OIC delegation to visit AJK, permission to IOK denied
- By Web Desk -
- Mar 26, 2017
ISLAMABAD: A high-ranking delegation of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of OIC will visit Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The eight member delegation belonging to eight different OIC countries will be led by Chairperson IPHRC Mr. Med. S. Kaggwa and will visit from March 27 to 29.
The delegation gain firsthand understanding of the Kashmir dispute and will also visit camps of refugees from the Indian occupied Kashmir.
The delegation will also call on the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, and the President and Prime Minister of AJK.
The IPHRC requested Indian authorities for access to IoK to assess the human rights situation there. However, India has not responded to the request to date.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein had offered to send a fact-finding mission to IOK in wake of Indian brutalities since July 2016.
He requested ‘full and unhindered access to the affected population, to interview a variety of individuals on the ground including victims, witnesses, and security forces.
He also requested access to relevant documentation’ to ascertain the worsening situation. However, this request was also denied by India.
The IPHRC has a standing mechanism to monitor the human rights violations in IOK, but has been denied access by India.
The Foreign Office had said the visit is a manifestation of Pakistan’s commitment to unflinching political, moral and diplomatic support to the just cause of the Kashmiri people.
It reiterated that Pakistan supports the realization of the right to self determination promised to them under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.