Islamabad: Appreciating the recent statement of Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on human rights violations in Kashmir, the former convener of All Parties Hurriyat conference Mehmood Ahmed Saghar has said that the worsening situation in Kashmir demands that the OIC must move beyond the rhetoric and redouble its efforts to put an immediate end to bloodshed and violence in the region.
Voicing his serious concerns over the fresh wave of violence and use of excessive force against innocent and unarmed civilians Saghar said,” The international community in particular the OIC member states must take effective cognizance of the ongoing bloodshed and impress upon New Delhi to stop the unabated human rights violations in troubled valley”.
He regrettably noted that Kashmiris demanding their legitimate right to self-determination were being subjected to worst kind of oppression and suppression. “Peaceful protesters are being killed, maimed and blinded by use of excessive and disproportionate force”, he said adding that people have been deprived of fundamental rights. On one hand India talks high about democracy and its so-called democratic credentials while on the other it has clamped down all the fundamental human rights of the people including the right to life, right to freedom of expression, right to peaceful protest and assembly.
“The disproportionate force exercised by the Indian troops has turned Kashmir into a hell for its residents”, Saghar said adding that entire valley was virtually under a state of siege and international human rights groups have no access to the region.
New Delhi he said had chosen violence as a preferred course to kill the voice of dissent in Kashmir. “On one hand India has been using its military muscle to crush the Kashmiris’ legitimate struggle for right to self-determination while on the other it has been denying access to international human rights watch-dogs to Kashmir”, he maintained. Given the volatile situation in the region Saghar said that it was high time that the OIC should move beyond rhetoric and member countries of the second largest organization should pool in their efforts to mount pressure on government of India to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the OIC to visit Kashmir to asses on ground situation in region.
Meanwhile, in a joint letter addressed to world leaders, human rights bodies as well as the Secretary Generals of the UN and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) the DFP leaders sought early release of incarcerated party chairman Shabir Ahmed Shah whose life he said was at risk in Tihar jail owing to jail authorities’ criminal negligence.