Islamabad : Senator Sherry Rehman, Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), expressed unwavering solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir on their Right to Self-Determination Day, observed on January 5. She paid tribute to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on his 98th birth anniversary, recognizing his historic contributions to Pakistan and its people.
“Today, we stand with Kashmiris not only in remembrance but in solidarity,” Senator Rehman said. “On January 5, 1949, the United Nations guaranteed the people of Jammu and Kashmir the right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite. This day reminds the UN and its member states of the unfulfilled promise made to the Kashmiri people — a promise that still awaits implementation.”
She underscored the decades of repression endured by the people of Kashmir, stating, “Despite extreme hardships, Kashmiris have remained resolute in their demand for their inalienable right to self-determination. They wake up each day asking: Who stands with us? Our answer is clear — Pakistan stands with Kashmir.”
Citing documented figures from the Kashmir Media Service, Senator Rehman said, “Over 500,000 Kashmiris have been killed since 1947, 3.5 million displaced, and more than 168,000 arbitrarily detained since 1989. Over 110,000 homes have been destroyed, 22,963 women widowed, and 11,259 women subjected to rape or molestation as a weapon of war. More than 1,200 children have been blinded by pellet guns. These are not just statistics — these are shattered worlds, stolen childhoods, and families torn apart. These are statistics of shame for humanity.”
She described Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as the largest open-air prison in the world, where daily life unfolds under constant surveillance, fear, and trauma. She warned that India is pursuing an engineered demographic transformation of a Muslim-majority region in violation of the Geneva Conventions, UN Security Council resolutions, and fundamental principles of international law and human rights.
“Kashmir is not real estate,” she said. “It belongs to its people, whose voices have been systematically silenced for generations.”
Senator Rehman reaffirmed Pakistan’s clear and unwavering support for the Kashmiri people in their struggle for freedom, stating, “Justice delayed for Kashmir is justice denied — and silence is complicity.”
On the occasion of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s 98th birth anniversary, Senator Rehman paid tribute to the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party, calling him a visionary leader and a champion of the people.
“Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a wise, farsighted, and astute leader with deep empathy for the people,” she said. “He guided the country through crises and elevated Pakistan’s standing on the global stage.”
She underscored his historic accomplishments, including the 1973 Constitution as a milestone of political insight and citizen rights, and initiatives such as nuclear development, industrial growth, agricultural reforms, public transport, and allocating 43% of the budget for health and education. “He empowered citizens to participate in decision-making and ensured identification through the national ID system,” she added.
Senator Rehman recalled Bhutto’s enduring legacy in both domestic and international affairs, including his efforts to unite Muslim nations and highlight the Kashmir issue globally.
She emphasized that under the leadership of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari, the party continues to uphold the people-centered philosophy of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
“Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto remains alive in the hearts of the people, and his struggle for justice and democracy will always be remembered in Pakistan’s history,” she concluded.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
