​​​​​Freedom                             Democracy                        Equality

HISTORIC 7TH CENTRAL CONVENTION OF THE UNITED KASHMIR PEOPLE'S NATIONAL PARTY (UKPNP) HELD IN KOTLI ON AUGUST 24/25 , 2024. CENTRAL CABINET OF UKPNP IS ELECTED.THE NEWLY ELECTED CENTRAL CABINET INCLUDES SARDAR SHAUKAT ALI KASHMIRI AS CENTRAL CHAIRMAN; MADAM TANIA GUL SENIOR VICE CHAIRPERSON; AFRAIZ SHAHEEN VICE CHAIRMAN; SARDAR ISHTIAQ AHMED KHAN SECRETARY GENERAL; RAJA MUHAMMAD AZAM DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL; ISHTIAQ AHMED MIR CHIEF ORGANIZER; MAHBOOB BHATTI JOINT SECRETARY; SYEDA NIGHAT GARDEZI SECRETARY WOMEN'S AFFAIRS; SARDAR NASIR AZIZ KHAN CENTRAL SPOKESPERSON; JAMIL MAQSOOD PRESIDENT FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE; FARIA ATIQUE SECRETARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE; RAJA ZAHID GULZAR SECRETARY FINANCE BOARD; SARDAR TIKKA KHAN TAHIR SECRETARY PUBLICITY BOARD; SYED MUSHARRAF GILANI SECRETARY YOUTH AFFAIRS; SARDAR RASHID HUSSAIN SECRETARY LABOR AFFAIRS; ALONG WITH OTHERS MEMBERS OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES WERE ELECTED. DURING THIS HISTORICAL CONVENTION A NEW CENTRAL CABINET WAS ELECTED, DEMONSTRATING THE PARTY'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF UNITY, PEACE, AND THE LIBERATION OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR. THE CONVENTION WAS ATTENDED BY CENTRAL LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF UKPNP'S CENTRAL, ZONAL, REGIONAL, AND OVERSEAS BRANCHES WITH GREATEST ENTHUSIASM AND COMMITMENTS. PARTICIPANTS ARRIVED IN LARGE NUMBERS FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS OF AZAD KASHMIR AND GILGIT BALTISTAN, FORMING A LARGE RALLY THAT MARCHED THROUGH KOTLI CITY BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE CONVENTION VENUE. THE CITY AND VENUE ECHOED WITH PASSIONATE AND REVOLUTIONARY SLOGANS SUCH AS "WE WANT FREEDOM!" "FREEDOM IS OUR RIGHT!"END FORCED DIVISION" LEAVE OUR KASHMIR!"QUIT OUR COUNTRY,OCCUPATION IS UNACCEPTABLE!" "OUR RESOURCES,YOUR CONTROL IS UNACCEPTABLE!" UKPNP: LONG LIVE UKPNP:> RESOLUTIONS PASSED UKPNP 7TH CENTRAL CONVENTION: THE UNITED KASHMIR PEOPLE'S NATIONAL PARTY (UKPNP), A SECULAR AND DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, IS DEDICATED TO THE PEACEFUL PURSUIT OF CIVIL SOCIETY, POLITICAL, SOCIO-ECONOMIC, AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE HISTORICAL STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INCLUDING AZAD KASHMIR, GILGIT BALTISTAN, AND THE DIASPORA KASHMIRIS. THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED AT THE 7TH CENTRAL CONVENTION: AFFIRMATION OF POLITICAL UNITY:> THE ERSTWHILE STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR INCLUDING PARTS ARE RECOGNIZED AS ONE POLITICAL ENTITY. ITS UNIFICATION, STABILITY, PROSPERITY, AND SOVEREIGNTY ARE OUR ULTIMATE GOALS. STATUS OF AZAD KASHMIR AND GILGIT BALTISTAN:> AZAD KASHMIR AND GILGIT BALTISTAN ARE DECLARED LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL PARTS OF THE FORMER STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR. RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS ARE CAUTIONED AGAINST UNILATERALLY ALTERING THE STATUS OF THESE REGIONS, AS SUCH ACTIONS COULD SERIOUSLY AFFECT THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR DISPUTE AND PROVE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. JAMMU KASHMIR STATE SUBJECT RULE OF 1927:> EMPHASIZE THAT THE JAMMU KASHMIR STATE SUBJECT RULE OF 1927, WHICH PROVIDES IDENTITY AND SPECIAL STATUS TO ALL CITIZENS OF THE FORMER PRINCELY STATE, MUST NOT BE VIOLATED OR TAMPERED WITH IN ANY FORM. FORMATION OF A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY:> DEMAND THE FORMATION OF A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM AZAD KASHMIR AND GILGIT BALTISTAN TO EMPOWER LOCAL PEOPLE UNTIL THE KASHMIR CONFLICT, ONE OF THE OLDEST CONFLICTS ON THE UN AGENDA, IS RESOLVED. RIGHT TO LIFE AND HUMAN RIGHTS:> ASSERT THAT THE RIGHT TO LIFE IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT, WHICH IS VIOLATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LINE OF CONTROL IN THE DIVIDED STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR. WE URGE RESTRAINT FROM THOSE WIELDING WEAPONS, AS VIOLENCE ONLY ADDS TO THE MISERY AND SUFFERING OF THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION, EXTREMISM, AND VIOLENCE SINCE 1947. THIS FORCED DIVISION AND SUFFERING MUST END, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ENJOY THEIR FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND RIGHT TO LIFE. EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL:> EXPRESS STRONG RESOLVE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS MUST NOT BE SELECTIVE. EQUALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND JUSTICE MUST BE GUARANTEED FOR ALL CITIZENS. INTERESTS OF NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES:> ACKNOWLEDGE THAT INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE INTERESTS IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR, BUT OUR INTERESTS MUST BE PARAMOUNT, AS WE ARE THE PRINCIPAL PARTY TO THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR DISPUTE. CONDEMNATION OF LAND GRABBING:> STRONGLY CONDEMN THE GROWING ‘LAND GRABBING’ IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HISTORICAL STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR BY STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS, AS WELL AS OTHER INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ILLEGALLY AND FORCEFULLY SEIZING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROPERTY, HILLTOPS, AND TOURIST RESORTS. NATURAL RESOURCE EXPLOITATION:> CRITICIZE THE SYSTEMATIC PLUNDERING OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF MEGA DAMS THAT DIVERT THE NATURAL FLOW OF RIVERS IN THIS DISPUTED TERRITORY. THESE ACTIONS CAUSE SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER. URGE AN END TO THE EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND DEMAND OWNERSHIP OF WATER, OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE DAMS ALREADY BUILT WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE. STOP PROMOTION OF EXTREMISM AND VIOLENCE:> RECOMMEND THAT THE GOVERNMENT TAKE EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO CONTROL THE ACTIVITIES OF THOSE WHO PROMOTE EXTREMISM, VIOLENCE, AND INTOLERANCE IN AZAD KASHMIR AND GILGIT BALTISTAN. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT:> EMPHASIZE THAT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. ALL CITIZENS OF THE FORMER PRINCELY STATE OF JAMMU KASHMIR WHO HOLD STATE SUBJECT CERTIFICATES SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO FREELY MOVE WITHIN BORDERS TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ISSUE SPECIAL ELECTRONIC CARDS TO FACILITATE TRAVEL WITHIN JAMMU AND KASHMIR, ENABLING FORCIBLY DIVIDED FAMILIES TO MEET AND INTERACT. RESPECT FOR THE STATE SUBJECT NOTIFICATION OF 1927:> URGE THE GOVERNMENTS OF PAKISTAN AND INDIA TO RESPECT THE STATE SUBJECT RULE OF 1927, WHICH GRANTS A SPECIAL STATUS TO THE PEOPLE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR. STOP SETTLING PEOPLE IN DISPUTED TERRITORIES TO CHANGE THE DEMOGRAPHY OF THE AREA. CONCERNS ABOUT RELIGION AND VIOLENCE:> EXPRESS DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE POLICY OF USING RELIGION AS A WEAPON AND VIOLENCE AS A TOOL TO ADVANCE POLITICAL AND STRATEGIC AGENDAS, SUPPRESSING DEMOCRATIC AND PROGRESSIVE VOICES. ABOLITION OF DISCRIMINATORY LAWS:> DEMAND THE ABOLITION OF DISCRIMINATORY LAWS AND ACTS THAT PREVENT PRO-INDEPENDENCE PARTIES, GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUALS FROM PARTICIPATING IN ELECTIONS. NATIONALISTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE WITCH-HUNTING OF PRO-INDEPENDENCE KASHMIRIS, RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, AND JOURNALISTS MUST BE STOPPED. IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACTS:> HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACTS TO BUILD BRIDGES OF CONFIDENCE AND HELP RESOLVE DISPUTES. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO OPEN ALL TRADITIONAL ROUTES OF THE FORCIBLY DIVIDED STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR SO THAT PEOPLE CAN INTERACT, ERADICATE MISUNDERSTANDINGS, DIFFERENCES, AND HATRED. SOUTH ASIA’S ROLE IN GLOBAL POLITICS:> UNDERSTAND THAT SOUTH ASIA HAS A TURBULENT HISTORY WHERE THE INTERESTS OF MANY COUNTRIES CLASH WITH THOSE OF THE REGION. WE MUST ENSURE THAT JAMMU AND KASHMIR AND SOUTH ASIA DO NOT BECOME BATTLEGROUNDS FOR A ‘NEW COLD WAR’ OR A ‘NEW GREAT GAME’. WE MUST LIVE TOGETHER IN SOUTH ASIA, FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY, AND WORK TOGETHER TO COUNTER THREATS OF TERRORISM, VIOLENCE, AND XENOPHOBIA. PROTECTION OF KASHMIRIS IN PAKISTAN:> EXPRESS SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE KILLINGS OF KASHMIRIS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF PAKISTAN. RECENT MONTHS HAVE SEEN SEVERAL KASHMIRIS RESIDING IN PAKISTAN KILLED, WITH NO CULPRITS ARRESTED OR PUNISHED. WE URGE PAKISTAN TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE LIVES, PROPERTY, AND LIBERTIES OF KASHMIRIS WITHIN ITS BORDERS AND UNDER ITS ADMINISTRATION. WE ALSO CALL FOR ADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES AND THE FACILITATION OF THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT:> DEMAND THE LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS ON PEACEFUL ADVOCATES FOR BASIC POLITICAL AND SOCIAL RIGHTS IN GILGIT BALTISTAN, WHO FACE STRICT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION. THE UKPNP DEMANDS THE IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF THE BAN ON STUDENT UNIONS, SO THAT EDUCATED, TALENTED, AND CONSCIOUS LEADERSHIP CAN EMERGE. THE UKPNP IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONGOING WARS AND THEIR DESTRUCTION AROUND THE WORLD. WARS ARE NOT A SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS; INSTEAD, THEY LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF HUMANS AND THE BANKRUPTCY OF ECONOMIES. THE UKPNP CALLS FOR MEANINGFUL AND IMMEDIATE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF ONGOING WARS IN PALESTINE, UKRAINE, AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND REGIONS, AND FOR THE RESTORATION OF PEACE. THE UKPNP STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE POLICIES AND ACTIONS OF GLOBAL WAR CAPITAL, WHICH ARE NOT ONLY KEEPING OLD CONFLICTS ALIVE BUT ALSO CREATING NEW ONES TO SELL THEIR WEAPONS, LEADING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF HUMANS AND COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE. ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SINCE 1947, THE PEOPLE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION, EXTREMISM, AND VIOLENCE. THIS FORCED DIVISION AND SUFFERING SHOULD END SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THEIR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO LIFE. RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION:> EMPHASIZE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, AS ENSHRINED IN THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS. STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLOWING THE PEOPLE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR TO FREELY DETERMINE THEIR FUTURE STATUS. RESOLUTION OF THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR CONFLICT:> THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR CONFLICT IS NOT A TERRITORIAL DISPUTE BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN; HENCE, IT CANNOT BE RESOLVED BILATERALLY. THE PEOPLE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR, AS THE PRINCIPAL PARTY TO THE DISPUTE, MUST HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON THE FUTURE OF THEIR MOTHERLAND. UKPNP URGES THAT JAMMU KASHMIR CONFLICT SHOULD BE RESOLVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS AND AS PER THE WISHES AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE NATIVES OF THE ERSTWHILE PRINCELY STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR.

​​​​United Kashmir People's National Party(UKPNP)​