ISLAMABAD: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has voiced deep concern over the prolonged unlawful detention of numerous Kashmiris, including pro-freedom leaders.
They lament the continued imprisonment of top Hurriyat figures in New Delhi’s notorious Tihar Jail for over half a decade.
According to reports from Kashmir Media Service, APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, in a statement from Srinagar, strongly criticized the Modi regime for subjecting Kashmiri pro-freedom leaders and activists to severe political vendettas. He demanded the release of Hurriyat leaders, activists, and youths before Eid-ul-Fitr.
Minhas highlighted the extensive periods of illegal detention endured by several prominent figures. Masarrat Alam Butt, arrested in April 2015, has spent nine years in Tihar jail. Shabir Ahmed Shah, arrested in a fabricated case in July 2017, has completed seven years in illegal detention.
Muhammad Yasin Malik, JKLF Chairman, was arrested in April 2019 and has now spent five years in illegal detention. Similarly, Syeda Asiya Andrabi, the chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, along with her associates, Fahmeeda Sofi and Nahida Nasreen, have been detained since May 2017, totaling seven years in illegal detention.
Other Hurriyet leaders, including Ayaz Akbar, Pir Saifullah, Merajuddin Kalwal, and several others, have been languishing in jails both in India and IIOJK for extended periods.
The APHC has consistently demanded the release of these political prisoners, emphasizing their arbitrary detention across various jails and detention centers in the territory and India.
The spokesman praised the resilience and dedication of the detained Kashmiri leaders, activists, and youth, acknowledging their sacrifices for the right to self-determination.
Furthermore, the APHC denounced the Narendra Modi-led Indian government’s relentless efforts to impose its divisive Hindutva agenda and alter the demographic composition of IIOJK. They warned Kashmiris to remain vigilant against Indian schemes and urged unity to counter them.
The spokesman highlighted the devastating impact of the Modi regime’s actions since August 05, 2019, which marked a new chapter of brutality in Kashmir’s history. He underscored that every Indian action aims to undermine the cultural, linguistic, and religious identity of Muslims in the region. Nevertheless, he asserted that Indian oppression would only strengthen the resolve of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to resist illegal occupation.
—APP
