Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday tweeted in support of JKLF chief Yasin Malik after he was sentenced to life by a court in New Delhi for terrorism and made critical comments against Indian democracy and judicial system.
Sharif described Malik, who is known to have killed many innocent people in Kashmir, as a “valiant freedom fighter” and said the sentence awarded to him “will provide fresh impetus to Kashmiris’ right to self-determination”.
It is a “black day for Indian democracy & its justice system”, the Pakistan Prime Minister tweeted after the sentence was awarded by an NIA court to Malik, a terrorist who was convicted on May 19 after he pleaded guilty to all the charges in connection to a 2017 case related to terrorism and secessionist activities.
“India can imprison Yasin Malik physically but it can never imprison idea of freedom he symbolises,” Sharif added.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan “stands with Kashmiri brothers and sisters” and will continue to provide “all possible support in their just struggle’.
In a tweet, Zardari said: “Strongly condemn unjust sentencing of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik in a sham trial. India can never silence Kashmiris’ voice for freedom and self-determination. Pakistan stands with Kashmiri brothers and sisters, will continue to provide all possible support in their struggle.”
Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif called the verdict ‘a tragic act’ and demanded international and human rights organisations to speak out.
“Illegal actions against Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Yasin Malik are a tragic act. Such actions cannot deprive the Kashmiri people of their rights. All international and human rights organizations must speak out,” Nawaz Sharif said.
