Is The World Going To See A Special UN Representative For Jammu & Kashmir?
By YFK
June 09,2017
UNITED NATIONS, GENEVA—The United Nations is witnessing quick developments on Kashmir conflict. The latest is the floating of a proposal to appoint a UN Special Representative for Jammu & Kashmir. The move is in its initial stages. Several countries are involved in private discussions on the proposal, and a lot depends on Pakistan’s ability to leverage its influence.
The Kashmir Delegation to United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has requested the world’s top rights body to appoint a Special Representative for Jammu & Kashmir, in another step that increases diplomatic pressure on India in the seven-decade-old conflict.
“My organization would request the Council for appointment of Special Representative on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir so that facts may come to light,” Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Convener All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the umbrella organization of pro-freedom Kashmiri political parties, told member states of the Council.
His statement comes as the United Nations ends its 50-year silence on Kashmir with three policy statements at Human Rights Council in September, March and June, all chastising India for gross human rights violations in Kashmir.
Senior woman leader from Indian-occupied Kashmir, Mrs. Shamim Shawl, devoted her speech at UNHRC to the UN General Assembly Resolution of December 17, 1979. The resolution laid out a Code of Conduct in all conflict zones. “The use of pellet guns blinding and killing people,” she said, “is a gross violation both under international humanitarian law and international law. The use of lethal pellets guns has created an atmosphere of threat and fear among young generation.”
Mrs. Shawl represented the International Muslim Women’s Union. She informed the Council about the case of Adil Farooq Magrey, a Grade 12 student killed by Indian army in Shopian; a Kashmir area, on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. The Indian soldiers involved in the murder belong to the 44 Rashtriya Rifles unit.
Sardar Amjad Youssef Khan, the Executive Director Kashmir Institute Of International Relations (KIIR), commended the top UN Rights Chief for his policy statement on Kashmir.
“My organization welcomes the update by the High Commissioner For Human Rights on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, where he mentioned his request to the Governments of India and Pakistan to invite teams from the office of the High Commissioner to examine the situation of human rights on both sides of the temporary ceasefire line known as the LOC,” Youssef said.
He also welcomed the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Farukh Amil. “We also welcome the statement made by Pakistan to facilitate the team from the OHCHR and his request to India to facilitate the UN Mission. This Mission is critical because of the deteriorating situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir,” Youssef said.
The Kashmir Delegation is led by a senior Kashmir freedom leader from Indian-occupied Kashmir, Altaf Hussain Wani. In his speech to the Council, Wani drew the diplomats’ attention to the crackdown on the Kashmiri civil society and restrictions on holding peaceful assembly.
During the first five months of 2017, at least 40 people were killed and hundreds injured in different incidents in Kashmir involving the Indian occupation army.
The eight-member Kashmir Delegation for UNHRC’s 35th session consists of Altaf Hussain Wani-Delegation leader and senior Kashmir freedom leader, senior APHC leaders-Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Hassan al-Banna and Advocate Pervaiz Shah, Sardar Amjad Youssef Khan-Executive Director Kashmir Institute Of International Relations (KIIR), senior woman Kashmiri leader Mrs. Shamim Shawl, Ahmed Quraishi-Executive Director YFK–International Kashmir Lobby Group and Prof. Shagufta Ashraf-Human Rights Defender working with women & children.
YFK–International Kashmir Lobby Group (Youth Forum For Kashmir) is Pakistan’s first pro-Kashmir, registered and nonpartisan International lobbying group led by young Kashmiris and Pakistanis working to ensure justice to Kashmiris living under Indian-military occupation.
For more information, please contact M. Hassaan (+92 333 5988912 / m.hassaan@yfk.org.pk) or Altaf Wani (+41 77 9876048 / saleeemwani@hotmail.com) or Ahmed Quraishi (+41 77 9643655 / aq@yfk.org.pk)
Is The World Going To See A Special UN Representative For Jammu & Kashmir?
By YFK
June 09,2017
UNITED NATIONS, GENEVA—The United Nations is witnessing quick developments on Kashmir conflict. The latest is the floating of a proposal to appoint a UN Special Representative for Jammu & Kashmir. The move is in its initial stages. Several countries are involved in private discussions on the proposal, and a lot depends on Pakistan’s ability to leverage its influence.
The Kashmir Delegation to United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has requested the world’s top rights body to appoint a Special Representative for Jammu & Kashmir, in another step that increases diplomatic pressure on India in the seven-decade-old conflict.
“My organization would request the Council for appointment of Special Representative on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir so that facts may come to light,” Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Convener All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the umbrella organization of pro-freedom Kashmiri political parties, told member states of the Council.
His statement comes as the United Nations ends its 50-year silence on Kashmir with three policy statements at Human Rights Council in September, March and June, all chastising India for gross human rights violations in Kashmir.
Senior woman leader from Indian-occupied Kashmir, Mrs. Shamim Shawl, devoted her speech at UNHRC to the UN General Assembly Resolution of December 17, 1979. The resolution laid out a Code of Conduct in all conflict zones. “The use of pellet guns blinding and killing people,” she said, “is a gross violation both under international humanitarian law and international law. The use of lethal pellets guns has created an atmosphere of threat and fear among young generation.”
Mrs. Shawl represented the International Muslim Women’s Union. She informed the Council about the case of Adil Farooq Magrey, a Grade 12 student killed by Indian army in Shopian; a Kashmir area, on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. The Indian soldiers involved in the murder belong to the 44 Rashtriya Rifles unit.
Sardar Amjad Youssef Khan, the Executive Director Kashmir Institute Of International Relations (KIIR), commended the top UN Rights Chief for his policy statement on Kashmir.
“My organization welcomes the update by the High Commissioner For Human Rights on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, where he mentioned his request to the Governments of India and Pakistan to invite teams from the office of the High Commissioner to examine the situation of human rights on both sides of the temporary ceasefire line known as the LOC,” Youssef said.
He also welcomed the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Farukh Amil. “We also welcome the statement made by Pakistan to facilitate the team from the OHCHR and his request to India to facilitate the UN Mission. This Mission is critical because of the deteriorating situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir,” Youssef said.
The Kashmir Delegation is led by a senior Kashmir freedom leader from Indian-occupied Kashmir, Altaf Hussain Wani. In his speech to the Council, Wani drew the diplomats’ attention to the crackdown on the Kashmiri civil society and restrictions on holding peaceful assembly.
During the first five months of 2017, at least 40 people were killed and hundreds injured in different incidents in Kashmir involving the Indian occupation army.
The eight-member Kashmir Delegation for UNHRC’s 35th session consists of Altaf Hussain Wani-Delegation leader and senior Kashmir freedom leader, senior APHC leaders-Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Hassan al-Banna and Advocate Pervaiz Shah, Sardar Amjad Youssef Khan-Executive Director Kashmir Institute Of International Relations (KIIR), senior woman Kashmiri leader Mrs. Shamim Shawl, Ahmed Quraishi-Executive Director YFK–International Kashmir Lobby Group and Prof. Shagufta Ashraf-Human Rights Defender working with women & children.
YFK–International Kashmir Lobby Group (Youth Forum For Kashmir) is Pakistan’s first pro-Kashmir, registered and nonpartisan International lobbying group led by young Kashmiris and Pakistanis working to ensure justice to Kashmiris living under Indian-military occupation.
For more information, please contact M. Hassaan (+92 333 5988912 / m.hassaan@yfk.org.pk) or Altaf Wani (+41 77 9876048 / saleeemwani@hotmail.com) or Ahmed Quraishi (+41 77 9643655 / aq@yfk.org.pk)
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