Protest held outside the UNHRC on human rights violations against minorities in Pakistan
On September 20, 2016 a demonstration was held outside the UN Human Rights Council to protest against the human rights violations in Pakistan. Representatives from Pakistan Administered Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh participated, seeking the attention of the UN and the international community to the grave violations committed by the Pakistani government and the military against the minorities in the country.
Jameel Maqsood, Belgium Representative of the United Kashmir People’s National Party, while speaking on the occasion said that the Pakistan intelligence service and the Army had thwarted the basic right of expression of the people of Pakistan Administered Kashmir, and an environment of fear and persecution prevailed in the area. He charged the Pakistani government of supporting Islamic fundamentalist forces and using them to spread terror.
Junaid Qureshi, a prominent Kashmiri human rights leader, also participated in the event. He raised the demand for Arif Shahid, deceased political activist from Pakistan Administered Kashmir, to be declared a martyr. He stated that even though Arif Shahid never raised a gun against the Pakistani State, he was killed by the country’s security services for raising his voice against Pakistan.
The protestors also raised their voice against the Pakistani government’s policy of looting the natural resources of Gilgit –Baltistan and against the Chinese presence in the province and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Senge Sering, Chairman of the Gilgit Baltistan Institute, was present at the protest.
Raising the issue of targeted killing of minorities, including Christians, Hindus and Shias in Sindh, Sindhi leaders including Lakhu Luhana, President of the World Sindhi Congress called on the international community to put pressure on Pakistan to stop persecution of minorities.
The prominent banners displayed on this occasion read ‘Stop Killing of Minorities in Pakistan’, ‘Stop Persecution of Christians in Pakistan’, ‘We resent Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan’ and ‘Arif Shahid is a Martyr’.
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