Shabbir Shah hailed for spending 38 long years in jail for political beliefs
Islamabad: Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, former Convener of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference-AJK and acting chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), has lauded senior APHC leader Shabir Ahmed Shah, the party chairman, for his unwavering commitment to the Kashmiris’ struggle for self-determination.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Saghar in a statement issued in Islamabad praised Shah for completing 38 years in prison and eight consecutive years in India’s notorious Tihar jail, saying he has become an icon of the ongoing movement. Shah has spent 38 years of his 68-year life in prisons, detention, and interrogation centers due to his political beliefs.
Saghar highlighted Shah’s role as a strong proponent of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and his pursuit of a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions. Despite suffering from acute ailments, Shah remains firm and undeterred in his stance.
The DFP leader condemned Shah’s illegal detention as sheer vengeance and criticized the Indian authorities for booking him under fake charges since 1968 without proving a single allegation in court.
Saghar urged world human rights bodies to take notice of Shah’s plight and ensure his safety and early release. He also appealed to influenced world governments to use their political and diplomatic clout to stop the persecution of Kashmiri political prisoners.
The DFP spokesman, Advocate Arshad Iqbal, expressed concern over the plight of Kashmiri prisoners in Indian jails, citing poor conditions, lack of basic facilities, and hostile treatment.
