ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday condemned the life imprisonment sentence given to Indian-occupied Kashmiri political leader Asiya Andrabi by a Delhi court, calling it “a miscarriage of justice.”

According to a Foreign Office statement, it rejected a Delhi court's sentencing of Andrabi and her two associates, Fehmeeda Sofi and Nahida Nasreen, under the “draconian law,” the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The statement called the verdict a grave “miscarriage of justice” that reflects the continuing “suppression of fundamental rights” in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The Foreign Office said that the country views the decision as part of a broader pattern of “politically motivated prosecutions” aimed at silencing dissenting voices and intimidating those advocating the legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people.

It said that the sentence raises serious concerns regarding due process, judicial independence, and adherence to international human rights obligations.

According to the statement, Aasiya Andrabi has long been a vocal advocate for the Kashmir cause.

“Her conviction and harsh sentencing underscore the shrinking space for political expression and civil liberties in IIOJK,” it said.

“Pakistan believes that such actions further exacerbate tensions and undermine prospects for peace and stability in South Asia”, the statement said.

Pakistan urged the international community, including the United Nations and global human rights organizations, to take immediate notice of this development and hold India accountable for its actions in IIOJK, the statement read.

It called for the protection of the political, social, and human rights of the Kashmiri people, including the right to freedom of expression and a fair trial.

“Pakistan reiterates its unwavering support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle for self-determination, as enshrined in relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions,” the statement concluded.

Delhi court’s verdict

According to Indian media reports, a Delhi Special Court on Tuesday awarded Andrabi life imprisonment under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), while her associates Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen were each sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The three women had been convicted earlier this year, on Jan. 14, for their alleged involvement with Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM), an all-women Kashmiri organization advocating the region’s separation from India.

The court reportedly found the accused guilty under “multiple provisions of UAPA, including Section 18,” which pertains to conspiracy, and Section 38, which relates to membership in a proscribed organization.

Prosecutors alleged that the trio was engaged in “promoting separatist ideology, mobilizing support, and coordinating activities,” claims long disputed by Kashmiri groups who describe such cases as politically motivated.

Dukhtaran-e-Millat, founded in 1987 and led by Andrabi, was banned by Indian authorities in 2004 under the UAPA. The organization has been widely viewed in Kashmir as part of the broader political resistance movement against Indian rule.

Legal proceedings against Andrabi and her co-accused began in 2021, when a Delhi court initiated a trial under both the UAPA and multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

The charges included “criminal conspiracy,” “waging war against the government of India,” “sedition,” and “promoting enmity between different groups.”

The accused had pleaded not guilty, insisting on a full trial.

Andrabi, a science graduate from Srinagar’s Government Women’s College and daughter of a local health practitioner, has remained in custody throughout the prolonged legal proceedings.

The latest sentencing is expected to further intensify concerns over civil liberties and the shrinking political space in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Articles tagged with "Kashmir leader"

Pakistan condemns Indian court's life sentence to prominent Kashmiri leader Asiya Andrabi