The civil society express solidarity with Kashmiris of IHK

Lahore : Pakistani people and the civil society representatives gather together at liberty round about to register their protest against the brutal act of Indain forces on innocent Kashmiris. More than 7000 Indian forces are deployed in Kashmir to supress the voice of Kashmiris

Human rights abuses in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir state are an ongoing issue. The abuses range from mass killings, enforced disappearances, torture, rape and sexual abuse to political repression and suppression of freedom of speech. The Indian Army, central reserve police force, border security personnel and various separatist militant groups have been accused and held accountable for committing severe human rights abuses against Kashmiri civilians.

The most recent act of brutality; On 8 July 2016, a popular militant leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani was cornered by the security forces and killed. Following his death, protests and demonstrations have taken root leading to an “amplified instability” in the Kashmir valley. Curfews have been imposed in all 10 districts of Kashmir and over 40 civilians died and over 2000 injured in clashes with the police. More than 600 have pellet injuries who may lose their eyesight. To prevent volatile rumours, cell-phone and internet services have been blocked, and newspapers have also been restricted in many parts of the state.

By 25 July, 50 – 56 people including 2 policemen have died during the unrest and over 5,800 people have been injured including 3,550 security personnel and 2,309 civilians. According to local doctors, at least 117 civilians were likely to lose their eyesight as a result of injuries caused by buckshot blasts.  Among the civilians are children, young boys, women and also old men.

Indian security forces trying to control the Kashmiri agitators have used pellet guns, which although billed as “non-lethal”, lead to a high number of casualties including permanent eye injuries. Seventy-seven people have been injured, with two killed and many losing their eyesight, between 8–12 July 2016. Due to the medical emergency in Kashmir, there was a shortage of eye specialists who could treat the injured lying in Kashmiri hospitals. Over 200 patients are admitted with the same problem. A five-year-old, Zohra Zahoor, had pellet wounds in her legs, forehead and abdomen, and is one of the youngest victims from the region; she was admitted to a hospital in Srinagar. Human Rights Watch strongly condemned the use of pellet guns on protesters and called it a failure of the authorities to respect basic human rights.

A three-member team of eye-specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi reached Kashmir to help the local doctors in treating the pellet gun injuries. After watching the condition of patients in the hospital, they described it as a “war-like situation”.

The civil society demand from the human rights organization and specially OIC and UNO to take action against the brutal act of Indian forces and government of India specially their Prime Minister Narinda Modi.

Kashmiris are going through the hard time and Pakistanis are heartedly with then we will not stop raising our voice and International forums have to listen the voice of Kashmiris they need justice from International communities.