before 1947. He said nobody will be allowed to divide the state and that Indian political parties were hell bent to fragment the state so as to associate the demand of freedom struggle to one particular group. He said Kashmiri pundits were inalienable part of Kashmir and Kashmiris would welcome their return.

 Mirwaiz said that certain elements were hell bent to divide people on regional, linguistic and religious line. He said Hurriyat would counter these nefarious designs tooth and nail. He said people of all regions should be allowed to interact to hammer out a resolution of Kashmir issue since it pertains to them, not India or Pakistan.

 APHC Chairman said one thing which it wants to make clear to the people of India was that Kashmir was not a border or regional issue, not a developmental or electoral one. He said despite holding elections in Kashmir from 1947, the issue continues to exist.

Mirwaiz said that till India does not bring tangible change in its policies and thinking, the ground situation in Kashmir would continue to remain as it is.

 He said that eight lakh troops present in Kashmir were not meant for countering 250 fighters, but they were maintained here to suppress the Kashmiri aspirations and spirit for right of self determination.

 Mirwaiz stressed that Kashmiris were a peaceful nation and peaceful mass revolution of people in 2008 and 2010 testifies that. He said the Indian troop’s unleashed terror on peaceful protesters and hundreds of Kashmiris youth were martyred by them during the protest rallies. He said authorities were not allowing peaceful protests. He said government continues to impose restrictions on political, religious and social activities of pro-freedom leadership.

 Condemning the restrictions imposed on peaceful political activities of Syed Ali Geelani, APHC Chairman said government is doing utmost to widen the chasm between people and pro-freedom leadership.

 Rejecting the claims of pro-Indian political parties that they were representing the people, Mirwaiz said these people while sitting in Assembly and Parliament have never raised their voice against the oppression against Kashmiris and about scrapping of black laws. He said they never have made an effort to pass any resolution which would call for any confidence building measures leading to Kashmir resolution.

APHC Chairman said these people have always exploited politically and economically exploited Kashmiris for their petty interests and are continuing to do so. As far as Kashmir issue is concerned, he said the entire pro-freedom leadership has unity and unanimity regarding their aims and objectives. He said there can be difference in approaches, but aims and destinations are same.

 Asserting that conglomerate would do its every bit to strengthen public contact, APHC Chairman said that while observing the human rights week, the conglomerate would appeal international bodies like UN, European Union, OIC and international community to support Kashmiris and use their influence to solve the Kashmir issue for once and all.

 Informing the gathering that he was invited to OIC Foreign Ministers Conference, Mirwaiz said he could not participate in the international even due to unavailability of travel documents. He, however, said a Hurriyat representative would present its point of view in the conference.

 Another senior Hurriyat leader, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat  Mukhtar Ahmad Waza said the main aim of observing human rights week was to strengthen the public contact and to aware people about the changes in the world politics. He said Hurriyat calls upon India to take step to solve Kashmir issue for the interest of its own people. He said Kashmiris would never accept dominance of any nation, not they have shown it to anybody. He said it was historical truth that Kashmiris, despite their limitation in strength and power, have taken head on with the one of the largest countries of the world. He said the movement was now shifting to new generation.  Referring to human tragedy in Kashmir, Mirwaiz said hundreds of prisoners were lodged in jails across Jammu and Kashmir and in India. He said around 9,500 persons were subjected to disappearance, and 8000 unidentified graves were silent witness to the gross human rights violation committed by Indian troops in Kashmir. He said the occupation of Kashmir by Indian army and paramilitary, their pickets and bunkers, sent shivers through spine of common Kashmiris.

 Spokes person jkpl imtiyaz reshi