Islamabad protests killing of Pakistani prisoner in Indian-administered Kashmir

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistan on Friday summoned the Indian charge d’affaires in Islamabad to formally protest what Islamabad described as the "extrajudicial" killing of a Pakistani citizen in Indian-administered Kashmir.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Islamabad has lodged a strong protest against the "extrajudicial" killing of Muhammad Ali Hussain by Indian Forces in a "fake encounter" in the Arnia area of Indian-administered Kashmir.

Hussain had been imprisoned in Kashmir's Kot Bhalwal Prison since 2006, the statement said.

However, the Indian media outlet NDTV reported, citing an official account, that Hussain was shot and killed by Indian security forces on Aug. 18 near the Line of Control (LoC) when he attempted to flee after snatching a rifle from a police officer.

"The narrative being spun that Muhammad Ali Hussain had allegedly attacked security forces and attempted to escape when he was being taken to a suspected weapons smuggling site was not only fallacious but deceptive," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry alleged, adding that Hussain's death was nothing more than cold-blooded murder.

"The Indian diplomat was told that Mr. Hussain’s death under mysterious circumstances at a location away from the prison, has once again substantiated Pakistan’s long-standing position that Indian Occupation Forces in the IIOJK (Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir) are routinely involved in undertaking choreographed attacks and extrajudicial killings of Pakistani and Kashmiri prisoners," the ministry claimed.

"He was also reminded of the case of Zia Mustafa, another Pakistani prisoner, who was murdered by Indian authorities in a similar fake encounter last year," the ministry added.

The government also voiced concern about the safety, security, and well-being of 461 Pakistani detainees in Indian jails, including 345 civilians and 116 fishermen.

Islamabad also urged that New Delhi share details regarding the incident, including a credible postmortem report to determine the cause of death, in order to hold those responsible for the prisoner's murder accountable.

The Foreign Ministry also urged India to ensure the immediate and expeditious repatriation of the deceased's mortal remains to Pakistan, in accordance with his family's requests.