OIC Secretariat in collaboration with Pakistan Consulate Jeddah organized a seminar and photo exhibition on Kashmir

Special Representative of the OIC Secretary General on Jammu and Kashmir Ambassador Abdullah Al-Alim reiterated OIC’s full support to the people of Kashmir in their legitimate struggle for the fundamental right to self-determination. He said this at the Seminar and Photo Exhibition on Kashmir jointly organized at the OIC Secretariat on 28th November 2016 by the Pakistan Consulate Jeddah and the OIC. Ambassador Alim said that recently the situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir has turned critical. The OIC called on the Indian Government to stop using force against the Kashmiri people. In his welcoming remarks, Consul General Mr. Shehryar Akbar Khan said that the event was organized to mark the illegal entry of Indian force into occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. After the extra-judicial killing of Burhan Wani on 8 July 2016, the situation has worsened. More than 115 Kashmiris have lost their lives and 15,000 injured. Around 850 people have sustained severe eye injuries.

Mr. Ghulam Muhammad Safi, True Representative of Kashmiri People informed the audience about prevailing situation and continued human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. He called on international community to play its role so that Kashmiri people can exercise their inherent right of self-determination.

The Chairman, Kashmir Committee Jeddah, Mr. Masood Ahmad Puri, called upon the international community to break its deadly silence on the tragedy in Kashmir. He presented a resolution to Ambassador Abdullah Al-Alim, on behalf of the Kashmir Committee, Jeddah, calling the OIC to redouble its efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Manzoor ul Haq, Ambassador of Pakistan to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia thanked the OIC and Saudi Arabia for supporting the cause of the people of Kashmir. He highlighted the plight of the people of Kashmir and the gross human rights violations by the occupying forces. He said that Pakistan wants to resolve its disputes with India including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue and in a peaceful manner.

The photo exhibition and Seminar on Indian occupied Kashmir at the OIC Secretariat has become an annual feature for the past four years. The event was well attended by high level OIC officials, members of Diplomatic Corps, local dignitaries and representatives of Pakistan community.