OIC team ‘takes notice’ of latest killings in IOK

IPHRC gets ‘first-hand’ account of ongoing tensions between Pakistan, India

ISLAMABAD: A high-ranking delegation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) led by Chairperson SK Kaggwa visited Azad Jammu Kashmir on Wednesday as part of its efforts to get ‘first-hand’ account of ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India over the disputed territory.

The purpose of the visit was also to gain a better understanding of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute and to interact with the refugees from Occupied J&K who escaped Indian atrocities.

“India has, so far, not responded to the IPHRC’s request for access to IHK to assess the human rights situation there,” according to the statement issued by the Foreign Office.

During the visit, the IPHRC delegation called on the president and the prime minister of AJK who briefed them about “intensified, ongoing human rights violations of innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces in IHK”, the statement added.

The situation has aggravated since July 2016. Use of live ammunition and pellet guns by Indian forces against defenceless civilians has resulted in martyrdom of more than 150 innocent civilians, 20,000 injured and scores of people, including young girls and children being blinded.

While the IPHRC delegation was in AJK, Indian forces martyred four more innocent and defenceless Kashmiris, including three teenagers. “These incidents are noted by the delegation.”

The government of Pakistan strongly condemned the martyrdom of four Kashmiris in IHK and injuries inflicted on scores of other people.

The delegation also visited refugee camps and interacted with Kashmiri refugees who had migrated from IHK to escape Indian atrocities.

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“The people of AJK are strongly distressed at the plight of their relatives in IHK. Indian barbarities are a cause of deep anguish and pain for the Kashmiris. Divided families are unable to share moments of joy and sorrow, and are forced to witness marriages and funerals from afar,” the Foreign Office said.

They also interacted with the Hurriyat leadership, who briefed them about the situation in IHK. The delegation was informed that Indian occupation forces had prevented people from offering Friday prayers and children from attending schools.

The Hurriyat leadership either remains imprisoned or under house arrest. IHK is one of the most heavily militarised zones on the planet with one soldier to every 17 civilians.

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The delegation was also briefed about Indian attempts to divert the attention of the international community from the blatant human rights violations in IHK through repeated, unprovoked ceasefire violations.

The IPHRC has a standing mechanism to monitor gross human rights violations in Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. India continues to deny international bodies access to IoK.

“The visit is a manifestation of Pakistan’s commitment to unflinching political, moral and diplomatic support to the just cause of the oppressed people of IHK towards realisation of the right to self-determination promised to them under the UN Security Council resolutions.”OUR