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Pakistani Community Observed Kashmir Solidarity Day in Sydney
(Coverage by Syed Zafar Hussain)
Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed in Australia with full zeal and fervour to express solidarity with the people of Indian-held Kashmir and pay tribute to the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs. The day is a regular annual event being marked to support the indigenous freedom struggle of the people of Occupied Kashmir and their right to plebiscite; and to condemn Indian aggression on the held valley, its illegal occupation, its tyrannical rule, and atrocities against innocent people. In ACT Pak Kashmiri community arranged a protest Peace Rally at Garema Place Civic, Canberra. In Sydney PAA arranged a gathering and distribute literature about Kashmir.
Pakistan Association of Australia observed Kashmir day on 5 February 2009 at Himalaya Pakistani Restaurant, 3-5 Goods Street Granville Sydney. Honorable Laurie Ferguson Federal Member for Reed and Parliamentary Secretary for Settlement and Immigration was the chief guest. The ceremony was small but graceful and about 50 people from all wake of life attended the ceremony. One minute silence was observed and guest lit several candles to commemorate those who lost their lives since this conflict start.
PAA General Secretary was the MC. Mr Muhammad Asif of CitiLink Finance recited Holy Quran to start the formal part of the ceremony. Ejaz Khan President Pakistan Association of Australia in his speech informed the audience history of Kashmir. Ejaz said: On 14 August 1947 came into being as a result of an agreement between Mr Gandhi, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah and Lord Mount Baton. The core agreement was that the Muslim majority states will join Pakistan. But the agreement was not honored not only in Kashmir also Hyderabad and Assam. At the time of partition Kashmir was ruled by Heri Singh who was decent of Sikh maharaja Ranjit Singh. This Sikh raja ruled Kashmir on for 46 years. Kashmir had 70% Muslim population at the time of partition and according to the agreement should be part of Pakistan but India relied on a agreement which Raja Heri Singh signed with them and occupied Kashmir since. Pakistan displayed courage and send its troops from the northern area to help the Kasmiri Muslims to gain independence but there efforts went in vain before the mighty British backed Indian aggression. Kashmir becomes a burning issue since he said. Newly formed Pakistan then persuaded United Nation and successful pass a motion 41 which declared self determination right of Kasmiris but until to date India not only denied freedom to the Kashmiris but killed hundreds of innocent including women and children. India failed to comply with the UN resolution 41 and persistently denying democratic right to Kashmiris to choose their destiny. The Kashmiris decided to lounge their campaign for freedom official on 5 February 1990 and this ceremony is to show solidarity with the Kashmir is tonight he added. He said the world has turned its back to the Kashmir issue for long time. Honorable David Milliband British Foreign Secretary has said few weeks ago that the Mumbai attacks are a reason of unrest in Kashmir which of course India condemns it vigorously. There are several selfish and ideological people has joined the Kashmiri camps and causing bad name for the Kashmis but world should make clear distinction between Terrorist and Freedom fighters and Kashmiris are freedom fighters not terrorists he added.
Dr Ali Sarfraz president of Kashmir Consul in his speech said that Pakistani Government failed to do enough to raise awareness of this issue promptly particularly in Australia. He said his mother came from Jammu and settled in Sialkot which is border between Pakistan and India and he could see his mother’s village from his roof top from Sialkot. He hoped and prayed that one day the Kashmir will become part of the Pakistan.
Honourable Laurie Ferguson said that he is not very much conversant with the issue but sympathetic towards the issue. Australian Pakistani should do more to create awareness among the Australian community on this issue. Dr Akram Hassan addressed the audience and on behalf of Pakistan Association thanked them for their participation and interest in the issue. At the end President Ejaz Khan presented copy of the Resolution to the chief guest Laurie Ferguson.
This ceremony was attended by the significant personalities of Australian Pakistan community members including Nadeem Jaffar GM PIA, Syed Zafar Hussain Shah Editor in Chief Sada-e-Watan Sydney, Syed Javed Hussain, Editor of Sada-e-Watan Sydney, Hanif Muqadam President Pakistan Peoples Party, Ashraf Chohan General Secretary PPP Australia, Mirza Tariq, Mirza Zahid, Muhammad Munir Editor in Chief Rabitah, Munir Khan, Iftikhar Rana, Ijaz Ahmed GM SIS, Malik Farooq Solicitor, Naveed Ch Solicitor, Syed Hussain Zawar Shah Former President Muhammadi Welfare Association & famous social personality and executive team of the PAA.
