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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected the Indian government’s illegal amendments in land ownership laws in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) promulgated under “J-K Re-organisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Third Order, 2020.”
According to a statement issued by the spokesman of Foreign Office, “The highly condemnable Indian action is yet another clear violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, bilateral agreements between Pakistan and India, and international law”.
“The territory is an internationally recognized dispute under the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions and international law”, he added.
The spokesman said that India’s illegal and unilateral action ns of 5 August 2019, and subsequent measures, particularly the domicile law and now the land ownership laws, are aimed at changing the demographic structure of IIOJK to convert the Kashmiris into a minority in their own land.
He said that changing the demographic structure of IIOJK is a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime.
The spokesman urged, “The United Nations and the international community must take immediate action to stop India from changing the demography and distinct identity of IIOJK and facilitate the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as per the relevant UNSC Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”
On Tuesday, the Indian government had introduced new amendments in the country’s land laws for occupied Jammu and Kashmir which would allow Indian citizens to buy land and property in the valley.
The announcement comes as Kashmiris observe October 27 as ‘Black Day’, when Indian forces took over the valley 73 years ago in 1947.
According to a notification issued by the Indian home ministry, the new law, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Third Order, 2020, would come into effect immediately.
Before today’s notification, only “permanent residents” of Indian occupied Kashmir could buy property in the region – a clause that now stands removed.
Since last year, after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government abrogated Article 370 of the Indian constitution — which repealed occupied Kashmir’s special status — New Delhi has made several changes in laws pertaining to the occupied territory, granting non-residents the right to get education, jobs and buy property in the region.
