MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan on Wednesday denounced New Delhi’s decision to declare two political and religious organisations of Indian-occupied Kashmir as “unlawful associations”.
Earlier on Monday, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs “banned” the Awami Action Committee (AAC), headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), headed by Abbas Ansari, for the next five years.
The organisations were declared as “unlawful association” for their alleged anti-national activities, supporting terrorism and fuelling secessionist activities, Indian media reported, citing Home Minister’s statement.
According to a Foreign Office statement, “Pakistan denounces the Indian authorities’ decision to declare the Awami Action Committee and JKIM as ‘Unlawful Association’ for a period of five years.”
“The AAM is led by a prominent political and religious leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The JKIM was also founded by another notable political and religious leader, Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, who headed it till his demise in 2022,” the statement continued.
The recent decision to ban two organisations increases the total number of outlawed Kashmiri political parties and organizations to 16, the statement added.
FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that banning of different political parties and organizations is yet another manifestation of the Indian authorities’ iron-fisted approach in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), adding, “it reflects a desire to suppress the political activities and stifle dissent. It also shows sheer disregard of democratic norms and international human rights law.”
