Pakistan protests death in jail of pro-freedom Kashmiri leader

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Pakistan on Wednesday demanded an investigation into the death in jail of Altaf Ahmed Shah, a prominent pro-freedom leader in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The demand was conveyed to the Indian charge d’affaires in Islamabad, who was summoned by the Foreign Ministry to protest Shah’s “inhumane custodial” death.

The Kashmiri leader, who had been imprisoned for the past five years by Indian authorities, died earlier this week, just days after being diagnosed with late-stage renal cancer that had spread to other parts of his body.

Islamabad also demanded that his mortal remains be “promptly” returned to his family so that the deceased can be properly buried in accordance with their wishes.

New Delhi, the statement added, not only failed to provide satisfactory medical care to Shah but also created inordinate delays in his hospitalization and essential diagnostic tests.

Recalling the “condemnable custodial” death of Hurriyat leader Ashraf Sehrai last year, after his arrest under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA), the Indian diplomat was informed of Pakistan’s “grave apprehensions regarding the ruthless treatment” meted out to Hurriyat Conference leaders including Muhammad Yasin Malik, Massarat Aalam Bhat, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Aasiya Andrabi and several others who have been facing “illegal detentions in fabricated” cases.

The divided Himalayan Kashmir valley has been a major source of contention between the two nuclear rivals since their creation in 1947, with both sides claiming it fully.