Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™
sadaewatan@gmail.com
Kashmir Solidarity Day observed in Canberra
Mr. Javed Butt
We support you in your
plight, we express our solidarity with your struggle. These were the sentiments
echoed at a seminar held by the Kashmir Solidarity Council in Canberra on
Friday, 5 February 2010. The speakers who echoed these sentiments included Dr
Zakir Rahmani, Dr Ejaz Qureshi, Mr Atiq ul Hassan, Mr Kashif Iqbal Bouns, Mr
Iqbal Khan, Convenor of the Kashmir Solidarity Council Canberra and Mr Javed
Butt, Executive Member of the Council.
Mr Iqbal Khan, a Canberran of Kashmir origin, presented a historical view of the
issue while Mr Javed Butt shared with the attendants history of the Kashmir
Solidarity Council and its aims and objectives.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ejaz Qureshi, an Australian economist of Kashmir
origin, highlighted the economic cost of the conflict and indicated that the
issue has caused massive under development in all sectors of Kashmir including
tourism, agriculture, horticulture and handicraft industries. He further said
that education and health sectors were worst hit, with innumerable psychological
problems conveniently neglected.
Dr Zakir Rahmani presented a strategic view of the issue and suggested that
similar to the international forum that was recently held in London about Afghan
conflict should be held in future. This forum should involve Pakistan, India,
Kashmir and world power to settle the Kashmir dispute. He further suggested that
in immediate future Canberra should organise an international forum on the
issue.
He was of the opinion that Canberra should organise a wider seminar on the
issue.
Mr Atiq ul Hassan, a Sydney journalist, writer and author of 'Australia for
Pakistan', drew attention of the attendants to the double standards of the
United Nations and Western powers. He questioned that if East Timor issue can be
resolved why Kashmir issue can not be resolved?
Mr Iqbal Bouns, a young voice from Canberra, expressed his grievance on the fact
that the issue had so far taken more than 93,000 lives. He reiterated that the
best solution of the problem was that 'Pakistan and Indian governments sit with
Kashmiris and come out with a solution acceptable to the Kashmiri citizens'.
The Kashmir Solidarity Council Canberra has been organising protest rallies,
awareness events and seminar in Canberra for the last nine years. The
organisation reiterates its commitment that it will keep on supporting the cause
of Kashmiris and will keep on increasing awareness of the issue around Canberra
and wider Australia. The organisation equally wishes it does not have to
organise any protest rally or seminar next year and the issue gets resolved
during the current year.
At the end of the seminar Mr Javed Butt thanked all the respected speaker, local
& interstate media groups (including OziForum Canberra & Sada-e-Watan Sydney)
and to the other guests for their participation in the seminar.
