Jammu Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party (JKDLP)’s Europe-wide Signature Campaign which started off in April in various European cities to create awareness regarding the Kashmir issue in general and in particular vis-a-vis the proposed annexation of Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistan and the “illegal construction” of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, is gaining support.On the 7th and 8th May, this Signature Campaign was held in the unofficial capital of Europe, Brussels. Dr. Manzoor Zahoor Ellahi, a Pakistani-born MP for the Brussels-Capital Regional Parliament and member of the Socialist Party of Belgium (Parti Socialiste) came to the venue of the Signature Campaign in Brussels city centre, to personally congratulate Junaid Qureshi for this unique and successful Signature Campaign.
Dr. Manzoor Zahoor Ellahi, who according to the official website of the Brussel’s Parliament (http://www.parlementfrancophone.brussels/le-parlement/les-parlementaires/zahoor-manzoor) also happens to be the Official Doctor of the Pakistani Embassy in Brussels (since 1999), signed the petition and expressed his support and appreciation for the laborious efforts of JKDLP to create awareness regarding the Kashmir-issue, proposed annexation of Gilgit Baltistan and the construction of CPEC.The Pakistani origin MP was accompanied by the local councilor for Ixelles-Brussels, Motaher Chowdhury. Both the MP and Councilor while expressing their support, signed the petition.
MP Manzoor Zahoor Ellahi while talking to Junaid Qureshi said, “I have always supported Kashmiris and I am against any further division of Jammu & Kashmir”. He concurred with the Kashmiri writer and Human Rights activist’s point of view that “the whole of Jammu & Kashmir belongs to its people and not to China, India or Pakistan”.The Signature Campaign also received support from other side of the LOC. The Organizer for Overseas Affairs of United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) based in Pakistani Administered Kashmir, Dr. Ishaq Khan also visited the venue of the Signature Campaign to sign the petition and express his support.
Dr. Ishaq Khan said, “We stand against all designs which divide our motherland further and we will not allow anyone to loot our resources. We stand against the division of Jammu & Kashmir, the proposed annexation of Gilgit Baltistan by Pakistan and the construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor which is being built without any say or consent from the people of Gilgit Baltistan”.
Junaid Qureshi expressed his satisfaction regarding the progress of the Signature Campaign. “Hundreds of signatures were already collected in the first leg of the signature campaign in The Netherlands. Brussels, being the unofficial capital of Europe, seat of the European Parliament and home to other European institutions, proved to be a very successful city for our Campaign. We hope to gather the same positive response from the public in Vienna, Geneva, Paris and various cities of UK”.
Qureshi added, “More than three thousand pamphlets and flyers were distributed to the public and more than 500 signatures were collected in just 2 days. I am also very humbled by the visit and support of MP Manzoor Zahoor Ellahi and Councilor Motaher Chowdhury. It clearly shows that human rights issues stand above party politics or other sentimental alliances”.
Junaid Qureshi further added, “It is very encouraging to see that a Pakistani MP is supporting our efforts against the annexation of Gilgit Baltistan and the construction of CPEC. This should serve as a wake-up call to the Pakistani establishment and all other supporters of Pakistan’s duplicitous policy on Jammu & Kashmir. The whole of Jammu & Kashmir belongs to its people and only the people of Jammu & Kashmir should decide its future after building a consensus among each other. Such annexation attempts complimented with intrusions by China will only further the divide and as such exacerbate the already deep complexities of the Kashmir-Issue. We all must raise our voice against it. I hope that many more will join us in due course of this campaign”. “We hope that every Kashmiri and all other people, irrespective of political ideology, caste, creed and religion will support our efforts against the further division of our motherland. People can also sign the petition online at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no-to-cpec", the statement said. (KNS)