Rights groups flay Pak at UN session in Geneva
 

Pakistan came in for a flak at the 57th session of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Human Rights from Kashmiri groups in PoK which ended in Geneva last week.

Several NGOs and human rights groups, which attended the month-long session, alleged violation of fundamental rights of the people in Gilgit, PoK, and drew attention to plight of Sindhis, Balochis, Ahmediyas, Christians and other minorities in Pakistan.

Kashmiri nationalists like Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri and Mumtaz Khan even asked Pakistan to rein in terrorist groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir, according to recorded official presentations available with The Tribune.

Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, who spent long spells in PoK jails, criticised Pakistan’s claim of championing the cause of self-determination for the people of Kashmir and talked of “the dismal state of human rights in the whole of Pakistan.” He said such claims would have no meaning as long as ‘Azad Kashmir’ continued to be ruled by hand-picked nominees of Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan remain without any constitutional status and their people denied self-rule. He alleged that political activists standing up for the rights of the people were routinely harassed, imprisoned and tortured.

Mr Mumtaz Khan of the European Union of Public Relations flayed the jihadi forces for clandestinely working to derail the peace process. He said PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan remained economically and socially backward than other parts of Pakistan and Jammu & Kashmir.

Dr Shabir Choudhry, spokesman for the International Kashmir Alliance (IKA), criticised Pakistan for not allowing Kashmiri youth who had gone to PoK for training to return to Jammu & Kashmir where they want to lead a normal life.

According to Mr Abbas Butt of the World Peace Council, people of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan were colonised and exploited by the Pakistan authorities. Quoting Pakistani media, Mr Butt said fully-activated training camps had become a cause of major concern as rise in militant activity brought intimidation, coercion and social problems for the ordinary people.

Mr Mohammed Zafar Khan, speaking on behalf of the International Institute for Peace, alleged that false cases had been lodged against political workers and youth who raised a voice against Pakistani authorities. “Hundreds of our youth have been forced to leave their homeland and seek asylum in different countries, particularly Europe. Even though they are living in exile, their families and relatives continue to face problems created by intelligence agencies of Pakistan,” Mr Khan added.

Mr Mohammed Zia Mustafa, who spoke on behalf of the World Federation of Trade Unions, was of the view that steady erosion of democracy, rule of law and administration of justice in Pakistan, PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan had led to the complete abdication of the state’s basic responsibilities.
He referred to an incident of July 15 this year when a young girl, Gulshan, was raped by three soldiers of 644 Mujahid Battalion, but no action was taken by the authorities. Instead, the authorities unleashed a reign of terror on political workers of the PNP who were protesting against police inaction in the case.