Legal forum for oppressed voices of Kashmir (LFOVK) wrote a Legal Memorandum to the United Nation Secretary General (UNSG) and all Members of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) requesting an urgent and immediate Intervention in the Illegal Annexation of Disputed Jammu and Kashmir by India.
The memorandum recaps about the final status of the former princedom of Jammu and Kashmir has remained unsettled since 1947. The state of Jammu and Kashmir before the partition of India and Pakistan was princely sovereign statehood with its independent legislative, executive and judicial institutions.
LFOVK in its appeal urged UNSC and UNSG that Indian action of annexing Jammu Kashmir and incorporating as Union Territoryhas blatantly violated the International law.
Citing the example of governing Israel illegal de jure Annexation of Golan Heights and Jerusalem, this Indian law which unlawfully annexed Jammu Kashmir is also to be seen as null and void and lacks any legal effect.
Director LFOVK, Advocate Nasir Qadri, while commenting on memorandum said, “We urge UNSC and UNSG that Government of India shall comply with its international obligations in Occupied Kashmir pursuant to UNSC Resolution and other bilateral treaties and international covenants.”
The memorandum requests UNSC and UNSG to refer this case of illegal annexation and demographic change in disputed Jammu Kashmir for Advisory opinion to International court of Justice (ICJ), ensure independent war crime tribunal for disputed Jammu Kashmir, and government of India should respect and protect the fundamental rights of the people of Occupied Jammu Kashmir, including freedom of speech and expression
The memorandum is signed by at least 50 persons with different backgrounds, which include Former chief Justice Gambia and International Judge of the UN at The Hague: Chief justice (R) Ali Nawaz Chowhan, Retired Chief Justice Supreme Court of Azad Jammu Kashmir: Justice Syed Manzoor Hussain Geelani, Former Minister Azad Jammu Kashmir: FarzanaYaqoob, Head of Department Mass communication NUML: Prof. Dr. Khalid Sultan, GM Robust Law Practice and International law expert: Advocate Hassan Aslam Shad, Professor of Religion and Global Politics University of Leeds: Dr. Junaid S. Ahmad, Associate Professor, LUMS:Prof. Sikander Ahmed Shah and other human rights activists and lawyers from different countries.
About LFOVK.
The Legal forum for oppressed voices of Kashmir is an international, non-violent, and legal organization. The aim of the organization is to defend the political, social and human rights of Kashmir and to promote the UN sanctioned Right of Self Determination. LFOVK works to address the consequences of marginalization, working within its members to promote their democratic rights, to provide information and to articulate creative and non – violent strategies for resolving conflict. The mission of the organization is to access and ensure involvement of world legal and civil organizations to address the growing humanitarian crises in Indian occupied Kashmir.
The organization advocates the Right of Self Determination and respect for human rights in occupied Kashmir through legal research, documentation and capacity – building to address, under the international law, the violations of individuals and collective rights of Kashmiris.