Kashmiri delegation in Geneva raises human rights concerns in IIOJK with UN officials
Geneva: A Kashmiri delegation held a series of high-level meetings with United Nations officials, Special Rapporteurs, and members of the diplomatic community on the sidelines of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, highlighting the grim human rights situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Kashmir Media Service, the delegation met with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, and the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing.
During these meetings, the delegation briefed each official individually with regard to their respective mandates, thanked them for the communications sent to the Indian government, and urged them to continue pressing New Delhi to repeal all draconian laws that provide impunity to Indian forces and facilitate human rights violations in IIOJK.
Indian forces have killed eight suspected militants in disputed Kashmir, police said on April 1, in some of the fiercest fighting this year in the restive Himalayan region. A civilian was also killed and four soldiers injured in the region divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both.
/ AFP PHOTO / HABIB NAQASH
During their interactions with diplomats, the delegation urged them to call upon India to end its repression and create conducive conditions for a UN-supervised plebiscite in the occupied territory.
The delegation included APHC-AJK Convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Advocate Parvez Ahmed Shah, Altaf Hussain Wani, Mrs. Shamim Shawl, and Sardar Amjad Yousaf Khan.
