Indian army officials serving in Kashmir since 1990, and PM Modi, could be taken to ICC for committing war crimes, violation of international laws in the disputed region.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 29, (Asia Free Press): Legal experts suggested taking Indian military chiefs and other officers involved in war crimes in Jammu and Kashmir to the International Criminal court (ICC).
Speaking at a conference “Legal Ramifications of Forces Demographic Change and Delimitation Process in IIOJK” organized by Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR), an Islamabad based think tank, Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan, the former Chief Justice of Gambia, said that any NGO, Kashmiri diaspora or any other organization could file a petition before the UN Secretary-General over the war crimes committed by India in Kashmir.
“Indian forces have committed war crimes and grave human rights violations in Kashmir and now its time to take them to the international Criminal Court for their crimes they committed there,” Justice Chowhan said.
“Any NGO, Kashmiri diaspora living in western countries or any other individual could file a petition before the UN Secretary General.”
He suggested that petitions should be filed against the Indian army officials and military officers who served in Kashmir and committed war crimes there should be taken individually to the UN and ICC.
The experts viewed the current move of demographic changes of the disputed region as a crime and violation of international law, and the Indian Prime Minister, Home Minister, and other officers behind this illegal move in Kashmir could also take by Kashmiris to the world body.
According to various reports, Indian forces have killed nearly 100,000 innocent Kashmiris since 1990 while raping over 11,000 women in the disputed region.
Indian forces injured over 25,000 Kashmiri in pellet guns attacks, widowed over 23,000 women, 108,000 children became orphans and destroyed over 110,000 properties during cordoned off and search operations, according to a dossier released by Pakistan foreign ministry in September this year.
“Despite these war crimes, now Indian government changing the demographic status of the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” Advocate Nasir Qadri, Director of Legal Forum for Kashmir (LFOVK), said.
He added that the Indian government has appointed Justice retired Ranjana Prakash Desai, a member of the ruling BJP party and very close to the Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Delimitation commission is a powerful body and its order or decision cannot be challenged in any court,” Qadri said and adding that through delimitation Modi government reduced the parliamentary seats of Muslims and increased the Hindus representation in the assembly.
“India want to convert the Muslim majority region of Kashmir into Hindu majority which is violation of UN Security Council resolutions and all international laws.”
IICR Executive Director Sabah Aslam said that India tailored its secular image over time by subduing its natural face.
“In 2014 BJP led Narendra Modi came to hold power reigns and what was obscured from the world became known to everyone,” she said while referring Modi involvement in 2002 Indian state Gujrat riots where Hindus killed thousand innocent Muslims.
“ [Modi-led] BJP driven India took steps to exercise complete control over changing Indian society by subjugating its minorities,” she said and adding It started with the obvious; Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Sabah termed the New Delhi actions of August 2019 to abrogated Articles 370 and 35-A as constitutional genocide of Kashmiri and said now more ill intentions of Modi government came to the world canvas.
“The further objective was to introduce demographic change in Kashmir and eliminate Kashmiri culture and history by giving land acquisition to the Hindus of India. This project re-colonization of Kashmir has far-reaching consequences in Kashmir Conflict,” she warned.
Speaking at the conference, a veteran Kashmiri leader Farooq Rehmani warned the international community that India is planning Muslim genocide in Kashmir and should stop New Delhi from these heinous crimes.
“The Indian government through its controversial census, reducing Muslim population and increasing Hindus in Kashmir while now issued over 3.4 million more domicile to non-Kashmiri Hindus as part of their demographic change of the region,” he said.
He also criticised the United Arab Emirate (UAE) for announcing direct flights between Srinagar and Sharja and said this is an act against the Muslims of Kashmir.
“What message UAE government want to give the Muslims of Kashmir to extending its trade ties with India despite they know that Modi is killing innocent Muslim but still UAE support and encourage to kill Muslim in India and Kashmir,” he criticised the gulf government.
Former Pakistan High Commission to India Ambassador Abdul Basit termed the Indian government actions on August 5, 2019, were illegal and said Modi acted against the Kashmir high court and Indian Supreme Court verdict.
“In 2015, the Kashmir high court in its verdict clearly said that article 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution cannot amend neither change as its permanent and later the Supreme Court also ruled and maintain the same decision over a petition filed by BJP,” Basit said.
He slammed over the international community’s silence on atrocities in Kashmir and said the World community needed to raise its voice against human rights violations committed by Indian forces in Kashmir.
He also urged the Pakistani government and Kashmiri diaspora to come forward, and “this is time to act.”
Prominent historian and British author Vitoria also spoke to the conference and expressed concerns over the current situation in Kashmir.
“Kashmir dispute is highly dangerous for the region in 21st century as despite passing of 75 years this dispute still exist,” she said.
Later Shehryar Khan Afridi, the Chairman of the parliamentary Kashmir Committee, while responding to the legal experts suggestions , said Pakistan government will take all steps for the accountability of India for its warn crimes committed in Kashmir .
He criticised the Modi government and said Modi dug the grave for India.
“The World has now realised that India is a big security threat for the region and [President] Biden is now thinking how to rescue India from destruction inside its own country,” Afridi said.
He added that Kashmir is un-compromised issue and Kashmiris need to get freedom from occupation of India.
He criticised the role of the United Nations to remain silent over the atrocities and illegal actions of Indian government and Kashmir and warned UN should remember the fate of Leagues of nations.
“The United Nations is not fulfilling the purpose of its establishment. It should be remembered that the League of Nations was also abolished for not fulfilling its purpose and duties.”
Afridi further said the world understands that India has become a threat to world peace.
