Islamabad, 30 Aug, 2011: The Chairman Jammu and Kashmir People’s Freedom League Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, while felicitating the peoples of Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, on the eve of Eid-ul-Fiter, has issued the following statement:-

“On this auspicious day of celebrations, Muslims around the world should not forget that they are the torch-bearers of a glorious legacy of humanity, justice and fraternity, having power and potential to eradicate tyranny and ignorance from the world in all its forms and manifestations. Islam is the cradle of peace and justice, and essence of virtue. But if Muslims themselves fall prey to vice and ridicule the holy guidance by mutual blood-feuds and inhuman, immoral and corrupt practices then how they would be able to establish a system of justice and equality in their countries.

Today, since the dreadful, dark and unruly winds and clouds of hate bursts over our heads and are blowing fast across the Islamic world; Pakistan faces internal and external terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir continues to be under the jack-boots of Indian occupation forces—sinking the unfortunate state into corruption, and political, economic, social and moral crisis, hopes of a just, durable and amicable solution of Kashmir dispute have shattered before our eyes.

It is sad that the people of Kashmir again this time as before can’t celebrate Eid in peace and tranquility. Shadow of death is following them like anything every time and everywhere. To thousands of unmarked graves which were discovered a couple of years before, have been added now two thousand-over unidentified graves of innocent Kashmiris who were forcibly disappeared by the Indian army in 1990s and after and slaughtered like sheep and goats for their uncommitted sins. This has added to the grief of their families across Jammu and Kashmir. But, despite grief, gloom and mourning in their homes, the Government of India(GOI) is callous to all this, and there is no solid legal guarantee to prevent recurrence to secret ,illegal arrests, forcible disappearances, police tortures, fake encounters and custodial killings by army or police in Jammu and Kashmir.

Definitely, there is a close connection between arbitrary powers of arrests and detentions of army and police, brutal interrogation- powers, stationing of army and paratroopers in villages, appointment of cruel officers in police stations, police lines, forcible disappearances; and unmarked collective graves in Kashmir. It is the biggest ever challenge to the human rights movements and UN, especially when there are UNMOGIP on both sides of the LOC to monitor the developments and submit their reports to UN. What is their role after these dreadful disclosures?

The champions of human rights cause as MPs should raise this serious and burning issue in the Indian Parliament with reference to the STHRC findings on unknown graves to do justice to the families of eliminated Kashmiris, and make concerned officers and their departments answerable before the public.

Similarly, without any prejudice to the confidence building measures between Pakistan and India; Pakistan should bring the issue of unknown Kashmiri graves before her own Parliament for a meaningful and result-oriented debate. Only then the friendly nations of Pakistan and world community would acknowledge the importance and severity of the tragedy, and they would understand pathos of the Kashmiris and the danger it poses to the regional peace and stability.

Regardless of the ongoing process of dialogue and reconciliation between Pakistan and India, these dull moves have never ended human rights violations by Indians in Kashmir. Therefore, it is necessary that the tragedy of unknown graves in Kashmir should be referred to the UN during the coming annual session to be held in New York in September 2011, and the UNCHR be taken into confidence. Time is running out, and national foreign policy and reconciliation initiatives with India must not mean silence over state terrorism in Kashmir. If Pakistan as a party to the Kashmir dispute, and spokesman for the Kashmiris’ right of self-determination can’t take recourse to a proactive policy on the issue then who else will do. We can’t expect from others what we avoid to do ourselves.”