Geneva, (Parliament Times) : Prominent human rights activist Sardar Amjad Yousaf Khan has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to redouble its efforts to stop the bloodshed of innocent civilians in Kashmir by Indian occupation forces.
He, while participating in a general debate organized under Item 2 of the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are waiting for the third report of the commission.
Referring to the extremely critical situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOK) region, he said that the disputed region is under constant oppression and brutality by India. He added that people are being subjected to all kinds of human rights violations in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, “Indian occupying forces kill innocent civilians not only in the area under their control but also across the Line of Control”, adding that the Indian forces deployed along the LoC have violated the ceasefire line. They also use snipers to target civilians and kill innocent people.
Calling the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner on the ceasefire violations by the Indian forces on the LoC and the targeted killing of civilians, he said that on June 24 this year, Indian forces fired unprovoked on the LoC and by sniper shooting.
Expressing his dismay at the Indian government’s continued refusal to implement the commission’s recommendations, he said the commission had in its two previous reports asked India to respect the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir but despite the recommendations, the Indian government is making demographic changes to turn a Muslim-majority state into a minority one.
He said that the fundamental rights of the people of Occupied Kashmir, including their right to life and freedom of expression, are being severely violated.
Highlighting the plight of Kashmiri prisoners in Indian jails, he said that the prisoners are being deprived of the right to a fair trial.
He said that political leader Muhammad Yasin Malik and human rights activist Khurram Pervez were arrested and tried on false charges.