Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed the Organisation of Islamic Conference’s rejection of a new domicile law introduced in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistan welcomes OIC statement strongly condemning and rejecting Indian government’s illegal actions to redefine domicile rules to alter IoJ&K demographic, and terms it settlement colonialism against OIC, UNSC resolutions, 4th Geneva Convention, [and] international humanitarian laws,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aisha Farooqui in a tweet. The controversial law, notified by New Delhi on Monday, prescribes the procedure for issuance of domicile certificate, which is a mandatory requirement for seeking jobs in the region. However, critics, including Pakistan, say it is a continuation of India’s move to rescind the region’s semi-autonomous status in August last year, and paves the way for outsiders to settle in the disputed territory. Under the new law, eligible non-locals, along with people who have lived in occupied Kashmir for 15 years or studied there for seven years and appeared in class 10 or 12 examinations in a local school, can apply for the certificate.
