Pakistan condemns firing of pellets, tear gas on Muharram processions in IIOKJ

Dunya News

He urged int'l community to take urgent cognizance of egregious human rights violations in IIOJK

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned firing of pellets and tear gas shells on Muharram procession in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIJO&K).

According to a statement released on Sunday, Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said the indiscriminate targeting of civilians with pellet guns, causing excessive and permanent injuries and even deaths in IIOJK, is a clear violation of human rights and humanitarian law.

He said India is in clear violation of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials.

The spokesperson said BJP leadership must realize that it is directly responsible for these illegal actions of the Indian occupation forces.

He urged the international community to take urgent cognizance of these egregious human rights violations in IIOJK and use all tools at its disposal to hold India accountable for its illegal actions.

The spokesperson said India must be made to fully comply with its international legal obligations.

Due to the illegal and indiscriminate use of pellets, dozens of Kashmiris have reportedly been seriously injured, including with eye injuries causing permanent blindness.

Indian occupation forces in IIOJK have been using pellet guns and lethal cartridges since 2010 resulting in large number of deaths and grievous injuries to thousands of Kashmiris, including women and children.

The Kashmiri youth has been systemically targeted in this deadly campaign.