India's efforts to 'silence voices critical of rights abuses' futile: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday strongly condemned India's move to implicate prominent Hurriyat leader Muhammad Yasin Malik.

The premier said that the Kashmiri activist was being convicted in a “fake terrorism case” in an Indian court. He added that Yasin was a “symbol of unparalleled bravery, freedom and a prisoner of conscience,” who was being punished for “rejecting Indian tactics and failed attempts to woo Kashmiris.”

Taking to his official Twitter account, PM Shehbaz stated that the Modi government's efforts to "silence the voices critical of India's blatant human rights abuses" were futile.

He urged the international community, especially the United Nations Human Rights Council, to take note of India's extra-judicial and retaliatory measures.

He vowed that Pakistan will vigorously take up Yasin’s cause to all international and human rights bodies, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The premier upheld that similar to the illegal measures of August 5, 2019, the case against Yasin Malik is illegal and unlawful. “By occupying Jammu and Kashmir illegally, India is pursuing a deliberate plan to overthrow the real leadership representing the Kashmiris,” he criticised.

Read PM directs raising Yasin Malik’s issue at world fora

Shehbaz added that much like India’s fear of late veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani's burial, who was a martyr and symbol of independence for Kashmir, as it did not allow his funeral to be held, Delhi is afraid of Yasin Malik.

“Thousands of martyrs, including Ashraf Sahrai Shaheed and his Shaheed sahibzada, are milestones of Kashmir Referendum Movement,” he maintained.

The premier furthered that the plethora of Kashmiri martyrs is the evidence of the tyranny and barbarism of the illegally occupied territory and state-sanctioned terrorism.

The PM condemned India’s “black laws” and stated that their judicial system is contrary to international requirements of justice. He lamented that it is an “indisputable historical fact” that no nation can be “enslaved by state terrorism, black laws and punishments.”

Shehbaz lauded the “brave Kashmiris” for their unparalleled struggles and great sacrifices for the cause of freedom.

“The international community should resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of Kashmiris,” he said.