Human rights situation in Pakistan, my speech in a seminar during the UN Human Rights Council’s Session in Geneva.

Human rights situation in Pakistan, my speech in a seminar during the UN Human Rights Council’s Session in Geneva.

Room 25.         08 July 2019

Title. Human rights situation in Pakistan.

Mr Chairman, friends and colleagues, peace and blessings on all of you.

We people of State of Jammu and Kashmir are forcibly divided and suffer on both sides of the Line Of Control.

It is sad to note that we people of Jammu and Kashmir suffer as a direct result of Pakistani obsession to capture Jammu and Kashmir by force.

Also it is sad that extremism, hatred and xenophobia is on increase in our region, creating enormous problems for all communities living in South Asia.

Militancy, no matter where it takes place, results in human rights abuses. The Pakistani sponsored militancy also created enormous problems for the people, and resulted in death and destruction.

The people of Valley of Kashmir suffered most because of this militancy. This is not to suggest that other regions did not suffer.  All regions of the divided state suffered; and we were denied our fundamental rights.

The UN Report on Human Rights situation in Indian Administered Jammu and Kashmir and in Pakistan Administered Jammu and Kashmir issued today, 08 July 2019 says, and I quote some parts of it for your attention:

The report also notes that four major armed groups believed to be currently operating in Indian-Administered Kashmir – Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harakat Ul-Mujahidin – are believed to be based on the Pakistan side of the Line of Control.

The report says, and I quote:

‘Two armed groups have been accused of recruiting and deploying child soldiers in Indian-Administered Kashmir, and armed groups were reportedly responsible for attacks on people affiliated or associated with political organizations in Jammu and Kashmir, including the killing of at least six political party workers and a separatist leader. In the lead up to local elections scheduled for October 2018, armed groups threatened people participating in the elections and warned of “dire consequences” if those running for election did not immediately withdraw their nominations.’ Unquote

However, some people of Jammu and Kashmir State are only worried about human rights abuses taking place in the areas under India. I am also worried about human rights situation in Kashmir.

Nevertheless, I am also worried about human rights of my family, and rights of people in my village; and in my local area where there is no militancy, sponsored or homegrown.

Mr Chairman

Various kinds of human rights abuses take place in all countries. I detest that. You can call me selfish or whatever suits you. I am more concerned about problems of my village and the territory where I live.

Once these problems are resolved, then I can make efforts to resolve problems of other regions of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

The approach explained above is adopted by our fellow citizens of the Kashmir Valley. They criticise and oppose the country that commits human rights abuses there; and no one points any finger towards them.

However, when we adopt the same strategy, and speak about our problems and criticise the country that creates problems for us, we are called ‘traitors’ and ‘agents’.

I wonder why there is this hypocrisy? What is appropriate for people living on the other side of the LOC, why is it not appropriate of us living on this side of the divide?

As noted above, where there is militancy, human rights abuses are unavoidable; but there is no militancy in so called Azad Kashmir, then:

1.   Why are we denied our fundamental human rights?

2.   Why we cannot read books about our history and culture?

3.   Why our books which tell us true history of our motherland are banned?

4.   Why Officers sent by Pakistan, control affairs of so called Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan?

5.   Why Pakistani secret agencies abduct our people for expressing loyalty to our motherland?

6.   Why Pakistani secret agencies operate with impunity in our territories which are not legally part of Pakistan?

7.   Why we have no control over our resources?

8.   Why we cannot benefit from our natural resources?

9.   Why Pakistan is plundering and exploiting our resources; and we do not get even fair share?

10.                 Why we face sedition charges for expressing loyalty to our motherland; and for criticising the occupiers?

11.                 Why syllabus for our schools is prepared in Islamabad?

I quote some more relevant parts of the UN Report on Human Rights for your attention:

The report also examines human rights violations in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir. While different in nature to the violations taking place on the other side of the Line of Control, people living in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in Gilgit-Baltistan are also deprived of a number of fundamental human rights, particularly in relation to freedoms of expression and opinion, peaceful assembly and association. The report notes no steps have been taken to resolve the main issues, including a number of highly problematic legal restrictions, outlined in the previous UN Human Rights Office report.

“Anti-terrorism laws continue to be misused to target political opposition as well as civil society activists,” the report says, adding that nationalist and pro-independence political parties “claim that they regularly face threats, intimidation and even arrests for their political activities from local authorities or intelligence agencies.” Threats are also often “directed at their family members including children.”

Citing specific cases, the report also notes how journalists in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir “continue to face threats and harassment in the course of carrying out their professional duties.”

The report also says the UN Human Rights Office has received “credible information of enforced disappearances of people from Pakistan-Administered Kashmir including those who were held in secret detention and those whose fate and whereabouts continue to remain unknown.”

“In almost all cases,” it adds, “victim groups allege that Pakistani intelligence agencies were responsible for the disappearances. There are fears that people subjected to enforced disappearances from Pakistan-Administered Kashmir may have been detained in military-run internment centres in Pakistan.”

Our children are brainwashed from the childhood. Pakistani policy is to prepare mental slaves who can look after interest of Pakistan.

Lastly, some people of Jammu and Kashmir are brainwashed in believing that once the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir becomes part of Pakistan, then they will get their fundamental rights, and Islamabad will treat them compassionately.

These people should think that the country that deny fundamental rights to their own people, abduct and kill them with impunity, will never give you the rights you are entitled to.

The CPEC projects and other projects started inside our territory without our permission, and without any consultation have given a licence to Chinese and Pakistani companies to exploit our resources, damage environment and eco system of the region and commit human rights. This practise must stop, as they are against our agreement, against our interests and against our fundamental rights. Some of the Chinese companies employed to carry out the tasks are notorious for their corrupt practises; and we are seriously concerned about what they are doing and how they are damaging quality of our life, water resources and environment.

Thank you, Mr Chairman