FM Qureshi apprises UNHCHR Michelle Bachelet of rights violations in IOK

GENEVA (92 News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called on United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Michelle Bachelet in Geneva on Tuesday. The minister apprised the UNHCHR of human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir. He thanked her for raising the voice against Indian atrocities and demanded lifting of lockdown and curfew. “Your statement has encouraged millions of Kashmiris facing Indian atrocities in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that India had unleashed barbarism in IOK since August 5. “Food and medicines have run out due to continuous curfew in the Occupied Valley. As a result, hospitals are turning into graveyards,” he said. He said that two reports published by the UNHCHR recently have exposed Indian atrocities in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Foreign Minister Amadou Ba of Senegal in Geneva. The two foreign ministers reviewed multifaceted Senegal-Pakistan relations, particularly in trade, economy and defence sectors. They agreed to enhance trade and economic content of these relations with a view to bringing these at the level of political and security relations. Foreign Minister Qureshi briefed his counterpart on the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with regards to worsening human rights and humanitarian crises following curfew and lockdown since August 5, 2019. “By illegal moves and bifurcation of the Occupied State, India has compounded the conditions for instability and violence.” Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored peace and security implications of the situation in IOJ&K. Senegal Foreign Minister Amadou Ba said that Senegal was closely following the situation in IOK. “Senegal attached great importance to human rights violations.” He called for peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute through dialogue and cooperation, within UN Charter and International law. The two foreign ministers also appreciated the cooperation between the two countries in the OIC, the UN and other multilateral forums. FM Qureshi appreciated the role of Ambassador Coley Seck of Senegal as President of UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Senegal holds the Presidency of the HRC for 2019. FM Qureshi is in Geneva from September 9 to 11 to attend the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.