Pakistan slams fresh round of curbs on political parties in IIOJ&K

ISLAMABAD: Denouncing the Indian authorities’ decision of declaring the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Freedom League (JKPFL) and four factions of Jammu and Kashmir People’s League (JKPL) as ‘unlawful associations’, Islamabad Tuesday urged New Delhi to unban them, release all the political prisoners and implement the UNSC resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

The Foreign Office also denounced the decision to extend the ban on Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd Yasin Malik faction) for five more years.

“With the fresh notifications, a total of 14 Kashmiri political parties have become outlawed in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The affiliates of these parties are also facing persecution. Most notably, a death penalty has been sought for Yasin Malik, who was awarded life sentence in 2022. However, such oppressive tactics cannot suppress the Kashmiri people’s aspirations for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions,” said the Foreign Office.

India’s ongoing campaign to crush dissent in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) contravenes the international human rights and humanitarian law as well as democratic norms.

“The Government of India is urged to lift the curbs on the banned Kashmiri parties, release all the political prisoners, including Mr. Yasin Malik, and implement the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir,” added the Foreign Office.