AIP holds conference over West Pak Refugees settlement issue

Srinagar, Jan 19 : Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) today under the leadership of party President and MLA Langate held a day -long conference on the move by Central Government to grant citizenship rights and other incentives to refugees from West Pakistan. The one day conference was titled “Conspiracy to Change Demographic and Constitutional Identity of Jammu and Kashmir” held here was dawned by eminent personalities belonging to diverse walks of life.

Maqbool Sahil, a prominent author in his speech said,” India on all instances of history has failed to solve the issue of Kashmir and tried to muzzle the rights of Kashmiris. We as a nation of Kashmir have successfully resisted every onslaught on our identity and now this fresh onslaught in form of granting citizenship rights to refugees of West Pakistan will be resisted successfully.”
Professor Syed Kirmani, Member Muslim Personal Law Board said, “The question of granting citizenship rights to the refugees of West Pakistan does not exist. The creators of 1947 scenario India and Pakistan should solve this mess and not thrust it on people of Jammu& Kashmir.”
Rameez Makhdoomi, Spokesman Jammu & Kashmir Young Journalist Association said, “Granting citizenship rights to refugees of West Pakistan can only happen over the dead bodies of the conscious citizens of Jammu & Kashmir and if nation of Jammu & Kashmir does not resist this onslaught than we are second Assam, Karachi in making.”
Professor Hameeda Nayeem, HOD English Department Kashmir University said, “After attempts to erode article 370 and 305 (A), now right wing forces are trying to grant citizenship rights to refugees of West Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir. We need to remember that ethnic rights are protected by international laws too. Only the Jammu & Kashmir assembly has power and right to grant citizenship rights to refugees of West Pakistan.”
While speaking ‘General’ Musa, a pro-freedom leader said that on these burning issues “we as a nation need to rise up above mainstream and pro-freedom polity front and forge a joint front to fight this onslaught.”
While speaking on the occasion, GN Shaheen, prominent lawyer said, “We need to remember that this issue of granting citizenship rights to west Pakistan refugees concerns one and all conscious citizen of Jammu & Kashmir. The political base of National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party would be wiped out if this dangerous move is implemented.”
The function was also attended by Ishfaq Majid’s father Abdul Majid Wani who reaffirmed that sacrifices of Kashmiris would never go waste.
Senior Industry chieftain and social activist Shakeel A Qalander while speaking on the occasion said, “We need to call this conference protection of Jammu & Kashmir Constitution. This issue of granting citizenship rights to West Pakistan is an issue of entire state and these refugees cannot be granted any citizenship rights under the parameters of logic and legality.”
Eminent Trade figures like Mohammad Yassen also termed the move to grant citizenship rights to these refugees as communal and full of bigotry.
AIP President Engineer Rashid modulated the programme and reaffirmed his resolve to fight tooth and nail any move to grant citizenship rights to west Pakistan refugees.