UKPNP urges UN to probe Kashmiri activist’s murder by Pak

Geneva (Switzerland), September 21

Members of United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) held a protest outside the United Nations (UN) office in Geneva and demanded the formation of a commission by the UN to investigate the killing of Arif Shahid, leader of All-Party National Alliance (APNA), allegedly by Pakistan, for raising his voice for Kashmiris in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The protesters raised slogans “Long live Arif Shahid” and “Stop terrorism in Kashmir”, and demanded that Shahid be declared a martyr.

Jamil Maqsood, a leader of the UKPNP present during the protest, alleged Shahid was killed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.

“It was obviously the secret agency of Pakistan, the ISI, because the ISI did not tolerate any pro-people voice in PoK; so it is very clear that ISI eliminated Arif Shahid, the leader of Kashmiri People,” Maqsood told ANI.

He insisted that the people present were protesting for the arrest of his killers who, he clearly said, was the ISI.

“We are demanding the United Nations and the human rights councils and the entire UN body to investigate and to formulate a commission that impartially investigates the killing of Arif Shahid,” he added.

Remembering Shahid, Maqsood said, “He is the greatest martyr of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Because he was speaking for the rights of the Kashmiri people particularly who are marginalised in PoK.” According to reports, Shahid was murdered by the ISI on May 14, 2013. — ANI