Islamabad: (Parliament Times) Sardar Masood Khan, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has said that India is using excessive force, demographic transformation and state terrorism in subduing the freedom struggle in Indian Occupied Kashmir. He added that India will never succeed in making Kashmiris give up their legitimate struggle in ascertaining their right to self-determination.
The President made these remarks while talking to Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Convenor All Parties Hurriyat Conference, who called on the President here at Jammu and Kashmir House.
Faiz Naqshbandi briefed President AJK on the recent situation in IOK. He said that Indian forces have unleashed a reign of terror in the occupied Territory by targeting innocent protestors and illegally arresting them.
The President strongly condemned the recent killings in IOK under the guise of cordon and search operations. He said that the unarmed protestors are being mercilessly killed and illegally arrested for demanding their right to self-determination.
They also discussed in detail the report released by the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human rights (OHCHR), which categorically highlights the massive human right violations taking place in IOK and the protection provided to the Indian security personnel under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act. He commended the efforts of Faiz Naqshbandi and other APHC representatives for actively highlighting the OHCHR Report at international forums.
President Masood Khan strongly condemned the nefarious moves by New Delhi to do away with Article 35-A in an attempt to illegally change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir and withdrawing the minimum privileges that Kashmiris have under the Indian constitution. He added that India is trying to relocate Pandits, ex-army personnel, so-called West Pakistan refugees and Hindus from other parts of India into the Occupied Kashmir.
The President paid tribute to the Joint Resistance Leadership and the people of IOK for resisting the move towards abrogating Article 35-A. “This a serious issue and the UN must intercede because any move by India to change the demography of Kashmir, under the guise of the repeal of Article 35-A is a violation international laws and conventions”, stressed the President.
President AJK said that bilateral talks have not yielded any results as India avoids talking on Kashmir. The President said the issue needs to be taken up with the people of Kashmir and at the international level. He said that only the people of Kashmir can decide their political future through a free and fair plebiscite.
