The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana passed a resolution on Tuesday condemning the resolution passed by the Sindh High Court Bar Association (Karachi, Pakistan) against the holding of the G20 Tourism Working Group committee meeting in Srinagar.

The Sindh High Court Bar Association had passed a resolution on May 20 to observe a full day strike on May 22 "as a mark of complete protest against decision of Indian Government for holding G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in dispute territory of Srinagar, India Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJK) and to express solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir".

The Punjab and Haryana Bar Council passed a resolution condemning the action of the Sindh High Court Bar Association in the strongest words and authorising the Chairman of the Bar Council to issue an official statement and letter of condemnation.

"While beautiful Srinagar extends a warm welcome to all international G20 delegates at the 3rd TWG meet, such press release/communique/resolution is not in the right earnest and smacks of desperation. Such mendacious statements are only designed to suit oblique political motives. Such Bar bodies, attempting to engineer hatred have unscrupulously toed the line of the current political dispensation in Pakistan", the statement issued by Bar Council Chairman Suvir Sidhu says.

The statement says that Kashmir is an integral part of India and that the people of Kashmir only want progress and development similar to the rest of India. "They have rejected Pakistan's false narratives and stand united in the pursuit of a better future", the statement says.

The statement also says that while India entered the G20 presidency with its humble resolve of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, such attempts by Pakistan through the Sindh High Court Bar Association (Karachi, Pakistan), Pakistan Bar CounciI & Sindh Bar Council only demonstrates their complete disregard for regional stability and progress.

Terming Kashmir "the crown of India", the statement says that Kashmir is ancient in its wisdom, modern in its growth, rich in its diversities, prosperous and ready to engage with the world. It also says that India believes in the power of dialogue and cooperation to build bridges and promote inclusive growth. The world looks forward to discovering the wonderful sustainable tourism destinations, geographical richness and experiences in Kashmir, the statement says.

"The legal fraternity from this region firmly stands with the people of Kashmir and above all the vision of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of a resurgent India", the statement says.

Click here to read/download Statement



Punjab and Haryana Bar Council

Verdictum News Desk