Muzaffarabad, Lawyers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have strongly criticized the December 11 decision of the Indian Supreme Court regarding the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). They denounced the ruling as a grave violation of legal, justice, and human values principles.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a news conference in Muzaffarabad, the lawyers condemned the Indian Supreme Court’s decision as legally unfair, biased, and politically motivated. They argued that the 5-member constitutional bench’s decision raises serious concerns about the integrity of the global judicial system.

The lawyers highlighted that the suspension of Article 370 by the Indian Supreme Court contradicts legal norms. They maintained that until a decision on Jammu and Kashmir is reached in accordance with the Kashmiri people’s will and United Nations resolutions, the temporary status of this article must remain, stressing that it cannot be unilaterally revoked.

The group referenced past promises made by former Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing the right to self-determination and the inability of any court or body to unilaterally terminate such an agreement.

The lawyers reiterated the commitment of the United Nations Security Council, India, and Pakistan to conducting a free, fair, and impartial referendum in Jammu and Kashmir. They rejected the unilateral measures taken by the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in the Indian Lok Sabha on August 5, 2019. They asserted that India’s actions as an occupying force do not alter the internationally disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Kashmiri lawyers announced plans to send objections and responses to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, other judges, and international organizations regarding the Indian Supreme Court’s unilateral decision on Jammu and Kashmir.

The conference was attended by prominent legal figures, including Executive Director of Legal Forum for Kashmir Nasir Qadri Advocate, Nasir Masood, former president of Central Bar Association Shaukat Aziz, Member of Bar Council, Azad Kashmir, Mohammad Noorullah Qureshi, Pervez Mughal, Syed Abdul Samad, and Mehtab Hamid.