JKLF leaders brief media in Islamabad on UN petition concerning Yasin Malik’s injustices
Islamabad: Leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) held a press conference in Islamabad, providing a detailed briefing on the petition submitted to the United Nations regarding the ongoing injustices faced by the party chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, at the hands of the Indian government.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the press conference was attended by JKLF Vice Chairman Saleem Haroon, spokesperson Muhammad Rafiq Dar, Yasin Malik’s wife Mushaal Hussain Mullick, prominent UK-based international lawyer Barrister Tariq Mahmood of the law firm Med-Arb-International, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt, and others. Barrister Tariq Mahmood, who is leading the legal team, explained that his team includes Barrister Carl Buckley and Barrister Aqsa Hussain, both highly experienced in UN legal procedures.
Barrister Tariq Mahmood provided details of the formal complaint filed with the United Nations, which centers on Yasin Malik’s illegal detention since 2019. The petition argues that there is no legal basis for his arrest or prolonged detention and asserts that the treatment Yasin Malik has endured violates not only Indian domestic law but also international agreements to which India is a signatory. The petition describes his detention conditions as severe violations of basic human rights, intended to forcibly end his non-violent struggle for Kashmir’s freedom. Additionally, it highlights the deeply flawed judicial process that led to Yasin Malik’s life sentence, with an appeal for the death penalty, exacerbating the human rights violations and undermining any claim to a fair trial.
In her remarks, Mushaal Hussain Mullick, Yasin Malik’s wife, shared the harsh realities her husband faces in prison. She noted that he has been held in solitary confinement for over six years and suffers from serious health conditions, including heart problems and chronic back pain. His cell lacks proper ventilation and natural light, and despite a court order, he has been repeatedly denied necessary medical treatment, including surgery to replace a faulty heart valve, putting his life in imminent danger.
Saleem Haroon reiterated JKLF’s commitment to continuing its peaceful struggle for freedom. He also voiced solidarity with Yasin Malik and reaffirmed the party’s resolve to pursue justice for him.
On a poignant note, Yasin Malik’s 13-year-old daughter, Razia Sultana, made a heartfelt appeal to international human rights organizations and global leaders to intervene and save her father.
Finally, JKLF spokesperson Rafiq Dar praised the efforts of the party’s international leadership for their tireless advocacy in raising awareness about Yasin Malik’s case and the injustices he continues to endure.
