The Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi has reiterated Pakistan’s demands to the International Community to take urgent steps to stop human rights violations and crimes against humanity in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K), Eurasia Diary reports citing the Dispatch News Desk (DND).

In his message on International Human Rights Day bring observed on Tuesday (December 10, 2019), Qureshi said that as we commemorate this day, we must remember the people under occupation, facing gross human rights violations and being denied fundamental freedoms including the right to self-determination.

The foreign minister said that the people of IOJ&K continue to face the worst form of brutalization and abuses by Indian occupation forces. He said that post-5 August, India has applied draconian measures to suppress Kashmiri voices from reaching the international community.

Qureshi said that it is the obligation of the International Community to urge India to implement all UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and fulfil its own obligations related to protection of the rights of women and children.

“On this day, let me reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of Occupied Jammu & Kashmir in their just struggle for human dignity, respect of all fundamental freedoms, and realization of their inalienable right to self-determination,” he said.

International Human Rights Day is annually observed on December 10

Shah Mahmood Qureshi further said that more than seven decades have passed since adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), promising a world based on equality and protection of fundamental freedoms of all human beings without discrimination. He said that being one of the first signatories of the UDHR, Pakistan joins the International Community in celebrating Human Rights Day, and reaffirming our resolve to promote the human rights agenda.

The foreign minister said that our government is fully committed to advancing and safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms of all our people in accordance with our Constitution and national laws. Mindful of our international and domestic obligations, we will continue to take institutional, legal and administrative steps to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights, he added.

Qureshi further said that we are following a multi-pronged strategy of advancing complementary objectives of sustainable development, human rights and democracy to create an inclusive society for all our citizens without discrimination, as envisioned by the Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

“As a responsible State, Pakistan has always supported inter-cultural and inter-religious harmony and mutual understanding. We believe in constructive engagement and cooperation among all stakeholders to further the cause of human rights,” the foreign minister said.

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