“Kashmiris were to be made part of Pakistan. In spirit they are part of Pakistan”: Munir Akram

Pakistan Mission to the UN Celebrates the 74th Independence Day in New York

“Kashmiris were to be made part of Pakistan. In spirit they are part of Pakistan”: Ambassador Munir Akram

Pakistan’s Independence Day was celebrated at Pakistan Mission to the United Nations, NewYork today. The national flag was hoisted by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Ambassador Munir Akram, as the national anthem was played.

The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran.

Ambassador Munir Akram congratulated all Pakistanis on celebrating the 74th Independence anniversary of Pakistan. He told the gathering that he believes that “for all of us the first sentiment on this day must be the sentiment of gratitude”.

Paying tribute to the founder of the nation, he said, “We should be grateful for the vision and foresight of our forefathers especially Quaid-e-Azam for having seen what is for the Muslims in the sub-continent at the time of independence” said the Permanent Representative to Pakistan in the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram.

Expressing his gratitude of being a free nation he said, “We are free to express ourselves, to be able to debate among each other because we are free. We are free because of Pakistan”.

He said that “The first and the central task of our very existence should be the preservation and prosperity of Pakistan”.

“On this independence day, we cannot forget people of Jammu and Kashmir: Ambassador Munir Akram said. “They were to be made part of Pakistan. In spirit they are part of Pakistan”: he stated further.

“They are facing a life death struggle. But this is a struggle also for identity because we were created as a homeland based on our identity as Muslims: he said.

Honoring Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani, leader for his long struggle which is over 70 years is recognition of the identity between the people of Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir: he said further.

He asked not to lose faith, “Our Quaid described Unity, faith and discipline and this was part of the vision he had that these three qualities are the qualities that are essential for the preservation of Pakistan and for its progress and prosperity”

“if you see our history of the last 70 years, it is a history of resilience, it’s a history where we survived so many setbacks”, he said and “we are today one of the strongest countries in the world, as a people, as a security, military force, as a economy, if you take all these factors into count, Pakistan is a powerful, influential and important country.”

Expressing his solidarity with the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he expressed his resolve that “today we must express our solidarity with the struggle of the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and resolve that we must not rest until their struggle for self-determination is successful”.

“We must also not forget those of our brothers and faith who were left behind in India. Today, they are the subject of systematic and brutal discrimination and organized violence by Hindu extremists”. So, our endeavor must also be to express our solidarity and seek justice and freedom from violence and discrimination for the Muslims of India.

Consul General New York, Ms Ayesha Ali read out the Independence Day message of President Arif Alvi while Deputy Permanent Representative Mr. Aamir Khan read out the message from Prime Minister Imran Khan on the occasion.

After the flag hoisting ceremony, Ambassador Munir Akram was joined by officers and members of the community in a group photograph to mark the 74th Independence Day of Pakistan.

The ceremony concluded with a ‘dua’ for the prosperity, progress and well-being of all Pakistanis.
The event was attended by officers and staff of the Mission at the United Nations and the Consulate General. During the celebration in Pakistan, all precautions were taken in connection with the corona virus.