International Community Must End Silence On Kashmir Dispute: Altaf Wani

ISLAMABAD, Feb 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 04th Feb, 2018 ) :Vice Chairman Jammu Kashmir National Front has urged International community to end silence on grave human rights violations by occupational forces in Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK).

�India must show respect to its United Nations resolutions on Kashmir and international obligations�to allow people of Kahsmir to exercise their right to self determination,� he said in his statement in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day falling February 05.

�International community must also fulfill its obligations to international laws as well as just demand of Kashmiris for right to self-determination,� he added. �India is poised to the worst state sponsored human rights violations in the held valley that needs to be seriously noticed.� He said like past years, 2017 witnessed extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, rapes, molestation and arbitrary detentions, restrictions on freedom of expression and media gag besides, new phenomena of braid chopping and an upward trend in human rights abuses as compared to year 2016.

He regretted that 291 innocent Kashmiris were killed in state sponsored terrorism while thousands were injured in pellet guns firing with over a 1000 permanently losing their eye-sight with reports of dozens of forced disappearances and 150 cases of braid and hair chopping.

�The much-abused practice of preventive detention in the form of Public Safety Act (PSA) continued to be used as a mechanism by the government to curtail and curb dissent,� he said adding, as many as 1059 PSA dossiers have been prepared against political activists�.

He said National Investigation Agency of India (NIA) and enforcement directorate was specifically activated to malign or harass political leaders, businessmen and journalists. The Indian government has enacted different draconian laws for illegal detention and extrajudicial killing of Kashmiris.

�Freedom of expression and freedom of press remained under constant threat. Eight cases of assaults on journalist were reported during last 12 months and frequent curbs on internet, social media sites and other means of expression were witnessed during the year� he added.

He appreciated Pakistan Government and people of Pakistan for their moral, diplomatic and political support of Kashmiri people at all international forums. �Pakistan has always supported Kashmiris struggle for right to self-determination. Pakistan as party to dispute has maintained a logical stand and has been advocating Kashmiris cause at each and every international forum.� rpt