'Human rights in IOJ&K': Pakistan welcomes public hearing at Washington DC

Pakistan on Saturday welcomed the public hearing on human rights in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir held by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress on November 14, 2019 at Washington DC.

"The deliberations of the Commission reinforced internationally recognized disputed nature of the Jammu and Kashmir issue and highlighted gross human rights violations and the humanitarian crisis in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K)," said Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal while commenting on the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's public hearing on the situations in the IOJ&K.

A call for an independent fact-finding mission to IOJ&K was made, he said, adding the right to self-determination of Kashmiri people was also duly underscored during the Commission's proceedings.

Held less than a month after the hearing of the Subcommittee on Asia of the US House of Representatives, he added the Lantos Commission hearing reflected continued international concern over the situation in the IOJ&K.

"Pakistan recognizes efforts of Members of the US Congress who have raised their voices of conscience on the ongoing persecution of the people of IOJ&K and called upon the Indian government to end its brutal repression," he said, adding: "We appreciate that the US leadership and lawmakers are cognizant of the potential threats to fundamental human rights, freedom of speech, right to self-determination, and peace and stability in the region and are willing to play their due role to help bring the continuing humanitarian nightmare to an end."

He pointed out that the general view during the hearing was that international journalists, independent human rights organizations and United Nations Special Rapporteurs should be allowed to visit the IOJ&K.

He said that the witnesses also called for immediate lifting of the communications blockade and restoration of human rights in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Overall, it was emphasized that India should not be allowed to continue its oppressive policies as well as religious and ethnic persecution, he said, adding that the international community was urged to hold independent investigations into grave human rights violations in the occupied territory.

Importantly, the need for the US Congress to play an even greater role in urging India to end its repression in IOJ&K, without succumbing to any political expediency, was emphasized, he added.

"The courage of the panelists who became the voice of innocent Kashmiri people being brutally silenced by India's communications blockade is laudable. They shredded the myth of so-called "largest democracy" and honestly exposed the authoritarian, nationalistic and extremist motivations driving the Indian government's deplorable and repressive policies," Dr Faisal said, adding they also expressed their concern that persecution of religious minorities in India, especially manifested in the form of anti-conversion legislation, Babri Masjid verdict, National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam as well as mob violence and lynching were fostering a growing sense of fear among the minorities in India.

The latest hearing in the Lantos Commission of the U.S. Congress is another illustration of the world community's serious concern over the unacceptable situation in the IOJ&K and the need to address it urgently.

"The Indian regime must end its illegal occupation of the IOJ&K, stop its state-terrorism in the occupied territories, and allow the exercise of right to self-determination to the Kashmiri people as stipulated by the United Nations Security Council resolutions," he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019