MQM founder Altaf Hussain condemns killing of peaceful protesters in PoJK

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has condemned the killing of peaceful protesters by Pakistani forces in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), calling it “unacceptable”.

This comes after paramilitary Rangers illegally deployed in PoJK killed several protesters and seriously injured dozens.

“This blatant and provocative naked shooting is unacceptable and highly condemnable,” Hussain said in a statement issued from the party’s central secretariat in London.

Hussain said, “I condemn the firing by paramilitary Rangers on peaceful Kashmiris participating in the protests as the state of Pakistan has oppressed them since the day of its foundation.”

Hussain also expressed condolences to the families of Kashmiris killed in the firing by paramilitary Rangers.

He said that according to the reports received so far, many Kashmiri youth have been shot by bullets while there have also been injuries on a large scale. This, he claimed, was “naked state terrorism”.

The MQM founder further asserted that on one hand, the Pakistani government is pretending to hold talks with the Kashmir Action Committee and accept their demands, while on the other hand, “Kashmiris are being subjected to state atrocities,” while internet services are being disrupted in Pakistan. The zone has been suspended for “inciting violence” against the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Hussain said, “The atrocities of Pakistani government institutions cannot remain hidden from the eyes of the world.” “The government should not fool the Kashmiri people by issuing fake announcements of accepting their demands.”

He said that in PoJK, people are being oppressed politically, economically and educationally and they are being physically massacred.

“Electricity is being generated in Kashmir, but electricity is being sold at high rates to Kashmiri people and they are being forced to buy expensive flour. When Kashmiri people are protesting peacefully against these injustices and for their legitimate rights, attempts are being made by the state power to crush them. Kashmiris are reaching Muzaffarabad from different cities of Kashmir and the paramilitary Rangers are killing them instead of engaging them in talks,” Hussain said.

“As a result of which 9 Kashmiri youth were killed and many were injured. Due to these atrocities and injustices, Kashmiri people have been forced to raise slogans demanding freedom from Pakistan,” he said.