Pakistan protests extrajudicial killing of Pakistani prisoner in IIOJK

The Indian top diplomat was summoned to the Foreign Office (FO) in Islamabad and a strong protest was lodged on the killing of a Pakistani civilian prisoner, Zia Mustafa, in a fake encounter by Indian troops in Poonch district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The 39-year-old Zia Mustafa was detained in Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu since 2003. He was brought out of the jail and killed in a fake encounter by Indian troops in Poonch district of IIOJK on Sunday.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Indian Chargé d’affaires was told that the killing of the Pakistani prisoner, who was in Indian custody since 2003, under mysterious circumstances at a location away from the prison where he was interned, was not only intriguing but also raised serious questions about the well-being, safety and security of Pakistani prisoners in India.

Regrettably, it said, this is not the first such incident. In the past as well, Pakistani civilian prisoners in India have been found dead under inexplicable circumstances. “Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of the dastardly Indian practice of extra-judicial killing of Pakistani and Kashmiri prisoners in fake encounters,” it added.

The statement said that the government of India was urged to urgently authenticate this particular incident, undertake a credible and transparent investigation into it, ensure justice, and hold the perpetrators accountable.

It further said that the Indian government was further reminded to fulfill its obligations to ensure safety, security and humane treatment of all Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails and detention centers pending their release or repatriation.