Days after separatist leader Yasin Malik was convicted by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on terror funding charges, newly inducted Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Shariff on Monday backed the chairman of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), calling upon world leaders to take note of what he said was India’s ‘mistreatment of political prisoners’ in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharif, who, succeeded the ousted Imran Khan as Pakistan’s PM, wrote on Twitter, "World should take note of Indian govt’s mistreatment of political prisoners in IIOJK. Conviction of prominent Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik on fake terrorism charges is futile effort 2 silence voices critical of India’s blatant human rights abuses. Modi regime must be held 2 account."
Last week, the NIA court convicted Yasin Malik after he pleaded guilty to charges related to terror funding, spreading terrorism and secessionist activities in the Kashmir Valley in 2017. It also asked the NIA to assess the financial condition of the 56-year-old to determine the amount of fine that could be imposed on him.
The quantum of punishment, as well as the fine, will be announced on May 25.
Malik, on May 10, pleaded guilty to all the charges against him. He faces the maximum punishment of a life term for the offences he has been convicted for.
The case pertains to a conspiracy by the Lashkar-e-Taiba and separatist leaders, among others, to raise, receive and collect funds domestically and from abroad through illegal channels, including hawala. These funds were used for separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
