Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, has reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Jammu & Kashmir on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In his message, the Federal Minister strongly condemned the unlawful and unilateral actions taken by India on August 5, 2019, which stripped Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) of its special constitutional status. He emphasized that these measures not only violated international law and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, but also led to gross human rights violations.
Minister Shah called upon the United Nations and other international bodies to raise their voices in support of the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination, as enshrined in numerous UN resolutions. He stressed that no use of force can suppress the Kashmiri people's peaceful struggle for their legitimate rights.
He affirmed that the people of Jammu & Kashmir will never back down from their pursuit of fundamental human, political, and democratic rights. He urged that international human rights organizations and independent media must be given access to IIOJK to expose the ground realities to the world.
“Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to the cause of self-determination for the Kashmiri people,” he added. “There can be no lasting peace in South Asia until India reverses its illegal actions of August 5, 2019.”
Terming Youm-e-Istehsal not a day of silence but a day of standing up for truth and justice, the Federal Minister committed that Pakistan will continue its principled struggle until the Kashmiri people are granted their rightful freedom and dignity.
Embargoed: Not to be published/broadcast/telecast before 5 August 2025
