Latest news with #FahimKayani
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK president lauds APPG Kashmir chair for timely meeting after Indo-Pak conflict
Fahim Kayani, President All Parties Alliance UK and President Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Imran Hussain MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Kashmir, for organising a successful and timely APPG meeting in the wake of India's recent aggression that violated Pakistan's sovereignty. The heightened tensions brought both countries to the brink of nuclear war, underlining the urgent need for a political resolution to the Kashmir conflict. The APPG meeting, attended by cross-party Members of Parliament, served as a critical platform to highlight the ongoing human rights violations iand to reaffirm the Kashmiri people's inalienable right to self-determination. Imran Hussain MP Chair APPG for Kashmir made it unequivocally clear to UK Ministers that the central issue in the Kashmir conflict remains the right of the Kashmiri people to determine their own future. He emphasized that this decades-old dispute must be resolved in line with international law and relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, which guarantee Kashmiris a free and impartial plebiscite to decide their destiny. While commending the APPG for Kashmir's principled role, Fahim Kayani, President TeK UK, stated during a media briefing: 'Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint between two neighbouring powers—India and Pakistan. Without addressing the core issue of self-determination, lasting peace in the South Asian region cannot be achieved. The Indian government's current trajectory under its extremist Hindutva ideology poses a direct threat not only to regional peace but also to international security.' Kayani further called on the United Kingdom to recognise and fulfil its long-standing responsibilities: 'The UK, as a former colonial power in the region and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has a unique legal, moral, and historic obligation to ensure the implementation of UN Resolutions on Kashmir. The people of Kashmir must be allowed to determine their own future, free from Indian occupation, oppression, and systemic state terrorism .' Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK reiterated its unwavering commitment to the peaceful struggle for justice, human rights, and self-determination for the people of Kashmir, and called upon the international community to hold the Indian government accountable for its continuous violations of international law and human rights standards.
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
GB CM expresses solidarity with Kashmiris amid Indian aggression
Listen to article Terming Pahalgam incident a false flag operation orchestrated by India, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan expressed solidarity with Kashmiris. A delegation of Kashmiri leaders, including Raja Fahim Kayani, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK and the All Parties Kashmir Alliance UK and Altaf Ahmed Bhat, leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement met the GB chief minister. Talking to Kashmiri leaders, the GB CM said, "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Kashmiri brethren," adding, "What happened in Pahalgam was not a tragic mishap but a calculated scheme to isolate Pakistan on the world stage." He urged that the United Nations must uphold its resolutions on Kashmir, halt the demolition of civilian homes, and stop all human rights violations in IIOJ&K. The delegation termed the Pahalgam attack as a 'false flag operation' engineered to tarnish Pakistan's reputation and drape the Kashmiris' struggle for self-determination in a cloak of violence. They underlined that such orchestrated events only deepen the trauma endured by ordinary families living under persistent threat. "Our people have already borne the heaviest burdens," said Kayani. "Attempts to paint us as aggressors will never mute the cries of mothers mourning their children. This was no isolated incident. It is part of a broader strategy to distract from the daily injustices in IIOJ&K. We must unite our voices and demand accountability what has been doing with people in IIoJK," said Bhat.
Express Tribune
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Kashmiri women's struggle highlighted in UK
On the occasion of International Women's Day, Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) UK hosted a thought-provoking webinar titled "The Silent Victims: Kashmiri Women's Struggle Under Indian Occupation Since 1947." The event shed light on the ongoing human rights abuses faced by Kashmiri women under Indian occupation, particularly the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, enforced disappearances, and draconian laws that have left thousands in a state of perpetual suffering. The term "half widow" refers to thousands of Kashmiri women whose husbands have been forcibly disappeared by Indian forces, leaving them in a state of legal, economic, and emotional uncertainty. These women struggle to provide for their families while being denied closure or justice. The webinar was chaired by Fahim Kayani, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, and moderated by Rehana Ali, Information Secretary of TeK UK. Human rights activists, political leaders, and international advocates came together to highlight the urgent need for global intervention in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK), where women continue to bear the brunt of the decades-long conflict. In his opening remarks, Fahim Kayani praised the resilience of Kashmiri women, stating, "Kashmiri women have shown great courage in the face of Indian military occupation. Despite being subjected to sexual violence, enforced disappearances of their loved ones, and extreme human rights violations, they remain steadfast in their fight for self-determination. The international community must acknowledge and take action against these atrocities." Rehana Ali, Information Secretary of TeK UK, said that Asiya Andrabi, Naheed Nasreen, Fehmeeda Sofi, and many other Kashmiri women activists have been arrested under draconian laws like the Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). These laws are often used to silence political dissent in Kashmir, targeting not just male activists but also women who play a role in the resistance. Former Cllr Summara Khurshid praised the resilience of Kashmiri women, calling them "silent warriors" who continue to advocate for their people's rights despite immense challenges. Cllr Majid Hussain delivered a powerful speech, emphasizing that the world has turned a blind eye to the suffering of Kashmiri women: "On this International Women's Day, we honor the strength of women worldwide. But today, I want to focus on the unheard cries of Kashmiri womenthe silent victims of one of the world's longest-standing conflicts. For decades, they have faced violence, displacement, and the pain of losing their loved ones. Their sons and husbands have disappeared, their dignity has been violated, yet their struggle remains overlooked by the global community." Hussain urged the international community to take concrete action, stating that "justice delayed is justice denied." Turkish human rights activist Sheri Hamid said the militarization of Kashmir has disproportionately affected women. From mass rapes like Kunan-Poshpora (1991) to enforced disappearances of their husbands, Kashmiri women have suffered immensely. However, they have also organized resistance in powerful ways.
Express Tribune
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
British MP highlights rights violations in IIOJK
A crucial debate on human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir was held in the UK House of Commons, led by Sarah Smith MP. The debate highlighted the repression under Indian occupation, drawing attention to arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses. Fahim Kayani, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK and All Parties Kashmir Alliance UK, congratulated Sarah Smith MP for bringing the issue to the UK Parliament, stating that the discussion exposed the "brutal face of Indian occupation in Kashmir." Opening the debate, Sarah Smith MP criticized India's occupation forces, stating that they continue to enforce "repressive policies, including arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, and other serious abuses." She highlighted that laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, and the Public Safety Act obstruct justice, impede accountability, and deprive victims of their rights. Amnesty International also raised concerns, stating that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act gives Indian forces "de facto legal immunity" for human rights violations, while the UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor stressed that "states must respect human rights obligations and be held accountable for violations." Amnesty's review of habeas corpus petitions revealed a sevenfold increase in Public Safety Act cases after 2019, disproportionately affecting Muslim-majority areas like Srinagar over Hindu-majority Jammu. Several MPs called for the UK to condition its trade agreements with India on improvements in human rights in Kashmir Imran Hussain MP highlighted 70 years of suffering, persecution, and oppression faced by Kashmiris. He condemned enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and what he described as the world's largest military occupation. Ayoub Khan MP questioned the UK's stance on human rights, asking, "How can we claim to champion human rights while turning a blind eye to atrocities in Indian occupied Kashmir?" He compared Kashmir's situation to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, criticizing Western inaction. Tahir Ali MP challenged India's democratic claims, asking, "If India is the world's largest democracy, why does it refuse international observers in Kashmir?" He condemned extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and the use of pellet guns against schoolchildren, asserting that Kashmir is not a bilateral issue but a matter of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. A number of British MPs, including Andy McDonald, Stella Creasy, Yasmin Qureshi, Jim Shannon, Harpreet Uppal, Gareth Snell, Wendy Morton, and Paul Waugh, participated in the debate, raising concerns over human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The debate reinforced growing international concern over occupied Kashmir and called for greater accountability, transparency, and global intervention to address the ongoing human rights crisis.
Express Tribune
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Kashmir Solidarity Conference held in Italy
Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) Europe successfully concluded its two-week Kashmir Solidarity Campaign with a grand Kashmir Solidarity Conference in Brescia, Italy. The event was organized to express unwavering support for the people of Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their ongoing struggle for the right to self-determination and to condemn the atrocities committed by Indian forces. This conference marked the largest Kashmir solidarity gathering in Europe, bringing together Pakistani and Kashmiri communities from various cities across Italy. A procession led by TeK branch presidents entered the venue, symbolizing their unity and commitment to the Kashmir cause. Babar Warriach, President of TeK Europe Italy, and Waseem Raja, Secretary General of TeK Europe Italy, warmly welcomed all attendees. The event was graced by several high-profile dignitaries, including Afzal Khan, Member of the UK Parliament; Fahim Kayani , President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK and All Parties Kashmir Alliance UK; Ahmed Waleed, Assistant Consul General of Milan; Waqar Khan, Community Welfare Attaché and Shamim Shawl, APHC CEC member. Afzal Khan MP, the chief guest, lauded TeK leadership for successfully uniting various political parties on a single platform in support of Kashmir. He urged people to actively engage in politics by joining political parties and contesting elections as councillors, MPs, and MEPs. He emphasized that political representation provides a crucial opportunity to effectively advocate against injustices in Kashmir and around the world. Afzal Khan MP also highlighted the significant role of Kashmiri women in the freedom struggle against Indian occupation. He called on the global feminist movement to address the plight of Kashmiri women, particularly the "half widows" a term for women whose husbands have been forcibly disappeared, leaving them in a state of uncertainty about their fate. Fahim Kayani, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK and All Parties Kashmir Alliance UK, strongly criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him the political face of the RSSa Hindu nationalist organization that, he stated, idealized Hitler in its literature. He asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 was part of Modi's agenda for a "Greater India." Kayani further highlighted a statement made by the Indian Consul General in New York, in which he suggested that India should adopt Israel's model of displacing Palestinians through illegal settlements to alter the region's demographic structure. Kayani warned that India is replicating this strategy in Kashmir, violating the Fourth Geneva Convention and international law. He urged the global community to take immediate action to stop India's demographic terrorism in Kashmir.
