Parliament condemns ‘mock trial’ by India against Malik

'Persecution, not prosecution being conducted against freedom fighter Yasin Malik by Indian govt'

ISLAMABAD:

The Parliament on Wednesday strongly condemned the conviction of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, saying the “mock trial” by the Indian court had “bypassed all local and international human rights laws”.

Addressing the National Assembly session, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif maintained that a joint resolution should be passed against Malik’s conviction, saying “we will prove to Kashmiris that we are with them wholeheartedly”.

Later, the lower house welcomed a resolution welcoming the Federal Shariat Court’s decision against usury.

Meanwhile, the bill on electoral reforms was postponed on the government’s request and could not be presented in the House.

The Senate also condemned the “mock trial” by the Indian court against Malik, saying it “bypassed all the local and international human rights laws”.

The Leader of the House urged the international community to intervene in the matter and register their protest against the inhumane treatment of political prisoners in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)

"This is persecution, not prosecution being conducted against freedom fighter Yasin Malik by the Indian government," he said.

Senator Kamil Ali Agha said the OIC should be taken on board to press India on this inhuman act and take practical steps to resolve the Kashmir issue as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

He proposed that the government should form a joint delegation comprising treasury and opposition benches to raise the Kashmir issue at world fora and sensitise the foreign missions on the gravity of the matter.

Senator Raza Rabbani said all stakeholders should make a clear policy on Kashmir, adding that trade was not possible with India as New Delhi had perpetuated the cultural and religious genocide in the IIOJK.

With input from APP