Senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has called on New Delhi to revoke its bans on social and political organisations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying the restrictions and accompanying harassment and intimidation are detrimental to peace and stability. According to Kashmir Media Service, in a statement issued in Srinagar, Mirwaiz said New Delhi should listen to the people’s concerns and revisit its policy of banning social and political organisations in the occupied territory.

He stressed that sustainable peace cannot be achieved through coercive measures or by suppressing genuine political voices. The APHC leader also called for due process in cases where such measures are challenged before courts, saying legal proceedings must be allowed to run their course fairly and without administrative actions that render judicial remedies meaningless. He urged the authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with attached properties and institutions and ensure that their treatment remains consistent with law and judicial process. 

Mirwaiz emphasised that a sustainable political process cannot be built by excluding genuine representatives or replacing them with “convenient alternatives”. He said political and social forces with real support among the people must be given space and engaged through meaningful dialogue. He maintained that respect for the rule of law, fairness and genuine political engagement were essential for moving towards lasting peace in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. 

The APHC leader’s remarks come amid continued restrictions on political and social organisations in IIOJK and growing concerns over the use of bans, property attachments and legal measures to curtail political activity. Mirwaiz stressed that rather than relying on coercion and exclusion, New Delhi should create space for genuine political engagement and address the grievances of the Kashmiri people through a meaningful and inclusive political process. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)