ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari strongly condemned Indian court’s fallacious conviction of Yasin Malik on fabricated charges and demanded his acquittal and immediate release.
“Yasin Malik is the most prominent and respected voice among Hurriyat leaders in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). His firm resolve against decades of Indian oppression cannot be shaken by such travesties of justice,” Bilawal Bhutto said in a statement issued here by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“I demand acquittal of Yasin Malik. The fabricated charges against him must be dropped. And he must be released forthwith and allowed to reunite with his family.:
“India must also release all political prisoners and stop egregious human rights violations in the IIOJK,” he maintained.
The Foreign Minister said India must know that it cannot forever prevent the Kashmiri people from exercising their right to self-determination, given to them by the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
“I call upon the international community, the United Nations and the human rights and humanitarian organizations to exhort India to stop this grave injustice against Yasin Malik,” he added.
The Foreign Minister said the international community must realize that there will be grave humanitarian consequences if India was allowed to continue violating international laws in the IIOJK, with impunity.
NA resolution
The National Assembly on Tuesday also unanimously passed a resolution, condemning the illegal detention of Yasin Malik by the Indian government.
The resolution, moved by Khawaja Muhammad Asif, urged the world community and human rights organizations to put pressure on the Indian government not to infringe on the basic human rights of Yasin Malik.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the conviction of prominent Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik by the Indian court in a fictitious terrorism case.
He said Pakistan rejected the Indian failed tactics against Yasin Malik who was a symbol of unparalleled bravery and freedom.
He urged the international community including the United Nations and the Human Rights Council to take note of India’s extra-judicial measures.
He said the government of Pakistan would highlight India’s actions against Yasin Malik and other Kashmiri leadership at all international forums including the human rights bodies and the forum of Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
