NEW YORK
In a blow to Indian Government’s attempt to stop the Punjab Independence movement and extradite US based legal advisor to “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ), INTERPOL has turned down India’s request to issue international arrest warrants against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is spearheading Referendum 2020, a secessionist campaign to establish Sikh homeland Khalistan.
While denying India’s request to issue “Red Corner Notice” and granting clearance to Pannun, a pro Khalistan human rights lawyer, March 15th communication from Office of Legal Affairs, General Secretariat, INTERPOL states.
“The General Secretariat of the International Criminal Police Organization-INTERPOL hereby certifies that as of today, Mr. Gurpatwant Pannun, (DOB Redacted For Privacy) is not subject to an INTERPOL’s notice or diffusion”.
Reiterating that Khalistan Referendum is a peaceful democratic campaign for right to self-determination through “Ballot not Bullet”, attorney Pannun in a statement issued from SFJ’s New York headquarters Stated “Our legal team proved to INTEPOL that Referendum 2020 is peaceful campaign and is being managed under UN Charter and also submitted court documents that request for arrest warrants is politically motivated since SFJ have filed human rights violation cases against Indian PM Modi and Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder in US and Canada”.
“INTERPOL’s decision once again reaffirmed that India can no longer abuse the international system to target the opponents with dissenting political views as India had even previously unsuccessfully tried to extradite UK based Sikh nationalist Paramjeet Singh Pamma and Canada based Hardip Singh Nijjar” added attorney Pannun.
In December 2018, India through Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a request with INTERPOL for issuance of Red Corner Notice against Pannun, who had been declared a proclaimed offender (PO) in a sedition case registered in Mohali. CBI has also sent a dossier on Pannun’s involvement in anti-India activities and alleged ties with Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
