Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said that as the world observed “International Day in Support of Victims of Torture” on the day, the international community must hold India accountable for its human rights abuses in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“Today on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, I call on the international community to hold India accountable for its human rights abuses in IOJK where women, men & children have faced pellet guns, sexual assault, electrocution, & physical & mental torture,” the prime minister said on his Twitter handle.
He said the atrocities by Indian occupation forces on orders of the Hindutva Supremacist Occupation Modi government were well documented by the United Nations, human rights organizations as well as international media.
“A continuing silence in the face of such blatant abuse is against international human rights and humanitarian laws and must be unacceptable,” the prime minister remarked.
The international day is observed globally for two reasons. First, on June 26, 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed during the midst of World War II – the first international instrument obliging UN members to respect and promote human rights. Second, June 26, 1987 was when the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment came into effect.
Meanwhile, Pakistan on Friday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register strong protest over the ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Karela Sector on Thursday serious injuring an innocent civilian.
Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces, a 28 year old Madeeha Hafeez wife of Muhammad Tahir, resident of Batla Mathrani village, sustained serious injuries, Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.
The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) had continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons. In 2020, India has so far committed 1487 ceasefire violations resulting in 13 Shahadats and serious injuries to 106 innocent civilians, she said.
Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts were in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct.
These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security. It was added that by raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).
Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB. The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.
On the other hand, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday said that Hindutva mindset and aggressive policies of India were posing serious threats to peace and security of the whole region.
Chairing a high level meeting on regional security at the foreign ministry, the foreign minister said India wanted to sabotage the efforts for Afghan peace.
Special Assistant to PM on National Security Moeed Yousuf, Secretary Foreign Affairs Sohail Mahmood, senior military and foreign ministry official attended the meeting which discussed in detail the ongoing Indian aggression in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and overall regional situation.
The foreign minister said India was targeting innocent civilians at the Line of Control (LoC) just to cover up the human rights violations in IOJK and its internal issues.
Even, he said India had not given up its stubbornness despite having faced embarrassment in standoff with China.
The foreign minister said Pakistan had been taking up the human rights abuses and deployment of troops in IOJK at the internationals forums including the United Nations, so the world community must take notice of Indian aggression.
