A delegation of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) would visit Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) from Monday to Wednesday (March 27 to 29).
The eight-member delegation belonging to eight OIC countries would be led by Med S Kaggwa, chairperson of the commission. The delegation will visit Azad Jammu Kashmir to gain firsthand understanding of the Jammu Kashmir issue and will also visit refugee camps.
The delegation would also call on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Federal Minister for Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir Affairs Barjees Tahir. The delegation will also meet Kashmiri President Masood Khan and Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan.
The rights commission requested India for access to Indian-held Jammu Kashmir to assess the human rights situation there. However, India has not responded to the IPHRC request so far. Last year, in the wake of Indian brutalities since July 2016, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights offered to send a fact-finding mission to the disputed state.
The world body requested full and unhindered access to the victim population, to interview a variety of individuals on the ground, including victims, witnesses, security forces and with access to relevant documentation’ to ascertain the situation that has been worsening since July 2016. This request was also denied by India.
The IPHRC has a standing mechanism to monitor the human rights violations in the disputed state. Like all other international human rights bodies, India continues to deny IPHRC access to the disputed territory. The visit is a manifestation of Pakistan’s commitment to unflinching political, moral and diplomatic support to the just cause of the Kashmiri people and the realisation of the right to self-determination promised to them under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
