OIC condemns India’s new domicile law in LOK

JEDDAH: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned India’s news domicile law in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK).

According to a statement, “The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has been following with deep concern the unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 and subsequent steps to change the demographics of and undermine the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The Islamic council termed the Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules 2020’ as ‘baseless’, running counter to international laws.

The organization also emphasized the world leaders to gear up its efforts to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan Foreign Office had strongly condemned and completely rejected the Indian government’s attempts to further deprive the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir through Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure), 2020.

In a statement, FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui had said the new domicile law is illegal and in clear violation of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention and bilateral Agreements between Pakistan and India.

On Monday, the Indian authorities notified new rules that now permit those who have lived in IOJ&K for 15 years, or studied there for seven years, or appeared in class 10th or 12th examinations, can now apply for the domicile, a mandatory condition for seeking jobs in the disputed territory.

The Spokesperson said the domicile law is aimed at changing the demographic structure of occupied Kashmir and undermining the exercise by the Kashmiri people of their right to self-determination through free and impartial plebiscite as per the relevant UNSC Resolutions.

Farooqui said such measures can neither change the disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir recognized as such by the United Nations and the international community nor can they prejudice the inalienable right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

She said like the earlier illegal Indian actions, the people of occupied Kashmir have completely rejected the domicile law as unacceptable.

The Spokesperson said Pakistan would continue highlighting the plight of Kashmiri people at all international fora till the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UNSC Resolutions.