ISLAMABAD   -   Pakistan has decided to raise the issue of conviction of prominent Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik by an Indian court and other human rights abuses at the summer session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), beginning from 13th June in Geneva.

Diplomatic sources told The Nation that Pakistan would be presenting a very strong case on the conviction of Yasin Malik by NIA court in New Delhi on 25th May before the UNHRC. Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN mission at Geneva would deliver his strongly worded speech before the UN human rights body. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto has also written separate letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the conviction of Yasin Malik and sought action by the UN human rights body.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram has confirmed that he has taken up the issue with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Talking to The Nation over the phone from New York, Ambassador Munir Akram said, such acts by Indian authorities cannot suppress the legitimate struggle of the people of IIOJK. He said India is using all tactics to crush the freedom movement, but it cannot succeed in its nefarious designs due to indomitable resilience of determined Kashmiri leadership. Ambassador Munir Akram also strongly condemned Indian actions against Muslims including recent remarks by Indian ruling party BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).