Geneva: The Kashmiri delegation called on Human Rights officer and Special Assistant to the Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges and lawyers Ms. Melanie Santizo here on the sidelines of the 56th session of the Human Rights Council.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the delegation, comprising Altaf Hussain Wani, Sardar Amjad Yusuf, Shamim Shawl, Advocate Parvez Ahmed Shah, Dr Waleed and Maria Iqbal Tarana, briefed Ms Santizo on the alarming situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation raised its serious concern over the use and misuse of draconian laws and its terrible impact on the Kashmiri society.
Referring to draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the delegation said these notorious laws grant impunity to armed forces allowing them to commit atrocities with no fear of accountability.
Highlighting the case of former Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association president, Mian Abdul Qayyum, they said that Qayyum was being punished for representing young people who were charged under these laws.
“Government employees are implicated in false cases and dismissed from jobs after being labeled as anti-state”, they said, adding that false First Information Reports (FIRs) are rampant, yet no one receives justice.
Sharing the heart-wrenching story of six local Bakarwals who were falsely labelled as ‘terrorists’ by Indian media, the delegation said that a CBI inquiry later on declared all of them as innocent.
On the contrary, they said, ” No FIR is registered against occupational forces who are killing innocent Kashmiris without any remorse”.
“The delayed justice and distant hearing location has forced many families to abandon the case”, they said.
Regarding the occupation authorities’ bid to harass and intimidate non-resident Kashmiris, the Kashmiri delegates said the Indian government has registered FIRs against exiled individuals, confiscating their properties, harassing their families, and declaring them absconders.
Highlighting the cases of prominent rights activist Khurram Pervaiz and senior journalists Fahad Shah, they said the duo had been detained under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to force them into silence.
About the woeful plight of Kashmiri women and children, whose loved ones are jailed without legal representation, they said their continued detention has led to post-traumatic stress disorder amongst the victims affecting their mental and physical health.
They said the Kunan Poshpora incident serves as a stark reminder to the sufferings of Kashmiri women.