Staff Reporter
The Chairman of Pakistan Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Khan Afridi has demanded of the United Nations Human Rights Council and other human rights organisations for an immediate and impartial inquiry into what he called the ‘custodial killing’ of iconic Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani.
Speaking to media after attending funeral prayers in absentia offered for the solace of Syed Ali Gilani’s soul at Parliament House in Islamabad, Shehryar Khan Afridi said, this is the second high profile custodial killing after Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Chairman, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, who was also killed in custody early this year in May.
Sehrai was denied medical facilities due to which he breathlessly gave his life in police custody.
The funeral in absentia was attended by Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, Chairman Pakistan Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, Prime Minister AJK Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi, All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders and other members of the Parliament.
“Had the world community and human rights organizations investigated the custodial killing of Shaheed Ashraf Sehrai, Syed Ali Gilani’s life could have been saved.
The lack of medical facilities, prolonged incarceration and isolation further deteriorated his health,” said Afridi.
“The behaviour of occupational Indian forces, the haste in disposing off the body and restricting friends and family from performing the last rituals, as per Muslim faith, raises a strong suspicion of another custodial killing after Ashraf Sehrai,” Afridi said.
