ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan has vehemently condemned the awarding of life imprisonment to prominent Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Asiya Andrabi, and the 30-year prison sentences awarded to her associates Fehmida Sofi and Nahida Nasreen by a court in Delhi.
Aasiya Andrabi is the founder of Dukhtaran-i-Millat. The court sentenced her, along with her aides Fehmida Sofi and Nahida Nasreen in a politically-motivated case under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In a statement posted on social media platform X on Wednesday, the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said that the verdict constituted a “grave miscarriage of justice” and reflected the “continuing suppression of fundamental rights” in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Asiya Andrabi’s conviction
“Pakistan views this decision as part of a broader pattern of politically-motivated prosecutions aimed at silencing dissenting voices and intimidating those advocating the legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people,” the statement said.
“The sentencing raises serious concerns regarding due process, judicial independence, and adherence to international human rights obligations.”
Asiya Andrabi has long been a vocal advocate for the Kashmir cause, Pakistan said adding that her conviction and harsh sentencing underscored the “shrinking space for political expression and civil liberties” in the occupied territory.
It stated Pakistan’s belief that such actions further exacerbate tensions and undermine prospects for peace and stability in South Asia.
The FO urged the international community, including the United Nations and global human rights organisations, to take immediate notice of this development and to hold India accountable for its actions in occupied Kashmir.
The statement also called for the “protection of the political, social, and human rights of the Kashmiri people, including the right to freedom of expression and a fair trial”.
“Pakistan reiterates its unwavering support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle for self-determination, as enshrined in relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions,” the statement concluded.
