Islamabad: (Parliament Times) Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (PM AJK) Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan has said that rights of women in Indian occupied Kashmir have been trampled down for the last several years, saying that women in the disputed territory have been victimized, threatened and raped by Indian occupation forces.
In a statement issued on the occasion of World Women’s Day, PM AJK reiterated that United Nations should redouble its efforts to ensure the rights to women and particularly those who have been facing severe hardships in the disputed territories like Kashmir.
Referring to the woes of Kashmiri women in Indian held Kashmir; the AJK PM said that more than twenty-five thousand women have become widows in occupied Kashmir. “A new term of the half-widow is being used for women who have no knowledge about their husbands whether they are dead or alive” Prime Minister maintained. He added that more than eleven thousand women were being raped or maimed by the Indian occupied forces, which he said was the worst example of brutality. He said that the gang rape victims of Kunan Poshpora were still waiting for justice. Terming it as a soul-wrenching incident of beastly violence he said that the gang-rape of hapless women was a big slap in the face of humanity.
“It is a challenge for the international community especially for human rights organizations that use of pellet guns and violence against the women in Kashmir are reported on almost daily basis”, he added.
Prime Minister demanded the United Nations to stop deteriorating human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir and implement its resolutions on Kashmir. “Kashmir issue must be resolved according to the wishes of Kashmiri people” PM AJK maintained.
Meanwhile, Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan expressed satisfaction over the measures taken for the development women in Azad Kashmir. He said that the incumbent government of AJK is committed to provide equality opportunities for women in Kashmir.
