Kashmir issue central to PPP's Existence, says Saeed Ghani at Wani Memorial Seminar
Imran
Kashmir issue central to PPP's Existence, says Saeed Ghani at Wani Memorial Seminar
Karachi:
Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani has said that it is no secret that the very foundation of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lies in the Kashmir issue, and without it, the party may never have been formed.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organised by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference at the Arts Council of Pakistan to mark the ninth death anniversary of martyred Kashmiri youth leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani, Ghani emphasised that Kashmir is perhaps the only issue that unites the entire Pakistani nation, without any political or ideological divide.
He quoted former Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, stating: “We will fight for the freedom of Kashmir for a thousand years,” and, “I am human and humans do err, but I cannot make a mistake on the Kashmir issue, not even in my dreams.” Ghani said these weren’t just rhetorical statements but reflected the deep significance of Kashmir to Bhutto.
Ghani remarked that while the people of Kashmir have faced decades of brutal oppression, only the people of Palestine come close in terms of the sustained nature of their suffering. He recalled his participation in last year’s rally held in Wani’s memory and confirmed that the PPP will actively take part in the upcoming rally again this year. He instructed PPP workers to participate not as party members but as Pakistanis expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir, advising them to carry Pakistani and Kashmiri flags only, not party flags.
He urged that on national issues like Kashmir, all political parties should set aside their differences and stand united. “This issue is beyond political rivalry and speaks to the collective conscience of the nation,” he said.
Reiterating the PPP’s roots in the Kashmir dispute, he referred to the political developments following the Tashkent Agreement that ultimately led to the formation of the party. He also praised the role of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, who consistently raised her voice for Kashmir on global platforms throughout her political career.
Turning to current leadership, Ghani lauded PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, whose statements on Kashmir have resonated internationally.
He also recalled Bilawal's recent remark that “our region has its own Netanyahu – and that is a poor copy,” likening the atrocities of Indian authorities in Kashmir to Israeli actions in Palestine.
Ghani also spoke of Bilawal’s assertive press conference during his visit to India as foreign minister, which drew a delayed yet forced response from the Indian foreign minister. He pointed out that Pakistan, once perceived as diplomatically isolated and militarily weaker than India, turned the tables following India’s failed aggression. He said that India has recently admitted, for the first time, the loss of four pilots, and likely several aircraft, during that episode.
“This shattered the myth of India’s unchallengeable military strength and global diplomatic clout,” Ghani stated, adding that Pakistan emerged as a strong and diplomatically respected country whose stance on Kashmir began gaining international acceptance.
Commenting on India’s internal situation, Ghani said Prime Minister Modi’s move to revoke Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution backfired politically. “Modi is facing his greatest political loss since coming to power, all due to the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people and the crumbling of India’s arrogance.”
He credited Pakistan’s armed forces for defending the nation’s borders with resolve and pride, saying that they turned India’s arrogance into dust and uplifted the nation’s honour. “Even if a Muslim holds a seat in Modi's government and supports the oppression in Kashmir, he is no different from Modi himself.”
Looking ahead, Ghani expressed hope that global dynamics were shifting. He noted that Modi, who once refused to speak with Pakistan, had begun signalling willingness to engage after facing international pressure. “This change is not Modi’s doing—it is because of the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people and the will of Allah,” Ghani said.
He concluded on a hopeful note: “Modi filled the minds of Indians with poison, but that poison is now fading. God willing, Kashmir will soon be free, will join Pakistan, and the memories of our martyrs that we honour today will be celebrated in Srinagar and in the homes of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters.”
