#Islamabad, May 17: Pakistan on Tuesday said it has expressed ‘serious concern’ to the UN over a draft bill in the Indian Parliament over the map of Kashmir and called upon the world body to uphold its resolutions and urge India to stop such acts which are in “violation of international law”.
Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said India’s “incorrect and legally untenable” official map, in violation of UNSC resolutions, displays the disputed territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir as part of India.
Through the passage of this Bill, the Indian government would be able to penalise the individuals and organisations that depict AJK as a disputed territory in accordance with UNSC resolutions, Zakaria said.
A letter sent to the UN in this regard by Pakistan’s permanent representative in New York calls on the body to uphold the UNSC resolutions and urge India to stop acts that are in violation of international law.
Pakistan also urged the international community and UN to fulfil their commitment to the people of AJK by holding an independent and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices.
The bill, which is up for public consultation, was published on the home ministry’s website earlier this month and lists penalties, including a prison term of up to seven years and a fine of one billion rupees.
“No person shall depict, disseminate, publish or distribute any wrong or false topographic information of India including international boundaries through Internet platforms or online services or in any electronic or physical form,” the draft Geospatial Information Regulation Bill says.
The new bill also states that a licence will be needed to “acquire, disseminate, publish or distribute” maps, meaning services like Google Maps and Apple Maps could have to apply for permits.
Anyone wanting to use India’s geospatial image outside the country will also have to secure permission.
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