Islamabad: (Parliament Times) The former convener of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (Pak chapter), and senior vice president of democratic Freedom Party Mehmood Ahmed Saghar on Tuesday expressed serious concerns over the plight of Kashmiri prisoners languishing in different jails and interrogation centers within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
In a press statement, the DFP leader said the Kashmiri prisoners particularly those who have been lodged in New Delhi’s infamous Tihar Jail have been left at the mercy of criminals. “The notorious Tihar jail has virtually become a death trap for Kashmiri political prisoners where they are being abused, tortured, and humiliated and harassed day in and day out”, Saghar said.
He said that the ghastly act of abusing and thrashing has put the lives of all Kashmiri political prisoners including its ailing chairman Shabir Shah in danger. “Beating and injuring prisoners inside jails is a shameful act that needs not only condemnation but direct action from human rights groups”, Saghar said adding that human rights organizations must take effective cognizance of growing threat to Kashmiri political prisoners languishing in Indian jails.
The DFP leader also expressed serious concern over Tihar jail authorities’ move of shifting Shabir Ahmed Shah to high risk ward of the prison where his condition is very disturbing. “Shah, who is suffering from multiple ailments, has been completely denied medicine for last one week”, he said adding that the incarcerated leader’s health condition was deteriorating alarmingly due to the lack of proper medication and health care. He said that under the given circumstances Shah’s solitary confinement was even more disturbing and dangerous. Urging international human rights groups to take serious note of it Saghar said, “The woeful tale of miseries and tortures of Kashmiri prisoners in Tihar jail is an eye-opener for human rights defenders”. He also appealed the International Red Cross and Amnesty International to take note of the pathetic condition of political detainees especially in Tihar jail, Delhi.
