ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the joint session of Parliament on Tuesday, calling on the international community to act against the bigoted politics of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
“They (BJP) have a racist ideology. In Kashmir, they have acted according to their ideology, against their constitution, Supreme Court verdict and United Nations resolutions.”
The prime minister informed Parliament that revoking Article 370 was part of BJP’s election manifesto, saying their forefathers were from the RSS. The prime minister stressed that the Kashmir struggle would intensify after India’s move of abolishing Article 370.
“They (BJP) do not consider Kashmiris as their equals. They will try to crush them which will lead to a reaction which can be a Pulwama like incident. They will blame us [Pakistan] for this.”
The prime minister feared that there would be ethnic cleansing in Kashmir.
“I kept on telling them [BJP] after Pulwama that two nuclear-armed neighbours cannot take such risks and we should resolve our problems through dialogue.”
Prime Minister Khan warned of a conventional war between Pakistan and India in light of another Pulwama-like situation which could arise if the situation in Kashmir kept on deteriorating.
“This will be a war that no one will win and the implications will be global.”
The prime minister said this was not nuclear blackmail but he was appealing to common sense. “Is the world prepared for this? We appeal to the world that a country which is violating laws, there will be serious consequences if the world does not intervene.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan compared the BJP to the Nazi party in Germany. “Theirs is the ideology which killed Mahatma Gandhi. If the world does not act and does not uphold its own laws then we will not be responsible.”
“I want to make it clear that we will fight this at every forum,” Khan said.
Khan added his party would travel to the West and inform them of the violations taking place in Indian occupied Kashmir. “It is our job to raise this issue in the world.
Speaking briefly on his meeting with US President Trump, Prime Minister Khan said had asked the US President to intervene in the Kashmir issue on good faith.
Kashmir issue has direct link to Pakistan: Shehbaz
PML-N President and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said the session was called on an emerging issue which had a direct link to the foundation of Pakistan.
“Pakistan is of Kashmiris and Kashmiris are of Pakistan,” he said.
Shehbaz Sharif said that even after the passage of 24 hours the government had not presented its policy and strategy to counter the assault by Modi.
“There is every chance of genocide over there [occupied Kashmir]. What are we planning on doing?”
Shehbaz added that the Modi government had not only snatched the rights of the Kashmiris but also challenged the honour of Pakistan and slapped the United Nations Security Council.
Speaking on Prime Minister Khan’s meeting with US President Trump, Shehbaz Sharif said India twice negated the offer of Trump to mediate on the Kashmir issue.
“Modi quietly prepared for what happened in Kashmir,” he added.
Shehbaz said it was Modi who was the hurdle in establishing peace in Afghanistan.
“Was this President Trump’s trump card of trap card,” Shehbaz asked.
“We accepted the offer of Trump [to mediate]. Was our government not prepared for Modi’s intentions? Our government had no clue and were happy about Trump’s offer.”
Terming this a major failure, Shehbaz said the country was at a crossroads. “Either we stand firm or bow down, Bowing down is out of the question. We have to stand firm for Kashmir. I believe Narendra Modi has gone to the last extent to coax Pakistan. We have to decide that this is not just about Kashmir but about Pakistan’s independence.”
Shehbaz asked why China, Saudi Arabia and UAE had not said anything on Kashmir, terming it isolation.
Sharif said the 220 million people of Pakistan were with the people of Kashmir.
“I think we should approach the tap UNSC, OIC and our bilateral relations to give a firm response to Modi. If we take a firm stand against Modi and make preparations to counter his move we will be fully supportive.”
The opposition leader said together there should be a promise made that Modi’s actions would be foiled and would continue to fight for the independence of Kashmiris.
Meeting with Trump not on India: PM Imran
In response to Sharif, PM Imran Khan said the meeting with Trump was not on India but rather on the situation in Afghanistan. “We are not a hired gun but it is in our interest that there is peace in Afghanistan. The US has accepted our point of view that there is no military solution to Afghanistan.”
The prime minister said the entire region was at a standstill during the Kashmir issue which he brought up in the meeting with Trump.
Prime Minister Khan added that his government had approached the UN and OIC on the Kashmir issue.
Bilawal laments lack of action in session
Addressing the House, Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto said that the session was unable to pass any resolution or complete any action.
Bilawal lamented the lack of eminent leaders from the session such as Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, other PML-N lawmakers and Waziristan MNAs.
“All we have heard are personal attacks,” said the PPP Chairman.
He said that India, violating international conventions, has unleashed violence against Kashmiris.
Bilawal said that India’s unilateral action was against the ideology of former Indian leaders such as Nehru, Gandhi and Vajpayee.
