GENEVA/LUTON: Kashmiri diaspora groups held a joint demonstration outside the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva against its silence on Indian atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and demanded holding India accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
According to a press release, the demonstration was initiated by Tehreek-e-Kashmir (Italy) and joined by Kashmiris delegation to Geneva where Azad Jammu and Kashmir leadership of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) comprising Altaf Hussain Wani, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Sardar Amjad Yousaf, Hasan Banna, Advocate Pervez, Shamim Shaal, Professor Shagufta Ashraf and Dr Sahira Shah were invited as special guests.
Speaking on the occasion, Wani said the fascist Indian regime was moving fast to artificially change the Muslim-majority character of the UN-designated disputed territory of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
He pointed out Indian regime was settling millions of radical Hindus in IIOJK in complete violation of Geneva Conventions and demanded from the UN body to take steps for halting such nefarious design of India. He further said such steps were being taken by New Delhi to “affect change in the outcome of the plebiscite which has to be held in IIOJK come what may”.
Naqshbandi said: “India knows this bare truth that Kashmiris in IIOJK will vote against it in UN-monitored plebiscite and that is why it wants to bring changes in the demography of the region, which is illegal and in violation of the international law.” He added UN and its bodies must rise to the occasion and hold India accountable for its brutal acts in the held valley.
Other speakers called upon the UN human rights body to hold India accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity in IIOJK.
Fahim Kayani, President Tehreek-e-Kashmir (UK), said: “India is the biggest violator of international norms, UN resolutions and universal human rights, and the situation demands international intervention since India’s judicial system has become a party to Nazi-inspired military regime in IIOJK.”
The demonstration participants urged the UN body to break its silence and seek information from India on illegal abduction of APHC chief Masarat Alam and other leaders—including Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Altaf Fantosh, Asiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi, Nahida Nasreen, Zafar Akbar Bhat, Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, Dr Qasim Faktoo and Mehrajuddin Kalwal.