Srinagar, July 09, 2019 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the Acting Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Abdul Hameed Butt, has termed the UN report on human rights abuses in the territory as a welcome step. Abdul Hameed Butt in a statement issued in Srinagar said that the report should be followed with a prompt follow-up action on ground to safeguard the human rights of people of occupied Kashmir.
He said that India had virtually turned occupied Kashmir into a war zone and instead of democracy worst form of dictatorship was being practiced in the territory by the Indian authorities. He said that how could a so-called vibrant democracy ban political and religious organizations like JKLF and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on concocted charges. “How can a democracy cage its political adversaries and ban every kind of political activity? How can a vibrant democracy use black laws like PSA and AFSPA to terrorize people and how can it call as terrorism and illegal a genuine struggle for right to self-determination legitimized by international laws and by the United Nations?” he asked.
The JKLF Acting Chairman said that if Indian leadership had any belief in democracy and freedom of speech and politics, it should lift ban on political parties like JKLF and JI, release Kashmiri political leaders and activists, provide genuine space on politics and respect the human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute concerning the future of millions of Kashmiris living across the Line of Control (LoC) – a human issue that cannot be ignored or bypassed by continued denial and an ostrich-like approach.
Hailing the UN report, the JKLF leader hoped that the UN will constitute an enquiry commission as recommended by the report and probe the gross human rights violations by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir. Abdul Hameed Butt condemned the imposition of restrictions by the Indian authorities in occupied Kashmir on the martyrdom anniversary of Burhan Wani, yesterday. He also denounced the authorities for frequently banning the internet and threatening media institutions and their heads for running their office on professional lines.
Meanwhile, JKLF expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of father of lifer Javed Ahmad Khan from Srinagar and also at the death of mother of Atif Hassan of Islamabad district. JKLF delegations visited the residences of Javed Ahmad Khan and Atif Hassan and expressed condolences to their family members.
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