ISLAMABAD, June 9: Pakistan has strongly condemned the arrest of Syed Ali Gillani, a popular Kashmiri leader who is also a member of the executive council and former chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, by the Indian authorities under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).

Reacting to the arrest, the Foreign Office in a statement issued here on Sunday said the arrest of Mr Gillani once again exhibited the Indian government’s utter disregard for the fundamental rights and liberties of the Kashmiris.

India has failed to suppress the Kashmiri freedom struggle despite its massive campaign of state-terror and gross human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir, the Foreign Office said.

According to the media reports, the Indian authorities had registered cases against Syed Ali Gillani and Dukhtaran-i-Millat chief Aasiya Andrabi under POTA. The Indian authorities have managed to arrest Mr Gillani while a massive hunt has been launched for Ms Andrabi, the reports said.

Reiterating Pakistan’s principled stand on Kashmir, the Foreign Office said India should come to the negotiating table with Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.