Pakistan Calls for Free and Fair Plebiscite in Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir Amid Yasin Malik’s Appeal

Pakistan has once again called for a free and fair plebiscite in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is under illegal occupation by Indian authorities. The demand comes as Kashmiri liberation leader Yasin Malik informed the Delhi High Court that he intends to defend himself in the appeal moved by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), seeking the death penalty for him in a 2016 terror funding case.

Yasin Malik’s decision to defend himself has brought international attention to the Indian justice system, which claims to operate as the world’s largest democracy. Malik’s case has been widely criticized as being influenced by the Hindutva-led policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been accused of targeting the Muslim-majority state of Kashmir, a region still awaiting resolution as per United Nations resolutions.

During a video conference from Tihar Jail, Malik pointed out that despite an earlier court order allowing him to be physically present, the Delhi High Court directed that he would be presented only via video conferencing without hearing his objection. Malik requested that the court record this denial of his right to be heard, but the bench advised him to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has expressed grave concerns over Malik’s prolonged detention and alleged mistreatment, labeling his imprisonment as “unfair” and a denial of a fair trial. The Foreign Office’s statement has sparked international attention, bringing focus to the worsening human rights situation in Kashmir.