Srinagar: Political activists from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan staged a demonstration outside the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on Friday, urging Pakistan to withdraw its forces from the occupied territories in compliance with UN Security Council resolutions. The protest was organized by the National Equality Party JKGBL during the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Prof Sajjad Raja, a prominent political activist from PoK and Chairman of the National Equality Party JKGBL, expressed, "Today, we gather here to protest against the ongoing violations of basic human rights in PoJK and Gilgit Baltistan. The residents of these regions are enduring severe oppression, akin to living like animals. We demand the complete withdrawal of Pakistan from PoJK and Gilgit Baltistan as mandated by the United Nations. This marks the 77th year of continuous oppression, depriving people of their basic rights and freedoms in PoJK and Gilgit Baltistan."
"We call upon the United Nations to enforce its resolutions," added Prof. Sajjad. "The initial part of the resolution requires Pakistan to remove its military and citizens, enabling the people of Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and PoJK to determine their own destiny."
The demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as "Act 1974 of Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir & Order 2018 of Gilgit Baltistan is a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and "Why is the UN continuously failing to force Pakistan out of Pakistani occupied Jammu Kashmir & Gilgit Baltistan".
Habib-ur-Rehman, a member of the Jammu Kashmir People's National Party, voiced his concerns to the media, stating, "I am here to oppose the Pakistani occupation at the United Nations. Pakistan is exploiting the resources of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, and I stand here to represent the people against this occupation, plundering, and violence inflicted upon our people. Our heritage has been erased by the Pakistani regime, and I am here to raise awareness about it."
Pakistan has occupied parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, including what is now referred to as Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan. Numerous international human rights organizations and advocacy groups have documented reports of human rights abuses in these regions, including constraints on freedom of expression, arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, censorship, media restrictions, and discrimination against minorities. There have also been allegations of land confiscation and displacement of local communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, often associated with development projects and infrastructure initiatives under the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor).
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