(2017-03-27) A high-level delegation of the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) called on the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs. The visit of the IPHRC Delegation was agreed during the visit of the OIC Secretary General’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) in May, 2016. Welcoming the delegation, the Adviser underscored the grave human rights violations of the people of IoK by Indian occupation forces which had intensified since July 2016. He condemned the reprehensible Indian practice of using live ammunition and pellet guns as a result of which more than 150 innocent Kashmiri Muslims have been martyred, 20,000 have been injured and scores of people, including young girls and children have been blinded.
Imposition of curfew in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir had made the lives of innocent people miserable. The Indian government created a deliberate shortage of essential food supplies, medicines, children food, petroleum products and other basic amenities. Children were denied their basic right to education as a number of schools were burnt and shut down. Hurriyat leadership either remains imprisoned or under house arrest. People were barred from offering Friday prayers in a blatant violation of religious freedom.
He hoped that the visit would provide an opportunity to the IPHRC delegation to gain a better understanding of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute and witness firsthand the plight of the Kashmiri refugees who had migrated to AJK to escape the Indian atrocities. Indian denial of allowing the UN Commissioner for Human Rights’ fact finding mission and IPHRC to visit IoK was regrettable. Pakistan, in contrast, welcomed both.
The Adviser appreciated the continued support of the OIC for the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people and urged the IPHRC Delegation to highlight the human rights violations in IoK and sensitize the international community about the gross human rights violations of the Kashmiris by the Indian occupation forces.
The IPHRC delegation expressed serious concern over the reports of grave human rights violations in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. They regretted that India did not respond to the request for a fact-finding mission to visit IOK to assess on ground human rights situation. The delegation appreciated the Government of Pakistan for inviting them to visit Pakistan and AJK.
Islamabad
27 March 2017
