Letter to Pakistan PM: DFP highlights Kashmiri political prisoners’ harrowing plight
Islamabad: In a letter addressed to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), led by the illegally detained senior APHC leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, has highlighted the grave situation of Kashmiri political and human rights activists languishing in prisons within and outside Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the letter issued by Acting Chairman of DFP Mehmood Ahmed Saghar from Islamabad expresses deep concern over the ongoing abuse and mistreatment of these prisoners, who are enduring torture, prolonged detention and denial of basic rights, simply for their political beliefs and commitment to human rights.
The letter underscores the widespread and systematic repression faced by Kashmiri activists, including raids, surveillance, digital repression, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, hundreds of activists have been detained and are enduring harsh conditions in jails far from their homes, with many incarcerated in notorious prisons like Tihar Jail. The letter specifically mentions prominent Kashmiri leaders, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Masarrat Aalam Butt, Nayeem Khan, Asiya Indrabi, and Khurram Parvaiz, whose health has severely deteriorated due to the extended periods of detention and mistreatment. The letter further highlights the dire conditions faced by these prisoners, including physical and psychological abuse, solitary confinement, denial of medical treatment, poor living conditions, lack of legal representation and ongoing psychological trauma. “These abuses have led to physical and mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, among the Kashmiri prisoners,” it states.
The letter also points out that nearly 5,000 Kashmiris, including top Hurriyat leaders, have been detained under draconian laws and are enduring widespread abuse.
The letter condemns India’s failure to honor its international obligations as a signatory to the Geneva Convention, which governs the treatment of political prisoners. “India has miserably failed to fulfill its international obligations and implement the laws governing prisoners’ rights,” it adds.
The DFP has urged Pakistan’s leadership to use all available diplomatic channels to press the Indian government for a comprehensive investigation into these abuses and to ensure the safety and security of the incarcerated Kashmiri activists. The letter also raises grave concerns about the safety of Shabir Ahmed Shah and many other prisoners, whose lives are at grave risk in the Indian prisons. It concluded with an appeal to the Pakistan’s government to continue advocating for the Kashmir cause on the international stage, emphasizing that a strong and stable Pakistan is key to the success of the Kashmir freedom struggle.
