Srinagar
Hurriyat (m) has demanded the appointment of a UN Human Rights special representative to look into human rights abuses in Kashmir.
The amalgam said that the demand was put forward by Hurriyat (m) convener Pakistan-administered Kashmir chapter Syed Faiz Naqshbandi while addressing a special meeting on the sidelines of 37th session of UN Human Rights Council currently in progress at the UN Headquarters in Geneva.
“Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights attended the meeting. Besides, 500 representatives of the civil society across the globe also participated on the occasion, said a spokesperson of the Hurriyat (m).
“Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Convener All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Kashmir chapter, while addressing the meeting raised the issues of extrajudicial killings, fake encounters, enactment of draconian laws, indiscriminate use of Pellet Guns, and denial of the right to travel for APHC leaders in Kashmir. He told the conference that Indian forces enjoy complete impunity and this situation has drastically increased human rights violations in Kashmir. He demanded the appointment of a Special UN Representative on the situation in Kashmir.”
The meeting assumes significance because Zeid Al-Hussein holds the distinction of breaking United Nations’ half-century of silence on Kashmir when he added Jammu & Kashmir to a formal list of urgent humanitarian crises, along with conflicts like Syria and Myanmar, in his policy statement in September 2016.
The High Commissioner created the second history when he sustained the focus on Kashmir throughout 2017, culminating with his announcement this month that the UN will be launching a major report on the situation in Kashmir in June 2018. The UNHRC will hold its next session in June.
In Geneva Naqshbandi also met Adama Dieng Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and told him India is pursuing a policy of Genocide in Kashmir. He further told him that fake encounters are staged to kill Kashmiris. On 4th March 2018 Indian forces again killed six Kashmiris at Shopian Kashmir in a fake encounter, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, in Geneva, a spokesman said Faiz Naqshbandi also participated in a conference discussing ‘TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE TO PREVENT ATROCITY CRIMES’. The conference was moderated by Tim Sebastian and UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of Truth justice reparation Pablo Dr Greiff and UN Secretary General’s special adviser for the Prevention of Genocide was also present.
Naqshbandi at this occasion apprised the participants about ongoing systematic and massive human right violations in Kashmir including excessive use of force and indiscriminate pellet firing on peaceful protesters by Indian forces, the spokesman added.
Speaking on the occasion, Naqashbandi told the conference that there have been “18 systematic massacres by Indian forces in Kashmir” where thousands of Kashmiris have been brutally killed, said the spokesperson.
“Chairmen of both the Hurriyat factions Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Geelani, JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik and other resistance leaders are frequently put under detention. Draconian laws are in force in Kashmir that provides impunity to armed forces of India,” Naqshbandi said, in his address.
