Date 01 August 2022
Dear Debbi Abrahams MP, Chairperson All Parties Parliamentary Group on Kashmir.
Re: Human rights abuses in Pakistani Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
I wrote to you on 16 July 2022, regarding the human rights situation where innocent and unarmed people of Kashmir were systematically killed; but in accordance with your tradition and political values you did not even reply.
I wrongly assumed that you were genuinely concerned about human rights abuses; and especially abuses taking place in the forcibly divided State of Jammu and Kashmir. It is sad to note that your concern for human rights is very selective; and appears to be politically motivated.
As long as you are holding the post of Chair of the AAPG, I have no option but to write to you on issues of human rights, in hope that one day you may feel the pain of families who are divided and who continue to suffer for decades.
It may upset you, but the bitter fact is that over the past weeks, Pakistan is crushing peaceful protests of people of Pakistani Administered Jammu and Kashmir. Unlike in Kashmir Valley, these people are not carrying any guns or bombs. They are not shooting at policemen, army or para military forces. They have not thrown any stones at anyone or any building or damaged any cars and buildings, yet they are brutally oppressed, beaten up with sticks, and leaders are imprisoned.
These people are protesting because of decades of injustice and wrongdoings of Pakistan. They are protesting against loot and plunder of their natural resources, sky high prices, lack of electricity and unfair heavy taxes.
Total requirement of so-called Azad Kashmir is 380 Megawatt; and our region produces nearly 4,000 Megawatt. All that goes to Pakistan’s so called ‘National Grid’, and people of POJK have to endure 17-18 hours load shedding in very hot Summer.
I am enclosing some photos of Abdul Hussain of Thorar, Rawalakot, Pakistani Administered Kashmir. Anyone with an ounce of conscience will be disturbed to see what this man had to endure, just because he was protesting against wrongdoings of ‘Holy Pakistan’. Parts of his body were cut with blade and chilli powder was sprinkled on his wounds.
Another man, Faisal Ashfaq from the same place, suffered serious back injuries. Reports are that his back is broken and he was admitted in one hospital in Rawalpindi. There are no hospitals in POJK which can treat people with serious injuries or serious health conditions.
Some of these abuses were committed in Police station Thorar, District Rawalakot. Date of arrest 25 July 2022. I hope you will also recognise these as human rights abuses.
I hope these photos will prick the conscience of some members of the APPG. I have no problem if either you, or some other members of the APPG pay 90% attention to the human rights abuses taking place on the other side of the divide, but for the sake of humanity and some impartiality, pay 10% attention to the human rights abuses taking place in POJK.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Dr Shabir Choudhry, President Foreign Affairs Committee, UKPNP.
Email: drshabircchoudhry,gmail.com Tel: 07790942471
No comments:
Post a Comment