Justice delayed in IIOJK: thousands remain in Indian jails without trial

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Mar, 2026) Hurriat leader Abdul Hameed Lone has said that justice delayed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has become a serious concern for many families whose relatives remain in Indian prisons without trial.

He said thousands of Kashmiris have spent years behind bars while their cases continue in courts. In many situations, detainees are not presented before the court for hearings, leaving them in long periods of detention without progress in their cases.

Many prisoners have already spent a large part of their lives in jail without the completion of legal proceedings. Several detainees say they are facing charges they describe as false. Despite repeated appeals, bail is often not granted, and the conditions of detainees receive little attention from courts. These delays have raised questions about the functioning of the legal system and the implementation of the rule of law, he added.

Among those who lost their lives while in custody are political figures such as Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Ghulam Muhammad Butt, and Altaf Fantosh. Their families had appealed for their release on medical grounds, but those requests were not accepted. Relatives say the deaths of detainees in prison have deepened concerns about the treatment of political prisoners.

Reports also indicate that several laws in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are being used against political leaders and members of the public. In addition to political figures, journalists and human rights workers have also faced detention. Many observers believe that long imprisonment without trial is being used to control political activity and silence dissent.

Women activists are also among those held in prison. Asiya Andrabi, who is an elderly detainee and suffering from several illnesses, remains in custody. Along with her, Fahmida Sufi and Nahida Nasreen are also imprisoned in Tihar Jail.

Thousands of Kashmiris from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are currently held in prisons across India. Many of them are detained far from their homes, making it difficult for their families to visit them. Relatives say the detainees are being held mainly because they oppose India’s control over the region.

Recently, a Kashmiri delegation in Geneva staged a protest outside the headquarters of the United Nations. Demonstrators called on the international community to help resolve the Kashmir dispute and press for the release of political leaders and activists currently held in Indian prisons.