UN High Commissioner for HR should play role in stopping the violence in IIOK & saving the lives of Kashmiris: Sardar Amjad Yusuf

Geneva (PNI) Addressing the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Sardar Amjad Yusuf Khan on behalf of International Action for Peace and Sustainable Development has demanded the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights to stop the ongoing violence in occupied Kashmir by the Indian government and save the lives and property of Kashmiris.

Addressing the meeting of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, Sardar Amjad Yusuf welcomed the appointment of Mr. Volker Turk as the High Commissioner for Human Rights and said that the recent report of Amnesty International in Jammu and Kashmir. Exposes Indian claims of increased unlawful killings and urges that Indian authorities ensure prompt, independent and impartial investigations into recent killings of civilians.

He said that since the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019, Indian authorities have arrested many human rights activists, including journalists and political activists, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

So far, at least 36 journalists have faced interrogation, raids, threats or physical attacks for their reporting. Prominent human rights leader Khurram Pervez was also booked under the same tough law for cooperating with the High Commissioner’s office for the first report on Kashmir.

According to an Amnesty report, the people of Jammu and Kashmir faced at least 85 internet outages in 2021, the highest in the world.

Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Sardar Amjad Yusuf said that the demographic changes in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir are a cause of deep concern for the population in general and the Muslim majority in particular, who have been reduced to a minority. He requested the High Commissioner to play his role to save the lives and property of Kashmiris.