British Parliament Presented with Kashmir Motion led by Barrister Imran Hussain MP

London — A motion on Kashmir, tabled in the British Parliament by newly elected chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Kashmir Group, Barrister Imran Hussain MP, calls on the United Kingdom to recognise the gravity of the Kashmir issue and to use its influence to secure freedom for the occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir from Indian control.

The parliamentary motion, put forward under the leadership of Barrister Imran Hussain, pays tribute to the sacrifices of martyrs on the occasion of Kashmir Black Day observed on 27 October. It says the day is observed by Kashmiris worldwide as an expression of solidarity and reflection on the loss of Kashmir’s special status after the events of 1947, and recognises the date for millions of Kashmiris as symbolising the continuing struggle for the right to self-determination — a right acknowledged repeatedly in United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The motion condemns decades of oppression, injustice, repression and grave human-rights violations allegedly committed by Indian armed forces, including the continuing application of laws such as the Public Safety Act and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which it says enable arbitrary detention and unaccountable use of force. It expresses deep concern that large numbers of political leaders and members of civil society remain detained without charge and without fair trial.

The House also criticises successive UK governments for failing to treat the Kashmir issue with the urgency and international attention it warrants, a failure the motion says has exacerbated the crisis. It stresses that lasting peace in the region will only be possible if the voices and aspirations of the Kashmiri people are included in any negotiations. The motion urges the international community to recognise Kashmir as an international dispute requiring coordinated diplomatic action, not merely bilateral efforts.

The parliamentary motion calls on the UK government to accept its moral, historic and legal responsibilities, to play a constructive role in resolving the long-running dispute, and to ensure the Kashmiri people’s inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with UN-recognised resolutions.

Raja Najabat Hussain, founder-chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Movement for the Right to Self-Determination International and recipient of the Sitara-e-Pakistan, appealed to Kashmiris across the UK — councillors, members of Parliament, international media and human-rights bodies — to urge their MPs through meetings, emails and letters to sign the motion. He said signatures would help trigger a robust parliamentary debate to highlight the latest situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and to acquaint British MPs and political leaders with the “very serious” conditions and ongoing human-rights violations there, which he said have persisted for the past 78 years.

Raja Najabat Hussain telephoned Barrister Imran Hussain to congratulate him and his team, calling the tabling of the motion on Black Day and the planned campaign for Jammu Martyrs’ Day a major show of support and solidarity for Kashmiris. He said the entire Kashmiri nation was grateful to Barrister Imran Hussain and his colleagues.

Jammu & Kashmir Movement for the Right to Self-Determination International officials and members said they will work across their constituencies and with like-minded political parties, local leaders, councillors, mayors and community representatives to secure signatures from more than 100 British MPs. Their stated aim is to raise awareness in Parliament of the severity of the Kashmir issue, press for an immediate withdrawal of Indian armed forces from occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and leverage the UK’s international influence to secure Kashmiri self-determination through UN-endorsed resolutions.