AJK president urges Centre to take Yasin Malik case to ICJ

Mushaal says her husband isn’t an Indian resident but he was sentenced under their law

ISLAMABAD:

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry on Friday urged the federal government to move the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and other relevant forums against the denial of a fair trial to Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik and his unjust life sentence by an Indian court.

The president said this while addressing a press conference along with Malik’s wife, Mushaal Hussein Mullick, at her residence.

Speaking on the occasion, President Chaudhary said that there was an urgent need to raise the issue at ICJ.

“Only 22 days are left, within which an appeal against Malik’s conviction and reviewing of the case could be filed in the International Court of Justice,” he said, adding that history will not forgive them if they fail to make any tangible efforts in this regard.

Due to some limitations, the president said, the government of AJK cannot file an appeal in the ICJ.
“As per the rules, only member states have the right to access the court and file an appeal in the court,” he said.

“There are certain limitations for us as a state to approach the ICJ as it can only be accessed by a member state, therefore, I urge the federal government to file an appeal against Malik’s unjust sentencing in the International Court of Justice immediately,” he stressed.

“It is high time to raise the issue more vigorously at the ICJ, the UN Commission for Human Rights and other relevant bodies,” President Chaudhry said, adding that maintaining silence on the issue will cause irreparable damage to the ongoing freedom movement in Kashmir.

Referring to his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brussels, he said that he would raise the issue of Malik’s unjust sentencing at every forum. He added that he would also seek legal advice from senior barristers in the UK.

On the occasion, the Hurriyat leader’s wife said that it was necessary to approach the ICJ against Malik’s sentence because he is not a resident of India and he was being punished under Indian law.