JKLF in United Kingdom will commemorate the 29^th Martyrdom anniversary of its founder Maqbool Butt Shaheed. A Protest in front of Indian High Commission London has been organized on 11 February 2013, in which protesters will handover a memorandum to Indian officials demanding remains of Maqbool Butt Shaheed returned to his family.

A seminar will also be held in House of Lords on 11 February 2013 in which British Parliamentarians, prominent Kashmiri leaders in UK and other intellectuals have been invited.

JKLF in UK have also launched a parliamentary petition to be signed by members of House of Commons and Lords during an All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir meeting held in London on 31 October 2012. So far 30 members of UK parliament have signed the petition.

Maqbool Butt, Kashmir’s most revered leader of the independence movement and a former ‘prisoner of conscience’,  was imprisoned in Pakistan for his radical views and was  labelled as an ‘enemy agent’ there, but ironically hanged by India on 11 February, 1984, exactly one week before his 46^th birthday.  He was executed inside Delhi’s Tihar Jail where he had been imprisoned for 8 years awaiting trial of a politically motivated case against him.

Apart from the programmes mentioned above, there will be many events by JKLF branches throughout United Kingdom including a large public gathering in Luton on 17^th February 2013.

JKLF in Britain has appealed people in Britain to join these protests and support these demonstrations by bringing their families.

Press Secretary

JKLF UK Zone

(London) The UK chapter of the pro-independence Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), in its extra ordinary meeting of the executive and working committee held in Watford near London, has warned of dire consequences if JKLF leaders arrested during the ‘jail bharo’ movement are not released immediately without charge along with many other Kashmiri activists who were sentenced earlier in the month under the draconian laws and framed up charges from 20 years back.  

In a press statement released from London, the JKLF announced that their members will start picketing Indian missions in UK and Europe including embassies and consulates to draw the world attention to the plight of Kashmiri prisoners in J&K and in Indian prisons.

The JKLF statement said that Kashmir has become a police state where freedom of expression and freedom of speech is dealt with long prison sentences and where men, women and small children are imprisoned because they demand their right to freedom and independence.  Instead of punishing the 500 army and security forces personnel who have been named in the latest report as the perpetrators of human rights violations including, rape, molestation, kidnapping and extrajudicial killings, the Indian and state authorities continue to punish innocent people belonging to many different pro-freedom organisations.  During the 3 hour long meeting, JKLF leaders expressed hope that Indian civil society seems to have woken up in Delhi over the case of  a student rape and needed to pay urgent attention to what was happening in Kashmir.

“Our demand is simple that all political prisoners should be released immediately and the draconian laws that prevent people from protesting against injustices and atrocities must be withdrawn.

“JKLF is not just a name but it’s a face of the revolutionary movement, and each one of its leaders and workers is committed to the cause of national independence and if Indian and state authorities think that they will be able to supress our movement by imprisoning and awarding long sentences to freedom fighters, they have to think again”, the JKLF leaders said.

JKLF delegates including the office bearers from London, Luton, Watford, Slough, Bedford, Peterborough, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Stoke, Walsall, Manchester, Oldham and Bradford attended the meeting and condemn the Indian action in Kashmir. During the meeting an action plan was drawn up for coming months to draw world attention to the plight of Kashmir.

JKLF president Azmat Khan, told the meeting that international diplomatic and political pressures was needed, urged members to contact their members of UK and European Parliament to apprise them of  the latest situation in Kashmir.  He said that he was going to raise the issue with international human rights organizations and the UN Human Rights Council. He said, that he was hopeful that Pakistani mission in the UN would draw the attention of the international community towards the dire situation in Indian occupied Kashmir during the forthcoming UN Security Council meeting where the Syrian situation is to be debated. 

On 3rd December, 2012, a kangaroo court in Jammu awarded life sentences to two Kashmiris Sheikh Nazir Ahmed and Shoukat Ahmed, who had both spent nearly 15 years in Indian jails without trial after being arrested in 1990s. They were released on bail over 7 years ago but rearrested recently and awarded life imprisonment.    

JKLF has launched a five phase “Jail Baro Tahreek (Court Arrest Movement)” in Indian Occupied Kashmir against life sentencing of Kashmiri prisoners, death sentences and subjecting them to the worst kind of torture. So far Indian authorities in Kashmir have arrested over 100 prominent figures of the prominent figures of JKLF including Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, Bashir Ahmed Butt, S M Afzal, Showkat Ahmad Bakshi, Mr.Khawaja Abdul Majid Wani, Zahoor Ahmed Butt, Javed Ahmed Mir, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Ishaq Ganai (President Islamabad District), Abdul Sattar (president of District kulgam), Rafiq ahmad war (district president Kupwara), Abdul Rashid Magloo (district president Baramulla) along with families of Kashmiri prisoners and prominent figures of Human rights organizations.

Press Secretary,

JKLF – UK

Email: info@jklf.co.uk

London (6th January 2013): Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) London branch has extended its full support to the five-phase protest programme “Jail Bharo Tehreek” against life sentencing of Kashmiri prisoners, death sentences and subjecting them to the worst kind of torture. The agitation started on Friday 4th January from the party headquarters at Maisuma, Srinagar in which around 50 activists including JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik were arrested and sent to central Jail. The agitation will continue till January 14 in all cities and towns of Indian occupied Kashmir.

In a statement issued after the emergency meeting of JKLF London Branch, the statement said that India seems to have started the new judicial torture policy to suppress the genuine sentiments of Kashmiri people. The branch lauded the efforts of JKLF leadership by highlighting the much important issue of plight of Kashmiri prisoners. The statement further said that Illegal life imprisonment, death sentence & torture cannot stop the kashmiri peoples struggle for national independence.

Speaking on this occasion, JKLF London Branch President Mahmood Faiz said that Kashmiri’s living abroad stand with the leadership of JKLF, fully support the programme to highlight the plight of Kashmiri prisoners across India.

The meeting was addressed by Senor Vice President of JKLF in UK, Cllr Mahmood Hussain. He said that India has not yet learnt a lesson by hanging Maqbool Butt Shaheed and killing thousands of Kashmiris. Cllr Mahmood Hussain added that such actions by the Indian government over the years have given us Kashmiri's more courage and strength to fight against the forcible occupation of our motherland.

The meeting was well attended by the members of JKLF London branch including office bearers Tariq Sharif, Mohammad Saleem, Javaid Rashid, Tasalat Hussain, Sanawar Hussain, Naveed Ahmed and others.

Press Secretary,

JKLF London Branch 

A protest outside the Indian High Commission in London on 10 December 2012 on the occasion of World Human Rights Day by JKLF UK, highlighted the continued Human Rights Violations in Kashmir by Indian Armed forces. Members and supporters of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), along with the supporters of the Kashmiri cause gathered in front of Indian High Commission in London where they shouted slogans against Human Rights abuses by Indian troops in Kashmir. The demonstrators were holding play cards and banners highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir. The objective of the protest was to draw world attention towards the recent life sentences given to Kashmiri youth in Indian Held Kashmir.

The protesters called on the Indian government to immediately release all political. They also called on the international community the check the excesses that the Indian occupation forces have unleashed on the people of Kashmir over the last over two decades.

On 3rd December, 2012, a kangaroo court in Jammu awarded life sentences to two Kashmiris Sheikh Nazir Ahmed and Shoukat Ahmed, who had both spent nearly 15 years in Indian jails without trial after being arrested in 1990s. They were released on bail over 7 years ago but rearrested recently and awarded life imprisonment. Two weeks ago, another Kashmiri, Dr Qasim Faktoo was sentenced to life imprisonment under similar circumstance.

A memorandum was also presented to Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh. The memorandum highlighted that the iron fisted policy of Indian administration along with draconian laws continued to increase the possibility of blatant and unbridled violations of human rights. Saying that repression is not the answer to the popular sentiments of the people, the Kashmiri community representatives urged Indian government to pay heed to the saner voices with in India that were recognizing

The protest was well attended by functionaries of JKLF from all major cities of UK including  Mahmood Hussain, Zafar Khan, Syed Tahseen Gilani, Khan Farooq Khan, Tariq Sharif, Mahmood Faiz; Sanawar Hussain, Kaman Afsar, Sabir Gul, Malik Latif, Khawaja Latif, Ahsan Ansari, Zafran Mirza, Chaudry Liaqat, Tanveer Malik, Raja Ayub and many representatives of other political organisations in UK.

  

Secretary Information,

JKLF UK

Info@jklf.co.uk

(London) Members of the pro-independence Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), will hold a protest demonstration at the Indian High Commission in London against widespread human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir on the occasion of World Human Rights Day on 10^th December. It is to coincide with a shutter-down call by JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik, in Kashmir to protest against the recent cases of awarding life sentences to several Kashmiris under the notorious TADA law which was repealed in India as far back as 1995 but still used in Kashmir to suppress the Kashmiri  independence movement..

On 3^rd December, 2012, a kangaroo court in Jammu awarded life sentences to two Kashmiris Sheikh Nazir Ahmed and Shoukat Ahmed, who had both spent nearly 15 years in Indian jails without trial after being arrested in 1990s. They were released on bail over 7 years ago but rearrested recently and awarded life imprisonment. Two weeks ago, another Kashmiri, Dr Qasim Faktoo was sentenced to life imprisonment under similar circumstance.

A JKLF spokesman in London said that “these are serious and worrying cases and point to Indian government intention to hoodwink the world opinion about what it has been doing in J&K for last 3 decades. It makes a mockery of empty gestures of ‘peace process’ and ‘political dialogue’.

“We have taken serious notice of the latest developments and have approached the Amnesty International, All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir and other international human rights organizations to take up the issue with the Indian government.”

Protest Venue:         Indian High Commission, Aldych, London. WC2B 4NA

Nearest Tube Station:        Holborn (Central Line)

Date:              Monday 10^th December 2012

Time:              2-4pm (A protest memorandum will be presented to the Indian High Commission at 3 pm)

Background Information:

On Thursday, 5^th December, 2012 the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons and the International Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir published an investigatory report accusing 500 serving Army, paramilitary and police personnel in Jammu-Kashmir of allegations of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. The report entitled “stories of impunity in Jammu and Kashmir” sights 215 cases and named 235 army, 123 paramilitary, 111 police and 31 counter-insurgency personnel of  rights abuses such as extra-judicial  killings, enforced disappearances, torture of prisoners and raping Kashmiri women since 1990. Among the accused, there are 2 Major Generals and 3 Brigadiers, 9 Colonels, 3 Lieutenant Colonels, 78 Majors, 25 Captains belonging to the Indian Army and 37 senior officials of the paramilitary forces as well as a retired and current director general of the Jammu-Kashmir Police.

The 354-page report, which was compiled using information obtained through the Right to Information Act, includes witness testimonies as well as court cases and cases registered with the police, which have not been investigated.  The cases documented in the report reveal Indian government’s policy not to investigation or prosecution cases against the armed forces in Jammu-Kashmir.

On the other hand, Indian government has started to prosecute and punish pro-independence activists under the ‘lawless laws’ for agitating against Indian occupation of Jammu-Kashmir.

The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA); which was condemned by Indian judiciary at the highest level in 1995 and repealed, under which a person could be detained without formal charge or trial for up to one year and which allowed court hearings to be conducted in secret with keeping the identity of any witness secret and where confessions by torture were permissible on simple police assurance that it was obtained voluntarily. 

In 2008, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions ruled that 10 individuals detained under the PSA in J&K had been arbitrarily detained in violation of articles 7, 9, 10 and 11(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Articles 9 and 14 of the ICCPR.  It called on the Government of India to bring its laws in conformity with its international human rights obligations.

‘The Working Group is aware of the political  sensitivities regarding the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the complex law and order situation ensuing in that part of the country.  As a part of its crisis management system, the Government is using laws of preventive detention, including the PSA …. Be that as it may, any legal, administrative or other mechanism employed, must conform to international human rights standards and obligations undertaken by the Government of India.’   

          UN WGAD opinion on 10 PSA cases from J&K, 26 November 2008

Hundreds of lawyers have sought to challenge these detentions under the PSA through habeas corpus petitions. According to the High Court registry in Srinagar, 367 habeas corpus petitions were filed in 2008, 272 in 2009 and 159 up to 19 May 2010.  It is estimated that about 70% of these refer to cases of administrative detention under the PSA law.

“The PSA violates international human rights law and standards by providing for detention without trial while denying the possibility of judicial review and other safeguards for those in detention required under international human rights law. It also violates the principle of legality by defining offences so broadly as to allow security officials to detain individuals on extremely vague grounds including for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.” A ‘Lawless Law’, Detentions under the J&K Public Safety Act  - Amnesty International, March 2011

Out of the over 600 cases studied by AI, approximately 290 detainees were found to be booked under the Arms Act offences. In approximately 160 cases, detainees were alleged to be in possession of fire arms or other such weapons when arrested but only 3 out of the 290 detainees were eventually convicted for possession of weapons. In Jammu-Kashmir the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, facilitates impunity for abuses and violations. It empowers Indian Security Forces to search homes and make arrests without warrants and provides them the right to shoot-to-kill with total immunity from prosecution. The Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act (JKPSA) empowers Indian forces to detain persons without trial for up to 4 for a broad range of activities that would be considered political and civil rights elsewhere in the world. 

Publicity Secretary,

JKLF UK Zone

Email: Secretary@JKLF.co.uk

Mobile: (+44)             0787 748 7696

JKLF President, Azmat A Khan, addressing a public meeting organized by the Birmingham branch has said that JKLF was set to change the history of Kashmir and the map of Indian sub-continent just as JKLF struggle has changed the history of independence movement in Jammu Kashmir. He urged the UK Kashmiris to unite on one platform and strengthen the JKLF movement. He said that a number of major projects are underway by  JKLF at diplomatic level and for that his organisation was in dire need of funds and asked his members to donate generously as they had been doing for nearly 3 decades. He said that JKLF leaders will not allow the Kashmiri martyrs blood waste in vain. He further said that both India and Pakistan are intendeing to declare LOC as a international border which will not be acceptable to Kashmiris on both sides and if their voice was not heard their movement would take a dangerous turn and all responsibility will lie with those who are not listening to our peaceful protests. 

European MP, Phil Bennion, who was a Chief Guest at the JKLF’s annual gathering said that Kashmir issue needed to be resolved for the better relations and peace between India and Pakistan and that a sustainable solution was to give Kashmiri people in all occupied areas a chance to decide their future through a internationally supervised referendum.

Other speakers who spoke for UK Kashmiris  included JKLF general secretary Tehseen Gillani, Sabir Gull, Professor Zafar khan, Choudhary Ashraf khan, Masoom Ansari, Najib Afsar, Mumtaz Mirza and Councillor Ansar ali. Their main focus  was the demand that international community should come forward and help the Kashmiris to achieve their right of self determination. Many speakers condemned the Act 74 of AJK government, which they said was an instrument of slavery for the nation and stated that  Gilgit baltistan was integral part of Jammu Kashmir so Pakistan should not try to unitlaterally declare it as its province, which would not only violate the United Nation resolutions on Kashmir but also give India an execuse to do the same for Ladakh and Jammu  They speakers urged  Pakistan government not to back stab the Kashmiri movement.  They warned that  Pakistani attempts to declare provincial status for Gilgit Baltistan would backfire and , JKLF and allies will launch a worldwide movement across the world against pakistan.

Before this Public meeting JKLF Birmingham Branch election was held and Choudhry Ashraf khan was elected as President and Javid Iqbal as General Secretary. Other office bearers are Raja Tika Khan, Adnan Ali Butt, Qayum Ansari, Waseem Ansari, Nazakat Bhatti, Younis Ansari, Aurangzaib Mirza, Shoiab Janjua. All the newly elected members took oath and said that they will carry on working for the Independence of Kashmir and betterment of Kashmiris.

The JKLF event promoted Kashmiri Culture and folk music was presented by British born young Kashmiris. Women and children also participated in the event.   

Press Release

Information office