ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemned on Saturday the killing of Javed Mir, a college student, in Badgam district, and illegal detention of the Hurriyat leadership by Indian occupation forces in Kashmir Valley.

Nafees Zakaria, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in his tweets on his official account, said leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Maulvi Umar Farooq and Ms Asiya Andrabi, had been under illegal detention, which was highly deplorable.

“We deplore Indian forces torturous treatment of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, reportedly in critical condition in ICU,” he added.

Conveying heartfelt condolences to the family of Javed Mir, the spokesperson said the 22-year-old student was unarmed (when killed) and the sole breadwinner of his family. He condemned genocide, crimes against humanity and blatant violations of human rights by Indian occupation forces in the Valley.

More than 150 people had been killed, hundreds blinded by pellet guns and thousands injured in held Kashmir since July 8, he said and demanded an end to such atrocities.

Later in a PTV programme, Mr Zakaria said Pakistan had a principled stance over occupied Kashmir. The UN resolutions (on Kashmir) should be implemented and the Kashmiris should be given the choice to decide their own fate.

Published in Dawn October 23rd, 2016

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