ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged India to release the political prisoners and to lift the restriction amid coronavirus outbreak in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK).
Foreign Office in a statement issued today (Sunday) stated that Pakistan was deeply concerned over continued restrictions in IoK, despite so many confirmed cases and two deaths due to COVID-19.
The statement said, “Thousands of Kashmiri youth, members of civil society, journalists and Kashmiri leaders remain incarcerated in Indian prisons, many of them at undisclosed locations and away from their families.”
“The Indian forces continue to operate in the occupied territory with complete impunity under draconian laws such as Public Safety Act (PSA) and Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA),” statement added.
The statement further said, “The senior Hurriyat leadership is under detention at homes or in different prisons,” adding, “Hurriyat leaders Yasin Malik, Asia Andrabi and others are languishing in Indian jails under fake charges without a free or fair trial.”
“Since the Indian illegal actions of 5 August 2019, the students are unable to continue virtual education due to continued restrictions on 4G Internet services,” it added.
Foreign office said, “The international community must urgently demand from India the lifting of communication restrictions and allowing unfettered access to medical and other essential supplies.”
Foreign office also said, “The Indian government must also be urged to immediately allow release of all political prisoners from Indian jails, end incarceration of Kashmiri leaders including the senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leadership, restore full Internet facility in the entire occupied region, remove PSA and other draconian laws, and withdraw occupation forces from the IoJ&K.”
Referring to Pakistan’s support, the statement said, “For its part, Pakistan will continue supporting its Kashmiri brethren in their rightful struggle against Indian oppression till the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.”
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