MUZAFFARABAD: A delegation of the Organisa­tion of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Independent Perma­nent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) met Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan here on Monday and expressed concern over human rights violations committed by Indian forces in held Kashmir.

The AJK president ex­pr­ess­ed his gratitude for the OIC’s support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and its principled stance on the Kashmirs’ right to self-determination, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions.

He expressed deep concern over the rise of Islamophobia and attempts to demonise Islam and Muslims. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir...want a lasting resolution of Kashmir dispute and serve as a conduit for shared prosperity and connectivity. They want to be a bridge for peace and amity. But first they must be given their basic rights, particularly their right to self-determination,” Mr Khan said.

He said that the Indian occupation forces were guilty of violating the Geneva conventions by targeting unarmed civilians and using excessive force.

Med S.K. Kaggwa, leader of the delegation, said the IPHRC was concerned about the massive rights violations in Kashmir since July last year.

He urged the Indian government to allow human rights organisations, including the IPHRC, to assess the gravity of the situation. He said the OIC would continue to support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination in accordance with UNSC resolutions, as well as scores of OIC resolutions passed every year since 1990.

The IPHRC delegation included Rashid bin Hamad Al Balushi from Oman, Dr Raihanah Binti Abdullah from Malaysia, Dr Ergin Ergul from Turkey, Dr Ouman Abou Abba from Cameroon, Prof D. Saleh Bin Mohamed Al-Khatlen from Saudi Arabia, Mr Marghoob Butt and Mr Saqlain Javed.

APP adds: The IPHRC delegation also held a meeting with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad.

During the meeting Mr Aziz condemned the reprehensible Indian practice of using live ammunition and pellet guns as a result of which more than 150 innocent Kashmiri Muslims have been martyred, 20,000 have been injured and scores of people, including young girls and children, have been blinded.

Welcoming the IPHRC delegation, the adviser said over the past eight months, Indian occupation forces had committed horrific crimes against the Kashmiri people in flagrant violation of the UN Charter, human rights instruments and international conventions.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2017