Kashmiri Leaders Warn Islamabad Over Enforced Disappearances, Demand End to Illegal Detentions

Rawalakot, AJK, (Pakistan-administered Kashmir): In a fervent address at the “Oath-Taking and Rights Conference” held in Bhora Union Council, Chhapriyan Khori Kair, DhirKot, a tehsil in Bagh district in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Sardar Umar Nazir, a prominent figure of the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, denounced the ongoing enforced disappearances of Kashmiri citizens allegedly perpetrated by Pakistani authorities.​

Nazir highlighted a disturbing pattern of abductions, particularly from Islamabad, where numerous individuals have reportedly vanished without trace. He emphasized that if any citizen is suspected of wrongdoing, due legal processes should be followed, asserting, “If there are charges or allegations against any individual, let the state’s courts, laws, and police handle the matter transparently.”​

The leaders warned that the continuation of such practices would compel the Joint Public Action Committee to devise a strategic response. He urged both the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Azad Kashmir to uphold human rights and cease any actions that undermine the rule of law.​

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This call to action resonates amid broader concerns about human rights in the region. Notably, the case of journalist and poet Ahmad Farhad, who was forcibly disappeared from his Islamabad residence on May 15, 2024, drew international condemnation. Amnesty International reported that Farhad’s abduction was followed by weeks of uncertainty regarding his whereabouts, highlighting the peril faced by critics of enforced disappearances.

The Joint Public (Awami) Action Committee’s stance underscores a growing demand for accountability and adherence to legal norms in addressing allegations against citizens, reflecting a broader push for human rights and justice in the region.