Pakistan raises ‘human rights violations in Kashmir’ with UN

Islamabad, Aug 9 (IANS) Pakistan has urged United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein to make efforts to end the "persistent and egregious" violation of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir, a statement from the Prime Minister's House said on Tuesday.

In two separate letters, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called upon the world bodies to implement UN Security Council Resolutions thast provide for the self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

He also sought to bring the world's attention to recent unrest in the Kashmir Valley which has left over 50 persons dead and thousands injured.

Sharif also highlighted the use of pellet guns that had inflicted severe eye injuries on many Kashmiris. He said that pellet guns "were aimed with the deliberate intention of causing serious permanent injuries", adding, "this was unacceptable".

He said that force was being used to prevent access to hospitals, to harass doctors and prevent access to medical facilities, which he said, was "a clear manifestation of Indian state terrorism to suppress the Kashmiris' struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination".