ISLAMABAD: The Defence of Human Rights (DHR) Pakistan, a human rights group working against forced disappearances, has demanded the Indian government to release Khurram Pervez, chairman of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). Khurram, who has been raising voice against human rights violations and other acts of torture in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) for years, was arrested on Friday morning from his house in Srinagar. The DHR has slammed India government for “unlawfully” arresting the prominent human rights activist in IHK. “India has become quite shameless in its cruelty perpetrated in IHK. A latest incident adds to the pile of unlawful acts of the Indian government. This time it is a prominent figure of Kashmir, Khurram Pervez, who has been subjected to unlawful arrest and detention.” Earlier this week, Khurram was barred from travelling to Geneva without any legal reason where he was to attend an ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Council. “Another aspect of the Indian government regarding held Kashmir has been its efforts to undermine the United Nations and allied mechanisms. By not allowing the human rights council to send a fact finding mission to held Kashmir and then stopping an eminent human rights defender from attending an important session of UN Human rights council, India is trying to render these institutions worthless and sending a message that it has power to disregard all else at her will. A strong response is needed by international human rights and diplomatic community to prevent India from humiliating accepted international forums,” the DHR added. “They will have to release Khurram Pervez as he is the voice of thousands of Kashmiris being crushed in the mill of human rights violations and facing brutalities upon daily basis,” the DHR said.
