ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution paying rich tributes to Syed Ali Geelani (late), who was a veteran Kashmiri leader, for his struggle for the right to self-determination of Kashmiri people.
The resolution moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of the iconic leader of the Kashmiri freedom movement.
The resolution recognised that the late leader devoted all his life to the freedom movement and always raised his voice for the rights of oppressed Kashmiri people and against the Indian atrocities. Geelani gave further impetus to the freedom movement by facing all sorts of oppression, including incarceration.
The house noted that the famous words of Syed Ali Geelani that ‘Hum Hain Pakistani Aur Pakistan Hamara Hai (We are Pakistani and Pakistan is ours) became a unanimous slogan of Kashmiri nation. His life is a beacon of light for the Kashmiri youth.
The house strongly condemned the repressive Indian regime for snatching the body of Syed Ali Geelani from his family, denying him the proper burial as per the Muslim traditions, and lodging fake cases against the bereaved family. It demanded of the international community especially the Muslim Ummah to stop India from such cheap tactics.
The house expressed the confidence that the Kashmiri people will succeed in their just struggle for the right to self-determination.
The house also offered fateha for the departed souls of Syed Ali Geelani and former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Ataullah Mengal.
Earilier, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Syed Agha Rafiullah, after consulting with PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar, said that summoning the assembly on such short notice is not appropriate.
Rafiullah also lamented that locking the press gallery during President Arif Alvi’s address to the joint session of the parliament was something that had “never happened even during military rule”.
Qamar took the floor and expressed regret over the session being called at such short notice.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s Saad Rafique also endorsed the PPP leaders’ statements.
