Mehbooba Mufti warns India of repercussions before abrogating Article 35A

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel standing near a closed market area during a shutdown.

(Web Desk) – As India’s apex court is set to hear a bunch of petitions including the one filed by the non-governmental organization (NGO) ‘We the Citizens’ for abrogating the Article-35(A) of India’s Constitution, which confers special status to permanent residents of Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK), a complete shutdown is being observed in IOK in protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government.

All shops and business establishments are shut down while streets wear a deserted look in all major cities and towns of the territory. The shutdown is aimed at expressing resentment against the petition scheduled for hearing tomorrow in the Indian Supreme Court.

The abrogation of this constitutional provision will pave way for the Indian citizens to permanently settle in IOK that will subsequently result in change in the demographic composition of the territory.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has termed abrogation of this provision as a "blatant violation of international law and the UN Security Council’s resolutions.”

In a statement issued on Sunday, FO spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said "We understand that the Supreme Court of India is due to deliberate, shortly, on the petitions calling for the scrapping of Article 35A of the Indian Constitution.”

"Pakistan condemns any such attempts as these are clearly aimed at bringing about demographic changes in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir," he added.

According to Dr Faisal, quashing Article 35-A "would be a blatant violation of international law and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, which prohibit introducing material changes to the disputed territory.

"The evolving situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir is equally a matter of grave concern," he said, adding "there have been further heavy-handed steps including enhanced use of force, large-scale arrests, and incarceration of senior Kashmiri leaders".

He maintained that such events were "contributing to an atmosphere of extreme intimidation and fear" and, thus, "immediate steps are required to reverse this frenzy and restore calm".

He urged international community to adopt effective response on the deteriorating situation in IOK by stating "the international community should take cognizance of the situation and counsel India to refrain from further escalation, defuse current tensions and resolve issues through dialogue and engagement."

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti said that any tampering with the special status of occupied Kashmir will render the accession of the state with the Union of India null and void.

The former Chief Minister in a series of tweets, said that Indian government before taking any decision should consider the repercussions and that those frothing at the mouth for calling it’s removal should not blame Kashmiris for the developments that will follow.

Valley rife with speculation about status of Article 35. Before taking a decision, GoI must consider- 1. J&K was the only Muslim majority state that chose a secular India over Pak during partition. 2. Article 370 is the constitutional connection between J&K & Indian Union.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 24, 2019

Meanwhile Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leaders stated “Any attempt of eroding or tempering with Article 35-A is unacceptable for people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Hurriyat Forum Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in a statement, condemned the arrest of Muhammad Yasin Malik and the crackdown on the JI leadership, saying force and intimidation will only worsen the situation.

“Strongly condemn the nocturnal crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami leadership and cadres and the arrest of Yasin Malik. Such illegal and coercive measures against Kashmiris are futile and will not change realities on ground. Force and intimidation will only worsen the situation,” he said.