Srinagar
Welcoming the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterre’s, backing Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein’s call for an international investigation into human rights situation in Kashmir, Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) has said that the UN Chief’s much-needed statement has come at a time when killing of Kashmiri youth by Indian forces has reached new heights.
The spokesman in a statement said that Antonio Guterres has supported an international investigation into human rights situation in Kashmir saying that it represents the “voice of the UN”. Human Rights High Commissioner had recently issued a report about Kashmir and called for a probe into the human rights abuses.
“The statement of UN Chief is welcome and now is the time for the international forum to impress upon New Delhi to accept the demand of Jammu Kashmir people for a free and fair plebiscite to entertain their political future,” JKDFP Secretary-General, Moulana Mohammad Abdullah Tari said in a statement adding “several resolutions in this regard have been passed by the Security Council of the same UN.”
Moulana Tari also thanked UN chief Antonio Guterres for denying India’s assertions that Human Rights High Commissioner’s report overstepped his mandate and that Commissioner had no mandate for it.
While thanking UN Chief, Moulana Tari said that Kashmiri people are facing countless rights violations at the hands of New Delhi and its agents. He added that a large number of people including common people, political activists, and leaders including JKDFP chief Shabir Shah are facing worst kind of state “terrorism” by remaining lodged in different jails on fabricated charges.
Shabir Shah in particular, whom Human Rights bodies have termed “prisoner of conscience” for spending half of his life in different jails for his political faith, is facing the worst situation in Tihar jail. He is even denied suitable medical treatment though suffering from many serious ailments. He appealed and stressed upon UN chief Antonio Guterres and Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein to take cognizance of the situation of Kashmiri prisoners and issue directions for India who is a signatory to almost all the International Treaties, to respect the treaty abut political prisoners.
