India urged to release ailing Kashmiri leaders amid coronavirus fears

APHC senior leader Abdul Majid Malik expresses concern over deteriorating health of JKSM Chairman Zafar Akbar Bhat

ISLAMABAD: All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) senior leader and Vice Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement Abdul Majid Malik expressed concern over the deteriorating health of Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement Chairman Zafar Akbar Bhat who is under prolonged Indian detention.

“Indian security forces keep on shifting the Hurriyat leader Bhat from one basic health unit to another, where medical facilities and experienced staff are rare,” Malik said, adding that the Bhat’s family is concerned over his critical health condition and has demanded Indian government to release Bhat unconditionally.

“But the Indian government's ignorance and denial is the sole reason for their plot to end the Hurriyat leadership resistance by keeping them in jails without providing basic human rights facilities,” he lamented.

Praising the sacrifices and efforts of Zafar Akbar Bhat and his family for Kashmir freedom movement, the vice chairman said: “Bhat and his family have sacrificed a lot for Kashmir cause, they have kept the freedom movement alive, and Kashmiri people trust their leaders that they will keep the freedom movement strong until the liberation of Kashmir from India.”

He added: "Zafar Akbar Bhat, Yasin Malik and all other Hurriyat leaders are kept under harsh conditions to make them suffer for their struggle against Indian oppression and suppression of besieged Kashmiri people."

India urged to release all detained Kashmiris amid coronavirus crisis

While appealing to the UN, OIC and all other international organisations Abdul Malik Majid said the whole world is currently hit hard by the deadly novel coronavirus, and as suggested by health experts, jails are likely places for spread of this virus.

“Indian jails have no healthcare facility, nor the detained Hurriyat leaders are given any proper medical treatment. We appeal to the United Nations, OIC and all other humanitarian and health organisations to pressurise India to release Dr Hameed Fayaz, Zafar Akbar Bhat, Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Masarat Aalam Butt and all other leaders and Kashmiris from jails,” Malik added.