British lawmaker pledges support as UK marks Kashmir Martyrs day

BIRMINGHAM – A newly elected UK lawmaker pledged that he will raise voice for right to self-determination to Kashmir in and outside the British Parliament.

Ayoub Khan MP, who won as an independent lawmaker, said his support for Kashmir will not any red line since he is not representing any particular party in the British parliament.

“Our fight for Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir has to capture the minds of the fair-minded public. That is important,” Khan told an event in Birmingham which marked Kashmir Martyrs Day.

July 13 is commemorated as Kashmir Martyrs Day in Indian Illegally occupied Kashmir, in Azad Kashmir, in Pakistan and across the world, in memory of 21 Kashmiris who were shot dead by autocrat Hindu Dogra ruler of Kashmir in 1931.

Lauding Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK President Fahim Kayani for being “instrumental” in mobilizing support among the British lawmakers, Khan said: we have to be strategic.”

Khan said India’s growing economic ties with Russia was an opportunity to exploit in favor of Kashmir since Moscow has been condemned as “rogue state,” for its invasion of Ukraine.

“In the House of Commons, I will raise this because sometimes, timing is very important,” he said.

India has defied the US, the EU and other allied nations on Russia. New Delhi has not condemned Moscow over war in Ukraine.

Khan said the UK was not only responsible for partition of 1947 in South Asia, “but also responsible for what is taking place.”

Kayani, a prominent Kashmiri diaspora figure, thanked MP Khan for his support and clarity on the issue of Kashmir.

“Your win is a win for voiceless Kashmiris,” Kayani said, addressing the event. “This needs to be institutionalized and for that grassroots support among the community is must.”

Exiled Hurriyat Conference leader Nazir Ahmed Qureshi recalled the great sacrifices made by Kashmiris during the event.

“The sacrifices made by 21 Kashmiris on July 13, 1931 is a legacy for resistance movement,” Qureshi said.

Mulana Tariq Masood President APKCC , Farooq ul Qadari Sec Gen APKCC , Khawajah Suleman TeK UK, Mulana Imdad ul Hasan Nomani, Mufti Abdul Majeed Nadeem TeK UK, and Naib Mughal APKCC spoke on the occasion.