Pakistan summoned India's envoy in Islamabad over the charges against Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Pakistan government said that the Indian Charge d'Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handed over a demarche conveying Pakistan’s strong condemnation on the framing of fabricated charges against Hurriyat leader Muhammad Yasin Malik.

Yasin Malik, who is presently lodged in Tihar jail, had pleaded guilty to all the charges, including those under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), before a Delhi court on May 10. The case is related to alleged terrorism and secessionist activities in the Kashmir valley in 2017.

The Pakistan government has alleged that the charges against Yasin Malik are “fabricated”.

Pakistan also expressed concern over Yasin Malik’s incarceration in Tihar Jail since 2019 claiming that it was under “inhuman conditions.” The Pakistan government alleged “the brutal treatment meted out to him despite his chronic ailments and denial of decent health care facilities has resulted in steep decline of his health.”

In a statement, Pakistan foreign ministry said, “Pakistan calls upon the Government of India for acquittal of Mr. Yasin Malik from all baseless charges and immediate release from prison so that he can be reunited with his family, recuperate his health and return to normal life.”

Pakistan also urged the international community, including the United Nations and relevant human rights and humanitarian organizations, to take immediate cognizance of the matter

Who Is Yasin Malik?

Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), has been charged with Section 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act), and 20 (being member of terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.

On May 10, separatist leader Yasin Malik Malik reportedly told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him, including section 16 (terrorist act) and section 17 (raising funds for terrorist acts).