ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada Saturday condemned the conviction of Kashmiri leader Muhammad Yasin Malik by an Indian court in a terrorism related case.

Malik has been charged with unlawful fundraising, being member of a terrorist organization, sedition and criminal conspiracy. Minister said that in the past, fake charges have been levelled in Indian courts against prominent leaders like Maqbool Bhatt and Afzal Guru that resulted in their execution. Now another very prominent pro-freedom Kashmiri leader who has a huge following in Kashmir is on trial.

We suspect that the Indian government wants to get rid of him too. His life is in danger. Minister has urged from International Human Rights Organizations to take notice of this human rights violation in Kashmir. He said that the allegations levelled against Malik are false, contrived and politically motivated. In addition to this, the act under which he is tried is in sheer violation of set principles of international law. He maintained that people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ and K) are fighting for their legitimate right to self-determination.

They are struggling for decades against Indian occupation. India can never curb Kashmiris’ struggle for their rights with force and brutality. He further said that this is the hypocrisy of world leading super powers that they keep an eye closed from the human rights violations in IIOJ and K just because they have their economic and trade interests attached with India. But Pakistan would never relent from its support for their Kashmiri brothers.

We’ll plead the case of Kashmir at every international forum and would sensitize the international community about the severe human rights violations in IIOJ and K. He added that international community and Human Rights organizations should vehemently quash such heinous acts of Indian state and its courts. These acts of Indian court are particularly in violation of article 14 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 (ICCPR). The elements of fair trial referred in ICCPR have been violated in this trial that is against the human rights conventions.