SRINAGAR: In a recent plea, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has implored the United Nations and global human rights organizations to exert pressure on India to secure the release of Kashmiri political detainees.
These detainees, which include APHC leadership figures, are currently held under harsh and inhumane conditions in jails within India and the occupied territory.
According to an official statement from the APHC spokesman in Srinagar, the organization contends that India’s efforts to stifle the Kashmiri people’s yearning for freedom through unlawful detentions, arrests, and intimidation tactics will not prove successful. The spokesperson expressed deep concerns about the plight of the Kashmiri detainees, many of whom have endured more than two decades behind bars.
Among the notable individuals in detention are Dr Muhammad Shafi Shariati, Dr Mohammad Qasim Fakhtoo, Ghulam Qadir Butt, Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, Mohammad Ayub Dar, Mohammad Ayub Mir, Javed Ahmad Khan, Feroz Ahmed Dar, Abdul Hameed Tailee, Tariq Ahmed Mattoo, Mahmood Topi Wala, Bashir Ahmad Pannu, Fayyaz Ahmed, Sharifud-Din-Gujjar, Muhammad Ashraf Peer, Khalid Mehboob Phalwan, Maqsood Ahmed Bhat, Pervaiz Ahmed Mir, Mohammad Abbas Wani, Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, Abdul Waheed, Abdul Rasheed Mir, and Fahdullah.
The spokesperson emphasized that thousands of APHC leaders, activists, and youth have been unlawfully detained. This group includes prominent figures such as APHC chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Aasiya Andrabi, Ayaz Akbar, Shahid-ul-Islam, Merajuddin Kalwal, Peer Saifullah, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Fehmeeda Sofi, Naheeda Nasreen, Dr Hameed Fayaz, Maulana Abdul Majid Dar, Maulana Mushtaq Veeri, Abdul Rashid Doowoodi, Maulana Abdul Wahid Kishtwari, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Molvi Bashir Ahmad Irfani, Bilal Siddiqi, Ameer Hamza, Muhammad Yousuf Mir, Mohammad Rafiq Gania, Muhammad Yousuf Fallahi, Showket Hakeem, Mohammad Hayat Bhat, Mehrjudin Nanda, Eng Rashid, Asif Sultan, Fahad Shah, and human rights activist Khurrum Parvaiz. These individuals reportedly endure severe physical torture and discriminatory treatment within Indian and occupied territory jails.
Despite the ongoing hardships, the APHC spokesperson underscored that the determination of all Hurriyat leaders and activists remains steadfast. They are willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary for the cause of Kashmir.
The spokesperson further emphasized that the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir take great pride in their Hurriyat leaders and activists. Whether detained or actively working on the ground, they remain committed to achieving a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the Kashmir conflict in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
In light of these pressing concerns, the APHC has called upon prominent bodies such as UN Secretary General António Guterres, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and various local and international human rights organizations, including Asia Watch and Amnesty International, to leverage their influence for the immediate release of imprisoned Kashmiris and the ultimate settlement of the Kashmir dispute as outlined in UN resolutions.
