Jammu Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Friday expressed its gratitude to Turkish President Rajab Tayyip Erdogan, for raking up Kashmir issue in the joint session of Pakistan Parliament and while expressing concern over the distress and sufferings of Kashmiri people, in his not only asking the International Community to exert their influence for solving the issue but also stressing on the need of holding of dialogue, between India and Pakistan and readiness of Turkey to extend any co-operation, needed for making those talks result oriented.Meanwhile, the members Executive Committee Members of the Bar Association, held a meeting with the members of Indian Civil Society comprising of Medha Patkar of Narmada Bachao Andolan, Kavita Krishnan, S.P. Uday Kumar, Laxmi Prem Kumar, Swati, Prianka, the three independent journalists and I.D. Khujuriya of PIPFD and apprised them about the happenings in Kashmir. They were informed about the killing of more than 97 persons during the last four months and blinding of about 1000 civilians by use of pellets. They were also told that more than 16,000 people have been injured by firing pellets and bullets on them and in order to suppress the ongoing uprising more than 12,000 innocents have been arrested from different parts of Kashmir and dumped in jails, police stations and interrogation Centres, where they are physically beaten, teased, tortured and humiliated. They were also told as to how, liberty matters in the Courts are protracted and despite getting bail and release orders in Habeas Corpus petitions, how police is dishonoring those orders. They were also told that there is no provision of detaining a minor under PSA, but around 1000 minors have been booked under PSA and have been lodged in far off places, so as to make their meeting with their family members impossible. They were also told that under Case Flow Management Rules, 2010, which have been framed by the High Court pursuant to the directions of the Supreme Court, a Habeas Corpus petition is required to be decided within 48 hours and at best within 15 days, but in violations of those rules, cases are dragged on and when they are finally decided in favour of the detenue, the Govt. refuses to obey those orders, by manipulating another order of detention or a frivolous criminal case against the detenue.They were also told as to how only yesterday, a 75 year old man, Ghulam Mohammad Khan, former President of Secretariat Employees Union, succumbed to his injuries due to the firing of teargas shell on him on 02nd of November, 2016, by ruthless forces, when he was inside his house at Soura.
They were also told about the origin of Kashmir dispute and the pledges and promises made by Indian leaders to the people of Kashmir to give them a chance to decide about their future, in a free and fair plebiscite. They were also told that there are 28 UN Security Council Resolutions on Kashmir which emphasize on the need of holding the plebiscite for settling the Kashmir dispute, so as to establish peace and tranquility in the sub-continent. They were also told that if, for any reason, the UN Security Council Resolutions are found not capable of implementation, then India should hold tripartite talks in some neutral country with Pakistan and the genuine leadership of Kashmiri people to find out a negotiated sentiment to the Kashmir dispute, to the satisfaction of all the three parties. They were also told that without engaging Pakistan, no solution can be found to the Kashmir problem as 1/3rd of J&K State is presently administered by Pakistan and even in State constitution, 25 seats are reserved for those people. They were also told that India and Pakistan have fought 04 wars on Kashmir and if they go for another war, it will be disastrous for India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, as both India and Pakistan are nuclear countries, as such it is in the interests of India and Pakistan to settle the Kashmir dispute at the earliest.
The civil society members told the Bar Association that they have visited several parts of the valley and have found for themselves, as to how people have been brutalized here. They said that they have also met a large section of the people in the valley and from the discussion held with them, they have come to the conclusion that everyone in Kashmir wants the resolution of Kashmir dispute through dialogue. They said that though there is nothing in their hands to compel India to hold talks with the people of Kashmir, but they will apprise the people of India and other members of Indian Civil Society, about the truth in Kashmir and by highlighting the sufferings and miseries of the people before them, they will ask them to play their role in finding a peaceful solution to the Kashmir problem. They said that their groups have workers all over and they have also branches in almost every part of India, therefore, if Bar Association also works with them and participate in their programs, it will be beneficial to the Bar, which is espousing the cause of the people, as well as to the people of Kashmir, in educating the Indian people and impressing upon them to settle the Kashmir dispute.The Bar members besides, interacting with the members of the Indian Civil Society also handed over to them, a “memorandum of understanding of the ongoing uprising in Kashmir,” wherein the Bar Association had detailed out the historical background of Kashmir dispute, the role played by the UN Security Council and the delaying tactics adopted by India in prolonging the resolution of Kashmir dispute, for the last 70 years. (CNS)