“Grant Kashmiris their Right to Self-Determination,” urge Ch. Muhammad Yasin, Fahim Kayani, Dr. Yaseen Rehman, Fazal Ahmed Qadri, Syed Hussain Shaheed Sarwar, among others.

London, (Shahzad Ali) __ Hundreds of Kashmiris from various regions of the United Kingdom convened in London on Tuesday to conduct a significant and peaceful demonstration against India’s unilateral and unconstitutional actions taken on August 5, 2019, which involved the revocation of the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The protest march, organized by Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK in conjunction with several Kashmiri political and community organizations, commenced from 10 Downing Street and culminated outside the Indian High Commission.

During the rally, Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, Central President of the Pakistan Peoples Party Azad Kashmir and former Senior Minister, asserted, “Kashmiris must be granted their internationally recognized right to self-determination. We reject India’s unlawful abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, which were intended to safeguard the autonomous status and demographic identity of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Fahim Kayani, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, condemned the Indian government for what he characterized as “demographic terrorism.” He cautioned that thousands of Kashmiris have been incarcerated under severe legislative measures. He argued that it is unacceptable for the British government to prioritize trade over human rights, stating that neglecting the pleas of the oppressed is inconsistent with British values.

Demonstrators waved Kashmiri flags, displayed placards with slogans such as “Free Kashmir” and “India Out of Kashmir,” and called out pro-Kashmir chants. They demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners and advocated for the restoration of civil liberties and democratic rights in Kashmir, the deployment of a United Nations fact-finding mission, and the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that affirm the right to self-determination.

Other notable speakers at the protest included Dr. Yaseen Rehman, Fazal Ahmed Qadri, and Syed Hussain Shaheed Sarwar.

The protest attracted participation from a diverse array of Kashmiri leadership and diaspora organizations, including:

Haji Ch. Muhammad Qurban (Coordinator, Kashmir Solidarity Campaign, Luton); Aamir Yasin Chaudhry (Minister, AJK Government); Shah Nawaz Yasin Chaudhry (District Councillor, Kotli); Dr. Khalid Mehmood (Former Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami AJK); Sardar Usman Ali Khan (Chairman, MC Youth Wing); Inam-ul-Haq Khawajah (Secretary General, APIKCC); Muhammad Ghalib (Terek e Kashmir Europe leader, Birmingham); as well as Ch Muhammad Shareef, Ch Ramzan, Ch Ishtiaq, Sajid Malik of Terek e Kashmir, Riaz Butt (a Former Mayor, Luton), Ch. Idris Latif & Zainab Raja (Luton Councillors), Haji Ch. Shafaat Pothi (President, Luton Islamic Cultural Society), Professors Mumtaz Butt & Imtiaz Chaudhry (Muslim Conference), Raja Abdul Hameed (PML-N, Bhalwal), along with representatives from PTI Kashmir, PPP AJK, Muslim Conference, and other political and civil society organizations from Luton, Watford, Birmingham, and Bhalwal.

The demonstrators reiterated their call for international intervention and urged the British Parliament and government to adopt a principled stance on the issue. They demanded the immediate release of prominent political detainees, including Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Asiya Andrabi, Masarat Alam Bhat, and Dr. Abdullah Hameed Fiaz.

They cautioned that continued inaction regarding the Kashmir situation could escalate tensions and potentially lead to a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Consequently, they implored the international community to break its silence and actively seek to resolve the dispute in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

Following the protest, Ch. Muhammad Yasin, President of PPP AJK, expressed his commendations for the Pakistan Armed Forces and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, stating, “Through Operation Banyan-ul-Marsous, Pakistan has effectively responded to the threat. I honor the bravery of our armed forces and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their steadfast defense of national integrity.”