Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif names 22 MPs to rake up Kashmir issue at international level

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to highlight "the Indian brutalities and human rights abuses" in Jammu and Kashmir in key parts of the world. "I have decided to send these parliamentarians for fighting the Kashmir cause in different parts of the World. These special envoys have strength of the people of Pakistan, prayers from the Kashmiri people across the Line of Control, mandate of the Parliament and support from the government", the Prime Minister said in a statement. "I am standing behind these special envoys to ensure their toil for highlighting the Kashmir Cause resonates across the world so that I can shake the collective conscience of the international community during my address at the UN this September", he added. Sharif stated that Pakistan will remind the United Nations of its long-held promise of self determination to the Kashmiri people and make it clear to India that it was India that approached the bloc several decades back on the issue but not fulfilling its promise. The Kashmir issue is the most persistent failure of the UN, he said. Sharif reiterated that Pakistan cannot relent from the Kashmir cause by any stretch of imagination. Jammu and Kashmir has been under curfew and restrictions since protests broke out over the killing of Hizbul Mujahdeen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces. At least 70 civilians have died in clashes between protesters and security forces and thousands injured in the worst violence to hit the Valley in many years.