By Waqar Naseem Wamiq

RIYADH — Expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir and highlighting the human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), the Embassy of Pakistan organized an Inter-School Declamation Competition in its Chancery Hall titled “Human Rights Violations — The Case of Kashmir and Palestine”.

The ceremony, which was presided by Ambassador Khan Hasham Bin Saddique, was attended by a large number of Pakistani students, journalists, members of Kashmir Overseas Forum and citizens from different walks of life. Mudassar Khan conducted the proceedings of the program.

Twelve participants including Awad ul Haq, Tehreem Sultan, Ashahad Ali, Neha Arif, Omer Abbasi, Khadija Naeem, Mohammad Saifuddin, Hina Tufail, Umar Ansar, Zainab Riaz, Wasam Yaseen and Syeda Sughra Kia (six boys and six girls) from the six Pakistani international schools of the various regions of Saudi Arabia — Riyadh, Hofuf, Qaseem, Jubail and Khobar participated in the competition and presented their views in a very comprehensive manner.

A special panel of Judges Mian Nisar Ali Khan, Dr. Tuba Khan and Ehsan Abbasi governed the contest that saw Neha Arif from Al-Jubail, Mohammed Saifuddin from Al-Khobar and Tehreem Sultan from PISES Riyadh emerge as the first, second and third position winners respectively.

The winners were awarded with the appreciation shields and all the participants were awarded with the certificates of appreciations by the Ambassador of Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Saddique, expressed the strong commitment of the government of Pakistan to resolve the long outstanding dispute of Kashmir in accordance with the will of Kashmiri people and relevant Security Council resolutions. He urged all students, community members and media personnel to effectively play their role in bringing forth the atrocities in IOK to international media and other regional/international organizations through all possible means especially the electronic and social media.

A just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, is necessary for lasting peace in South Asia. He hoped that those days were not far away when the Kashmiri people will ultimately breath in an atmosphere of serenity and peace.

Speeches were also made on the genesis of the Kashmir issue and struggle of Kashmiri people by distinguished and prominent speakers belonging to Kashmir including Prof. Dr. Afshan Khan and Sardar Muhammad Razzaq Khan.

Earlier, the program began with the recitation of verses from the holy Qur’an by Qari Naimatullah and the welcome note were given by the Head of Chancery Saifullah Khan. DHM Dr. Bilal Ahmed, Political Counselor Sardar Muhammad Khattak, Community Welfare Attaché Sheikh Abdul Shakoor and Mahmood Latif were also present on the ocassion.

During the event, a documentary shedding light on the historic background of the event, struggle of the Kashmiri people and the atrocities being perpetrated by the Indian forces was also screened. First Secretaries Omer Malik and Shahid Iqbal read out the messages of the president and the prime minister of Pakistan on Kashmir Solidarity Day.

The ceremony also featured unveiling of an Arabic book titled ‘Kashmir Crises (unresolved issue of Muslim Ummah) — Opinions & Analysis’, written by a Jordanian author Omer Al-Armouti, copies of which were also distributed among the participants.