Altaf Hamid RAO
MIRPUR ( AJK ), (Parliament Times) : Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry has said that the government of Pakistan should raise the denial of right to fair trial to Yasin Malik and his unjust sentencing of life imprisonment by an Indian court at international court of justice (ICJ) and other relevant forums.
The AJK president said this while talking to media along with Malik’s wife Mushaal Malik at her residence in the federal metropolis on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, Barrister Chaudhary said that there was an urgent need to raise the issue at the ICJ. “Only 22 days have left within which an appeal against Malik’s conviction and reviewing of the case could be filed in the International Court of Justice”, Barrister said, adding that history won’t forgive us if we fail to make any tangible efforts in this regard.
Owing to some limitations, the president said, the government of Azad Kashmir cannot file an appeal in the ICJ. “As per the rules only member states have the right to access the court and file an appeal in the court”, he added.
“There are certain limitations for us as a state to approach the ICJ as it can only be accessed by a member state, therefore, I urge the federal government to file an appeal against Malik’s unjust sentencing in International Court of Justice immediately”, the president said.
“It is high time to raise the issue more vigorously at the ICJ, the UN Commission for Human Rights and other relevant bodies”, he said, adding maintaining silence on the issue will cause an irreparable damage to the ongoing Freedom Movement in Kashmir.
Referring to his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brussels, Barrister said that he would raise the issue of Malik’s unjust sentencing at every forum. Barrister said that he would also seek legal advice from senior barristers in the UK.
On the occasion, Mashaal Hussain Malik, wife of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik said that it was necessary to approach the International Court of Justice against the sentence of Yasin Malik because Malik is not a resident of India and he was being punished under the Indian law.
