IIOJK people facing serious restrictions on their fundamental human rights: DFP
Islamabad: The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has said that the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been facing serious restrictions on their fundamental human rights, political freedoms and freedom of expression.
DFP Acting Chairman Mehmood Ahmad Saghar in a letter addressed to Dr Khalilur Rahman, President of 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, said the continued reports of arrests, prolonged detentions and restrictions on political activities remain a matter of grave concern.
Following is the full text of the letter.
“His Excellency Dr Khalilur Rahman
President, 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations, New York.
Subject: Congratulations on Your Election as President of the UN General Assembly and Appeal for an Effective UN Role on Jammu and Kashmir
Excellency,
On behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP), I extend my warmest congratulations to you on your election as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Your election is a matter of honour for the people of Bangladesh and reflects the confidence
placed in your extensive diplomatic and multilateral experience.
We are particularly encouraged by your vision of “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.” In this context, we respectfully wish to draw your esteemed attention to the long-pending and unresolved dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.
The continued reports of arrests, prolonged detentions, restrictions on political activities, pressure on journalists and human rights defenders, and other measures affecting the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people remain a matter of
grave concern.
Of particular concern is the continued incarceration of Kashmiri political leaders and activists. Among those who have spent prolonged periods in detention are Shabir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Aasiya Andrabi, Masrat Alam Butt, Naeem Ahmad Khan, Hameed Fayaz and Muhammad Qasim Faktoo, along with many other political prisoners.
Their prolonged incarceration, health concerns, delayed legal proceedings and the difficulties faced by their families require the urgent attention of the international human rights community.
We are especially concerned about the prolonged incarceration and deteriorating health of Shabir Ahmed Shah, as well as the recent developments concerning the case of Muhammad Yasin Malik. We believe that all Kashmiri political prisoners must be guaranteed due process, fair and transparent judicial proceedings, humane treatment, adequate medical care and all fundamental rights recognised under international
human rights standards.
Excellency,
The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is not merely a bilateral political issue. It has remained on the agenda of the United Nations for decades, and the United Nations Security Council has adopted resolutions recognising the principle of the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine their own future.
We therefore respectfully urge you, in your capacity as President of the General Assembly, to use your good offices and the moral authority of your office to encourage the United Nations to fulfil its responsibilities towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir and to support meaningful steps towards implementation of the relevant UN resolutions and the right to self-determination.
In particular, we appeal to you to:
Bring the human rights situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the attention of the appropriate United Nations forums;
Raise the issue of Kashmiri political prisoners and advocate for the protection of their fundamental human and legal rights, particularly those who have spent many years and even decades in detention;
Encourage the relevant UN human rights mechanisms to closely examine the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir;
Support meaningful international efforts for the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination;
Encourage peaceful and meaningful diplomatic efforts towards a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, consistent with the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions.
We firmly believe that the credibility of the United Nations is strengthened when its principles of human rights, justice and self-determination are applied consistently to all situations and peoples.
We therefore hope that under your leadership, the General Assembly will give due attention to the long-pending suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that the United Nations will play a more effective role in advancing a peaceful resolution of this unresolved dispute.
We once again extend our heartfelt congratulations to you on assuming this important responsibility and wish you every success in your tenure as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.”
Yours sincerely,
Mehmood Ahmed Saghar,
Acting Chairman,
Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party.
KMS—3A
