Activists Expose Pakistan's Human Rights Violations in PoJK and PoGB at UNHRC

At the 57th UNHRC session, activists Mehmood Kashmiri and Sajid Hussain highlighted severe human rights violations by Pakistan in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB). They urged the UN to address these issues and take urgent action against extremist threats and violence targeting human rights defenders.

During the 57th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), activists Mehmood Kashmiri and Sajid Hussain brought to light severe human rights atrocities in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB). They accused Pakistan of inflicting these violations to maintain control over the regions.

Sajid Hussain highlighted the urgent need for the UNHRC to follow up on reports from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 and 2019. He emphasized that these reports addressed grave violations such as excessive force, arbitrary detentions, and severe restrictions on freedoms in PoJK and PoGB. Hussain pointed out the escalating situation in Rawalakot, PoJK, where Islamic radical forces are targeting activists with fatwas, leading to harassment and physical violence.

Hussain also mentioned the case of human rights defender Asma Batool, who was arrested on blasphemy charges, and Arsalan from Arja, Bagh, both facing severe persecution. He criticized the weaponization of religion against human rights defenders and the involvement of pro-government clerics in issuing fatwas against activists. Mehmood Kashmiri echoed these concerns, highlighting the role of extremist forces and the deliberate state attempts to suppress nationalist movements. He called for urgent international action to protect human rights in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)