Friday, 8 April 2016

Dr Shabir Choudhry files a writ in Islamabad High Court on ID Card Issue

Dr Shabir Choudhry files a writ in Islamabad High Court on ID Card Issue
Islamabad      08 April 2016

Dr Shabir Choudhry a Kashmiri political and human rights activist and author of many books was not provided with an Identity Card known as NICOP, due to his political work and writings which expose Pakistan’s Kashmir policy.

Dr Shabir Choudhry applied to renew his ID Card in June 2015 in Pakistani High Commission in London; and to date he has not officially heard from them. Normally the ID Card is issued within six weeks. His wife who applied at the same time was issued a card within six weeks.

Many phone calls, letters and even appeal from Asian Human Rights Commission fell on deaf ears; and officials of Islamic Republic of Pakistan chose to ignore all the pleas to punish Dr Choudhry for his political work.

Attorney for the claimant Nisar Ahmed Shah Advocate asserted that it was ‘basic Fundamental rights of the petitioner, which is being violated, abrogated by the Respondent No 1 and 2.’ He also said; ‘That the petitioner is entitled to be issued NICOP by the Respondent No. 1 & 2 in pursuance of above enumerate expired NICOP, instead Respondents No. 1 & 2 are delaying the matter without any lawful objection and refusing a legitimate right of the petitioner which is a clear violation of the settled principles of registration authority as well as the fundamental Rights of the petitioner granted by the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.’

In Pakistani Administered Kashmir and Pakistan NICOP or Identity Card is must, as that is required to buy or sell property, open bank accounts and many other things strictly depend on producing the ID Card.

Dr Shabir Choudhry said denial of ID Card means curbing my fundamental rights, which include a right to travel to my homeland, a right to sell my property, a right to inherit, a right to banking, a right to visit my relatives and right to visit a grave of my late father.

Dr Choudhry said not only I will fight to protect my fundamental rights but I will also continue to speak about rights of others who suffer at the hands of these officials.
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