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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has acknowledged and welcomed the efforts of International communities and global leaders asking for the end of lockdown in Kashmir valley.
The UNSG and UNHCHR have urged India to lift its 6-week long siege of IOJK. Prime Minister Imran Khan has welcomed the step of International governmental bodies for raising their demands. He asked International communities not to neglect or ignore the humanitarian abuse occurring daily in Kashmir.
PM Khan particularly welcomed the statement by the UNHCHR today. He said, “I call upon the UN Human Rights Council to immediately set up the independent investigation commission to probe human rights abuses in IOJK as recommended by the UNHCHR s two reports on Kashmir.” The time to act is now, he said in a tweet through his official twitter account.
Earlier, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has expressed serious reservation over the humanitarian crisis in the Valley.
Speaking at the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Michelle Bachelet stated that she is gravely concerned about the Indian government’s action on the human rights of Kashmiris including restrictions on internet communications, peaceful assembly and the detention of local political leaders and activities.
The UN High Commissioner told her reservations and appealed the Indian government to ease the current lockdowns or curfews, ensure people’s access to basic services, and that all due process rights are respected for those who have been detained.
Moreover, she emphasized the importance of the Kashmiri population’s consultation and engagement in any decision-making processes that have an impact on the future of the resident.
On the other hand, Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi has asked the Human Rights Council to take the following measures:
- Urge India to immediately stop the use of pellet guns, end the bloodshed, lift the curfew, reverse the clampdown and communications blackout, restore fundamental freedoms and liberties, release political prisoners, stop targeting human rights defenders, and fulfill obligations under the United Nations Security Council resolutions and various human rights instruments, as required by international law
- Take steps to bring to justice the perpetrators of human rights violations of Kashmiris and in this context, constitute a Commission of Inquiry (COI), as recommended by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Authorise the Office of the High Commissioner and the Human Rights Council’s special procedures mandate holders to monitor and report on India’s human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and regularly update the council
- Call upon India to allow unhindered access to human rights organisations and international media to occupied Kashmir
“The people of this occupied land are suffering systematic, and serial, violations of their fundamental freedoms,” he said, adding that the people of the disputed region had been “virtually caged by an illegal military occupation” for the past six weeks.
