Raja Sikandar Khan Affirms: India’s Repeal of Jammu and Kashmir’s Special Status Does Not Eclipse the Core Issue of Kashmir

London: Raja Sikander Khan, Chairman of the Kashmiri International outfit Global Pak Kashmir Supreme Council, along with President Kala Khan, took the lead in a peaceful protest outside the Indian High Commission in London. The demonstration drew hundreds of participants from diverse backgrounds and was organized by Global Pak Kashmir Supreme Council, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, and British Kashmiris. Despite adverse weather conditions marked by heavy rain, the protesters turned out in significant numbers.
The protest commemorated the infamous date of August 5, 2019, when India altered the identity and demographic landscape of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Articles 370 and 35A of its constitution. This action, deemed an infringement upon the internationally recognized disputed territory, led to the illegal detention of numerous Hurriyat leaders, ulemas, students, journalists, and human rights activists across Indian and occupied Kashmir.
Protesters displayed banners and placards expressing solidarity with the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir while condemning India’s brutal actions over the past 76 years. Chants and slogans reverberated in support of their struggle for self-determination.

Addressing the media, the President of Global Pak Kashmir Supreme Council emphasized that India’s removal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status cannot obscure the core issue of Kashmir’s right to self-determination. The determination of the Kashmiri people to assert their birthright remains unwavering.
Chief Raja Sikander Khan, during his media interview, articulated the protest’s objective to shine a light on the relentless atrocities committed by Indian authorities within the Indian occupied Kashmir. He called for an immediate end to the brutality and urged India to restore the region’s pre-August 5, 2019 status.
Advisor to the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Ch Dil Pazeer, implored the international community, including the UN and EU, to play a pivotal role in ending the human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed the importance of adhering to the United Nations Security Council resolutions that advocate for the self-determination of the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Haji Mohammad Saddique, Former President of UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of Brent Mosque, passionately demanded the unconditional release of detained Kashmiri political prisoners, including figures like Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, and Khurram Pervaiz, highlighting their illegal detainment.
Yasir Mahmood Alam from Brent Islamic Centre asserted that the fight against Indian atrocities will persist until justice is served for the innocent people of Indian occupied Kashmir. He called for an immediate halt to acts of torture, rape, and violence, advocating for the fundamental right of self-determination to be granted to the people of the region.