Islamabad: (Parliament Times) President Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement Altaf Ahmed Bhat while talking to media here in Islamabad today has condemned the harassment of Journalists, namely Mussarat Zahra, Shah Junaid and Muneeb-ul Islam.
Although this is not a new act of India oppression and suppression, amidst the coronavirus outbreak when Journalists risk their live for Reporting and providing facts and figures, Indian occupational forces under draconian laws such as Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), is harassing and suppressing them from exposing Indian heinous crimes and brutalities in Kashmir.
Bhat while condemning the booking of Photojournalist Mussarat Zahra under UAPA further said that “A young and energetic photojournalist Musarrat Zahra is booked under UAPA, who has told true stories of Kashmiri women, girls, and children over the years. Zahra’s work has appeared in several publications including The Washington Post, The New Humanitarian, TRT World, Al Jazeera, The Caravan and others”.
Bhat asserted that the police and government are trying to muzzle the voices of Journalists in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. While the police have nowhere mentioned that Musarrat Zahra is a journalist. They have said that She is a Facebook user. She has been sharing her archival images which have already been published in different Indian and international organisations on social media for which she is being booked.
Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir Police has registered a case against another journalist Peerzada Ashiq of The Hindu who published news regarding an encounter at Shopian and subsequent developments.
While CoronaVirus cases have surpassed 387 in IOJK, Indian fascist government is resorting to unlawful activities to divert the attention. The hospitals have an acute shortage of Medical Equipment and supplies, even the 5000 COVID-19 testing kits for Kashmir have been diverted towards Hindu majority Jammu, Bhat added.
Bhat while terming the demographic changes a time bomb said that, In wake of CoronaVirus outbreak Modi, Amit Shah, and Ajit Doval introduced new domicile law to flood the demography of Kashmir, which will secure citizenship, jobs, and land grabbing for Non-Kashmiri Hindus in the valley,
which is another act os state terrorism and violation of UN resolutions.
President Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement Altaf Ahmed Bhat demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of charges against Kashmiri journalists Masarrat Zahra and Peerzada Ashiq.
Moreover, These proceedings amount to intimidation and, as such, directly violate article 19 (1a) of India’s 1950 constitution. Musarrat Zahra and Ashiq Peerzada must be allowed to continue their work without fear of further harassment attempts,” he added.
Bhat while demanding the release of Kashmiri leaders from Indian illegal detention said that, The whole world is currently hit hard by deadly CoronaVirus, and as suggested by the Health Researchers Jails are likely places for the spread of this virus, but Indian Jails have no healthcare facility, nor the detained Hurriyat Leaders are given any proper medical treatment, we appeal to United Nations, OIC and all other Humanitarian and Health Organizations to pressurize India to release Dr Hameed Fayaz, Zafar Akber Bhat, Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi’, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Masarat Aalam Butt and all other leaders and Kashmiris from jails.