JAMMU, Feb 10: Addressing a battery of advocates at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi this afternoon, Prof.Bhim Singh, Sr. Advocate & Co-Chairman of Conference Organization today appealed the Bar Council of India in cooperation with the Bar Associations of the High Courts to participate in a special seminar on the resolution of J&K Constitutional problem which has been created following illegal occupation of Pakistan and China over nearly half of the territory of J&K. Prof.Bhim Singh said that out of 84,000 sq. miles of J&K territory nearly 20,000 sq. miles has been illegally occupied by China since 1961 in the Ladakh sector whereas Pakistan’s illegal occupation continues since 1947/48. Prof.Bhim Singh said that 46,00 sq. miles of J&K territory was illegally occupied by Pakistan in 1947 when the raiders supported and abetted by Pakistan attacked J&K on October 20, 1947. China continues its illegal occupation of nearly 4,500 sq. miles of J&K territory it occupied in 1963 when Govt. of Pakistan headed by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto transferred the State territory to China. This territory remains occupied illegally by China since 1963.
Besides, Pakistan occupied Gilgit-Baltistan province of J&K in 1947/48 by attacking J&K in 1947/48 and occupied 32,000 sq. miles comprising of Gilgit and Baltistan which were part of the territory of the Dogra ruled State of J&K till 1947. Prof.Bhim Singh said that Pakistan in September 2009 declared this occupied territory of J&K in Gilgit-Baltistan as territory of Pakistan which was totally illogical, illegal, violation of United Nations Resolution of 1948 in which United Nations had directed Pakistan to vacate all territories of J&K which Pakistan had occupied in 1947-48. Pakistan violated this resolution of the Security Council several times even when Pakistan parted the territories of J&K in Gilgit region in 1963 in violation of UN Charter.
Prof.Bhim Singh declared that he shall convene a meeting of lawyers fraternity and representatives of Bar Association of all High Courts. He said he shall also invite the members of Bar Council of India to work out a methodology and a constitutional mechanism to mobilize the Parliament of India to take appropriate steps to integrate J&K (the territory which is at the moment annexed constitutionally with the Union of India) with the rest of the country through an appropriate amendment in a temporary provision under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution without any delay so that the confusion and chaos is over once for all on the constitutional relationship between the State of J&K and the rest of the country.
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