Srinagar, The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has urgently appealed to the United Nations to advocate for the realization of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, as recognized by UN resolutions, amidst escalating political repression in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). This plea comes in the wake of the Indian government’s prohibition of Hurriyat parties, a move the APHC decries as a manifestation of political terrorism aimed at suppressing the voice of freedom-seeking organizations.

According to Kashmir Media Service, APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, in a statement issued in Srinagar, sharply criticized the ban, labeling it a stark example of the BJP-led government’s coercive tactics against the pro-freedom populace of Kashmir. The spokesperson further lamented the dismissal of a government teacher, Manzoor Ahmed Laway, from Kulgam, viewing such terminations as punitive actions enforced by draconian laws to economically weaken the Kashmiri people as part of a broader settler colonialism agenda.

Minhas highlighted the intensified marginalization efforts against Kashmir’s majority community following the revocation of Article 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019. Since the abrogation, numerous Kashmiris have been ousted from their employment, paralleled by an influx of job opportunities for non-residents, thereby diluting the indigenous demographic and administrative influence.

The campaign to displace Kashmiri employees from civil administration roles, as Minhas described, signals a deliberate attempt to diminish the Kashmiri presence and facilitate the integration of settlers through the controversial domicile law. The APHC reaffirmed the Kashmiri people’s determination to continue their 76-year struggle for self-determination, vowing to persevere until their aspirations are fully realized.