PoK activist seeks UN help to restore political and civil rights

Geneva, Switzerland, 25-Sep-2020

Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), activist Sajjad Raja has sought United Nations' help to restore their political, civil and constitutional rights. He also alleged that the Imran Khan-led government is treating the citizens of the PoK region like animals. "We the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir plead the council to stop Pakistan from treating us like animals. The POK election Act 2020 has taken away all of our constitutional, civil and political rights. Our activities opposing accession to Pakistan have been declared anti-state in flagrant violations of United Nations Resolutions," quoted Prof Sajjad Raja, Chairman of the National Equality Party JKGBL, as saying. While making an intervention during the 45th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva on Thursday, the PoK activist broke down in tears as he made the appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). He further said, "We are treated as traitors in our own home simply for defending it. By declaring our political activities illegal, this act gives the Pakistan Army a free hand to assassinate our people through targeted killings and enforce disappearances." Prof Raja levelled serious allegations against Pakistan government saying that the authorities are "brainwashing" the young minds on both sides of the border in Jammu and Kashmir, thus, "making them cannon fodder in the proxy war with India". Pakistan is brainwashing innocent youth on both sides of the border in Jammu and Kashmir making them cannon fodder in the proxy war with India. Pakistan continues to run terror camps from POK, he added.

'Save Sindhi people from enforced disappearances'
===========================================
The World Sindhi Congress also appealed to the UN Council to save its people from enforced disappearances by Pakistan agencies. He informed that more than 60 Sindhi people have been abducted in the last three months. "We request the UN Council to fulfil its responsibility to save Sindhi people from enforced disappearances by Pakistan agencies. Perpetrators must be brought to justice holding the Pakistan government accountable," said Lakhu Luhana, Secretary-General of World Sindhi Congress. "Enforced disappearances of Sindhi people by Pakistan agencies continue unabated. In the last three months, over 60 abducted. They're using it as a tool to spread terror- Secy-Gen of World Sindhi Congress," he added.