MIRPUR: Like rest parts of the world, Universal Human Rights Day was also observed on Saturday at both sides of the Line of Control including  Azad Jammu Kashmir and Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir with the unanimous demand for early end of the ongoing massive human rights abuses against innocent population by Indian occupational forces in the occupied valley as well as by similar aggressive forces in various other parts of the world.
 Special ceremonies were reportedly held in various parts of AJK including in Mirpur division under the auspices of various Human Rights Organizations with the coordination of the members of the civil society to observe the day.
 Addressing these ceremonies speakers emphasized the need of making collective efforts by the international community to ensure the complete protection of human rights all over the world particularly in those areas where the people were being denied their due rights. Speakers called for the measures by the international human rights outfits to  move for ensuring the grant of basic human rights in the areas including in the strife-torn Indian held Jammu Kashmir state where the masses comprising all segments of the civil society were being denied their due human rights – including Kashmiris globally-acknowledged birth right to self determination
Addressing a meeting of senior journalists here on Saturday on the eve of the world human rights day on Saturday,  Convener of International Union of Kashmiri Journalists and Member BoD of the renowned registered Kashmiri NGO – Center For Peace, Development & Reforms A.H.Nizami, Research analyst and Sr. Kashmiri Journalists Sohrab Ahmed Khan, Prof. Sagheer Ahmed Aasi and others  vehemently condemned the continued rather increased human rights violations against the innocent Kashmiris including the media in the occupied Jammu Kashmir at the hands of the Indian occupation forces. He also vehemently condemned the brutal tactics to suppress the voice of press in occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
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They called upon the world community to take immediate notice of the fast raising human rights abuses as well as continued reign of violence unleashed against the innocent people including journalists by the Indian troops in occupied valley.
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Speakers called upon India to immediately stop the barbarous activities in the occupied state and instead positively respond to make the dialogue process with Pakistan result oriented in order to ensure the early peaceful resolution of all the outstanding differences especially the core issue of Kashmir through grant of the basic human right of self determination to the people of the state committed by the international community, they added.
 Speakers reiterated the long standing demand by  Jammu & Kashmir people grant them the opportunity to determine their future in accordance with their wishes and United Nations resolutions.
They emphasized upon the world community especially the international organizations claiming to be the champions and custodians of human rights  the world over that to play a  due constructive role for a just solution of the Kashmir problem without further delay. The international community realizes the gravity of the situation in South Asia and offered their help for resolution of this longstanding issue, they added.
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Meanwhile five senior Journalists from Azad Jammu & Kashmir were nominated for the National Human Rights Award – 2016 from AJK on the eve of the International Human Rights Day observed on Saturday the world over including AJK.
The nominees included Ershad Mahmood from (Rawalakot / Islamabad), Altaf Hamid Rao (Reporter APP) from Mirpur, Kh. Kashif Mir (Dunaya TV) from Rawalakot, Tariq Naqash (Staff Correspondent DAWN) and Sajaad Mir (Working for National Print and Electronic Media) from Muzaffarabad.
The nominations of the five AJK journalist came, according to the reports, in acknowledgement of their exceptional contribution to promote the spirit of securing and safeguarding the due basic human rights besides highlighting the massive human rights abuses in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir, through their high intellect and pen besides attending the series of national and international conferences, seminars and workshop both at home and abroad.
Besides, senior journalists from all four provinces of the country and Gilgit / Baltistan were also nominated for the National Human Rights Award on the eve of the World Human Rights Day.