AJK Prime Minister Denounces Attack on Press Freedom
Azad Jammu Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore issued a strong condemnation on Thursday against Indian occupational forces for raiding the head office of the veteran English daily Kashmir Times in occupied Jammu. The Prime Minister characterized this action as an atrocious assault on press freedom and part of a systematic campaign to silence critical voices.
Systematic Suppression of Dissent
In an official statement released late Thursday, PM Rathore emphasized that targeting media houses and journalists represents a broader Indian government strategy to suppress opposition to its authoritarian policies regarding the Kashmir dispute. He noted that Kashmir Times, being the oldest English daily in Jammu and Kashmir, has consistently maintained objective journalism while supporting the UN-recognized right to self-determination for Kashmiris.
The Prime Minister expressed grave concern over India's persistent efforts to choke dissent through imprisonment and draconian laws. "The entire Hurriyat leadership has been booked under draconian laws and kept behind bars for several years," he stated, adding that journalists and human rights defenders, including Khurram Pervez, face similar persecution through baseless charges.
International Community Urged to Act
PM Rathore called upon international human rights organizations and global media bodies to take effective notice of the deteriorating situation in the disputed territory. He specifically urged them to hold India accountable for violating fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and speech.
The AJK Prime Minister praised Kashmir Times editor Anuradha Bhasin Jamwall for upholding true journalistic principles despite mounting pressure. He appealed to the international community to pressure the Indian government to cease its intimidation tactics against journalists and media professionals working in the region.
Despite the ongoing crackdown, PM Rathore maintained that India's coercive measures cannot diminish the Kashmiri people's spirit of freedom or weaken their determination to pursue their legitimate rights.
