Brussels(Belgium): Brussels Capital Region lawmaker Dr. Manzoor Zahoor Ellahi has signed a petition extending his support in creating awareness regarding the proposed annexation of Gilgit Baltistan and the construction of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Ellahi, a Pakistani-born lawmaker and a member of the Socialist Party of Belgium (Parti Socialiste), also happens to be the doctor of Pakistani embassy in Brussels. He signed the petition along with Motaher Chowdhury, the local councilor for Ixelles-Brussels.
The Europe-wide signature campaign is being organized by Junaid Qureshi, a Kashmiri writer, international human rights activist and a senior leader of the Jammu Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party (JKDLP). In Brussels, the Signature Campaign was held on May 7 and 8.
The organizer for Overseas Affairs of United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) based in Pakistani Administered Kashmir, Dr. Ishaq Khan, also visited the venue of the signature campaign to sign the petition and expressed his support.
“We stand against all designs which divide our motherland further and we will not allow anyone to loot our resources. We stand against the division of Jammu and Kashmir, the proposed annexation of Gilgit Baltistan by Pakistan and the construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor which is being built without any say or consent from the people of Gilgit Baltistan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Qureshi expressed his satisfaction regarding the progress of the Signature Campaign.
“Hundreds of signatures were already collected in the first leg of the signature campaign in The Netherlands. Brussels, being the unofficial capital of Europe, seat of the European Parliament and home to other European institutions, proved to be a very successful city for our Campaign,” he said.
He hoped to gather the same positive response from the public in Vienna, Geneva, Paris and various cities of UK.
Talking about the campaign, he said, “More than three thousand pamphlets and flyers were distributed to the public and more than 500 signatures were collected in just 2 days. I am also very humbled by the visit and support of MP Manzoor Zahoor Ellahi and Councilor Motaher Chowdhury. It clearly shows that human rights issues stand above party politics or other sentimental alliances”.
Expressing his delight over Ellahi’s support, Qureshi said, “It is very encouraging to see that a Pakistani MP is supporting our efforts against the annexation of Gilgit Baltistan and the construction of CPEC. This should serve as a wake-up call to the Pakistani establishment and all other supporters of Pakistan’s duplicitous policy on Jammu and Kashmir.”
