PESHAWAR
\nDawned the day of August the 5th, 2019 with a treacherous shadow hovering over the heads of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jummu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as the fascist government of Narendra Modi stripped them of their right to self-determination\u2013 the right given to them before the partition of the subcontinent whether to remain independent or to announce accession either to Pakistan or India\u2013 through an unconstitutional amendment by illegally revoking Article 370.
\nConsidered by India herself and her blue-eyed stakeholders a \u201ctemporary provision\u201d in the Indian Constitution, Article 370 was the only hope of Kashmiris prophesying their freedom as it granted IIOJK sovereignty in all matters except defense, foreign affairs and communications.
\nThe people of princely state of IIOJK have been subjected to marginalization from day first when Maharaja Hari Singh \u2013 on the lame pretext of preventing Pakistan\u2019s tribal invasions \u2013 signed an instrument of accession to India crushing beneath his feet Kashmiri\u2019s right to plebiscite in broad day light and later the revocation of Article 370 was a desperate attempt of India to put the last nail in the coffin.
\nNot only this; but with the revocation of Article 370, India also erased the significance of United Nations (UN) by disregarding the UN Security Council Resolution 47 (1948) categorically which includes the plebiscite among other points.
\nIn yet another frantic attempt to integrate IIOJK with herself, India has now changed rules of quota in jobs, issuing domiciles and buying lands aimed at bringing demographic changes in the Muslim majority region as anyone from the entire country can apply for jobs, obtaining domiciles and purchase lands in the princely state.
\n\u201cWith the abrogation of Article 370, Muslims have lost the previous level of political participation and freedom in IIOJK as direct rule of India causes the people of Jammu and Kashmir to have no longer their own government and amend or legislate laws to protect their rights and freedom \u2013 whatever the degree of freedom they had,\u201d said Professor Dr. Ejaz Khan, former Chairman, International Relations Department, University of Peshawar while talking to media.
\nHe said abrogation of Article 370 sparked widespread reaction across IIOJK with protests and demonstrations against the revocation.
\nThe 43 page report of the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 2019 exposed Indian forces\u2019 systematic terrorism and war crimes at IIOJK,\u201d said Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, a Kashmiri leader.
\nThe report had testified that Indian occupied forces used excessive force and pellet guns against peaceful Kashmiris in 2016, resulting in deaths and injuries of a large number of civilians which was a clear violation of UN Basic Principles on Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, he said.
\nGreat Hurriyat leader, Muhammad Yasin Malik was jailed for life in a fake case in a bid to silence his strong voice for Kashmir\u2019s freedom and terrorize other Kashmir leadership.
\nThe brutal killing of freedom fighter Burhan Wani and other Kashmiris leadership in a fake encounter besides issuances of over six million illegal domicile certificates of IIOJK to Hindus further exposed the anti-Kashmir\u2019s policies of the Hinduvata\u2019s regime.
\nMushtaq said the gruesome violation of human rights including the forced disappearance of over 8,000 innocent Kashmiris, 8,652 unmarked mass graves, imposition of longest curfew on some 10 million unarmed Kashmiris, extra-judicial killings and human rights abuses especially against women and children exposed India\u2019s ugly secular face before the world.
\nShutdowns and strikes were also observed in the bothside of Kashmir, but the Indian forces resorted to an excessive use of force (beatings, mistreatment, and use of pellet guns, tear gas and live ammunitions) against demonstrators to subdue them.
\nHe said restrictions were imposed on movement, assembly and gatherings and communication sources including the internet and mobile phone services were shut down to confine freedom of expression and access to information.
\nHe said thousands of people including politicians, freedom activists and civilians were arbitrarily arrested and sent behind the bars without charges and denied access to justice, free trials and legal representation.
\nHundreds of people were taken away by the Indian occupation forces without disclosure of their whereabouts while women were subjected to sexual harassment and intimidation and children to psychological trauma.
\nHe said the whole IIOJK suffered from humanitarian crisis as delivery of food, medicines and essential supplies wasn\u2019t possible due to the restrictions imposed by India.
\nOn top of that, censorship was placed on media and journalism to restrict reporting on the crimes the Indian forces committed in IIOJK.
\nThe Muslim and world leaders including the United Nations Secretary General, several members of UK parliament and US lawmakers, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have expressed derp concerns over the grim situation in IIOJK.
\nSome leaders also called for investigations into the crimes of Indian forces and raising voice for humanitarian aid in the held valley, Mushtaq added.
\nHowever; instead of mere lip service, its now time for the UN in particular and the Muslim leaders and the world stakeholders in general to take concrete steps to resolve the matter in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiris to bring an end to their long plight.
\nBecause the basic question still remains unanswered whether or not the UN has lived up to its responsibility regarding legitimate and basic human rights of the people of Kashmir.
\nDr Ejaz Khan said the responsibility rests with the UN as the Security Council Resolution (47) 1948 clearly asks both the countries to withdraw their forces from Kashmir and the issue be resolved through ballot paper allowing the people of Kashmir to decide whether to join either Pakistan or India or remain independent.
\nHe said Pakistan while complying with the Resolution, withdrew her forces while India did not even bother to budge regarding withdrawal of her forces.
\nThe Indian security forces not only remained in the valley but New Delhi also changed the special status of IIOJK denying the people of Kashmir sovereignty.
\nDr Ejaz said the UN along with other stakeholders should in real essence step in for the resolution of the lingering issue or else the Indian brutality and barbarism in the IIOJK could endanger peace in the entire world because the people of Kashmir would stop at nothing until and unless they achieve their freedom for a nation spare no sacrifice for its sovereignty.
\nHe said that four wars were fought on Kashmir and another would be disastrous for the entire region between nuclear armed neighbours.
\nThe experts said the unwavering efforts and sacrifices of the people of Kashmir would bear fruits due to their steadfast struggle for freedom from Indian yoke.
\nPakistan has always supported the cause of Kashmiris at every forum across the globe and will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Kashmir through every thick and thin because Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Dawned the day of August the 5th, 2019 with a treacherous shadow hovering over the heads of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jummu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as the fascist government of Narendra Modi stripped them of their right to self-determination\u2013 the right given to them before the partition of the subcontinent whether to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-423045","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n