JKLF demonstration in UK against 'Unmarked Graves' in held-Kashmir
'Pakistan Times' Kashmir Desk

LONDON (UK): Members and supporters of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), including women and children along with the supporters of the Kashmiri cause, demonstrated in front of Indian High Commission, London against the revelation of nearly 1,000 graves in Indian Held Kashmir.

Demonstrators from almost all parts of Britain gathered in front of Indian High Commission in London where they shouted slogans against Human Rights abuses by Indian troops in Kashmir. The demonstrators were holding play cards, banners and pictures of JKLF Supreme Head Amanullah Khan and Maqbool But.

A message wired to 'Pakistan Times' [Daily Web Newspaper] by JKLF says that the objective of the protest, led by Prof. Zafar Khan and Haji Rauf Khan, was to draw world attention towards the discovery of the unidentified graves, forced disappearances and custodial killings of innocent Kashmiris in Indian occupied territory.

Speaking on this occasion Head of JKLF's Diplomatic Committee Prof. Zafar Khan said that India have a substantial military presence in Kashmir, and has deployed as many as three quarters of a million soldiers.

Militarised violence has created deep social scars, and physical pain in Kashmiri society.

He said that utter disregard and abuse of human rights has been a feature of military operations by Indian forces in Kashmir with deaths, rapes, collective punishment and disappearances of innocent young men at a time when activities by the freedom fighters have considerably reduced. He said that very little if any, good will and confidence exists among ordinary Kashmiri people for Indian authorities.

Due to a multiplicity of reasons, the so-called current 'war on terrorism', Indian authorities have literally got away with murder in Kashmir.

Zafar Khan said that lesser levels of oppressions in the world have changed political maps elsewhere, while Kashmiris continue to suffer in their struggle for justice, human dignity, freedom, democracy and the inherent and inalienable right of self-determination. He said that JKLF will lobby on international forums to muster up the popular political and diplomatic support in favour of the people of Kashmir for their inherent, inalienable and internationally recognised and pledged right to complete independence.

Demanding an immediate enquiry into the shameful episode of unmarked graves, Zafar Khan said that this is a humanitarian issue and it is the duty of the Govt of India to order a thorough inquiry, under the obligations of the Geneva Convention, to which India is a party.

Zafar Khan also condemned India's decision to ban Pakistani News Channels in Indian controlled Kashmir. Terming it a desperate act by India to hide the raising calls for an international investigation into 1,000 unmarked graves discovered recently, he said that the move to bar the channels has raised serious concerns about the freedom of expression in Kashmir.

Rauf Khan, President of JKLF UK Zone while speaking on this occasion strongly condemned the revelation of 1000 unmarked graves in Kashmir and termed it as black spot on Indian so called democracy. He said that the grave sites are believed to contain the remains of victims of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other abuses by the occupying forces in Indian Held Kashmir. He further said that more than 10,000 people have disappeared in custody of Indian forces in Kashmir and the revelation of mass graves has increased the fear of their whereabouts.

Rauf Khan appealed the international community to play its role in order to stop these atrocities immediately and help resolve this outstanding issue, according to the will and aspirations of the people. He said that the international human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Red Cross should come forward and raise this issue and launch an impartial probe. He also demanded that India should come clear on the whereabouts of the missing persons and political prisoners lodged in Indian Jails without fair trails.

Mahmood Hussain, Ex. Secretary General JKLF UK said that JKLF has launched an online petition calling for an international enquiry into grave issue. He appealed to the participants as well as all to Kashmiris and their supporters to sign the Petition in order to make this demand stronger. He said that this petition will be handed over to the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and will remind him the historical role Britain can play in resolving the long standing Kashmir Issue.

Others who also spoke were Prof. Mohammad Riaz, Malik Latif, Chaudry Yousuf, Khan Farooq, Malik Mushtaq; Prof. Shahid Iqbal, Mohammad Rafiq, Ali Asghar, Mohammad Iqbal, Mahmood Faiz, Sanawar Hussain, Tehseen Gilani, Chaudry Yousuf, Raja Ishaq of Muslim Conerence, Haji Mohammad Ayub of Muslim Conference, Abdul Qadeer Malik, Abdul Razaq Malik, Sajid Janjoa, and representatives of other religious and political organisations in UK.●