PU VC urges PM Nawaz to give Zia-styled response to Modi, announces free education and residence for 10 India-held Kashmir students

LAHORE - Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran has urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to give a Zia-styled response to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

He was referring to former President General Zia-ul-Haq's meeting with then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, when the first had surprisingly flown to New Delhi in 1987 to watch a test match between Pakistan and India amid tensions.

According to Gandhi's special adviser Behramnam, Zia while saying goodbye to the Indian Prime Minister said: "Mr Rajiv, you want to attack Pakistan, do it. But keep in mind that this world will forget Halaku Khan and Changez Khan and will remember only Ziaul Haq and Rajiv Gandhi, because this will not be a conventional war but a nuclear war."

"In this situation, Pakistan might be completely destroyed, but Muslims will still be there in the world; but with the destruction of India, Hinduism will vanish from the face of this earth," the former Pakistani President further added according to the Indian official who was an eyewitness to the crucial meeting of General Zia-ul-Haq and Rajiv Gandhi.

Addressing the inaugural session of two-day national conference on “Indian Atrocities in Kashmir: Regional and Global Implications” at Punjab University, Kamran said India had set up four desks in its intelligence agency and had allocated 300 million dollars to fan terrorism in Pakistan and damage CPEC project.

"One desk is working for terrorism in Balochistan and other parts, second desk is working on psychological warfare to fan propaganda against Pakistan Army and ISI, third desk is working for buying politicians and media and fourth desk is set up for Afghanistan," he went on to say.

The vice chancellor accused Indian forces of a genocide in the Indian-held Kashmir, arguing that Pakistan was not supporting Kashmiris to the extent it should have.

He announced that University of the Punjab would provide free education and hostel facilities to 10 students from Occupied Kashmir, while special funds would be provided for research on Kashmir issue.

On the occasion, Dr Mujahid Kamran also requested Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to send Mishaal Malik –the wife of Kashmiri Hurriyet leader Yasin Malik, abroad for presenting case of Kashmir and apprise the international community of Indian brutalities in the Held Kashmir.

Rights activist Mishaal Malik, Defense Analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi and Professor Dr Farzana were also present at the ceremony.

Participating in the discussion, Mishaal Malik said the basic human rights were being violated by Indian forces in the Held Kashmir.

She went on to say that Kashmir issue was the oldest unresolved issue at the United Nationsand that it issue was not the issue of a piece of land but Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

She said that Draconian laws had been enforced to suppress the voice of freedom movement, however, the passion of Kashmiris was increasing and people were not taking care of their lives.

She told the audience that doctors had advised to shift Yasin Malik to ICU but India was not providing life-saving medicines and other medical facilities to Mr Malik.