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GILGIT: The arbitrary arrest of Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Chairman Manzoor Hussain Parwana in Gilgit city the other day has drawn widespread condemnation from political forces and civil society from the region and abroad.
The GBUM chief was detained during a concerted operation of Pakistan’s law enforcement, agencies including the Rangers, Khyber Rifles and secret service personnel on July 28 when he had just finished addressing the annual convention of Balawaristan National Students Organization (BNSO) in Gilgit. Later, he was shifted to an unknown place by the secret service personnel for interrogation.
According to the FIR, he was arrested for expressing support to the
refugees of Ladakh in Gilgit-Baltistan who demand opening of the line
of control; demanding reinstatement of State Subject Rule in the
region, withdrawal of Pakistani security forces from the region and ensuring basic human rights for the occupied nation of Gilgit-Baltistan.
In their separate statements, Advocate Ehsan Ali, President of Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Association, Engineer Amanullah, Chairman of Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance, Safdar Ali, President of Balawaristan National Front, Ghulam Shehzad Agha, General Secretary of GBUM, Babajan Hunzai, Coordinator of Progressive Youth Front, and Tauseef Hassan, President of BNSO strongly condemned the arrest and termed it an attack on freedom of expression and political activity and illegal interference of Pakistani security forces in a UN-declared disputed region.
They stated that his arrest was an effort of Pakistani occupying forces to promote state-led terrorism in Gilgit-Baltistan; derail India-Pakistan peace process and defame the nationalist forces, which demand complete withdrawal of occupying forces from their land.
Safdar Ali stated that Manzoor had been charged under section 123A,
124A and 153A of Pakistan penal code, which is an immoral and illegal
act of the law enforcement agencies since these sections do not apply
to the permanent residents of a disputed territory lying outside
the constitutional boundary of Pakistan. Pakistan is a signatory to
the resolutions passed by the United Nations Commission on India and
Pakistan assuring withdraw of her forces and citizens from
Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of Kashmir. However, it has continued
military escalation, amassing more than forty thousand personnel in
the region, which is a clear violation of international laws.
Baba Jan Hunzai demanded release of all political prisoners of
Gilgit-Baltistan and an end to apartheid in South Asia. Similar
appeals have come from political activists of Kargil district in Indian
Ladakh, requesting opening of the line of control and reunification of
Gilgit-Baltistan with the rest of Ladakh.
In his press release, Ghulam Shehzad Agha said: “Detention of
political activists continues in Pakistan and its occupied regions
despite assurances of the prime minister to the international
community of upholding democracy and freedom of political activity and
expression. People of Gilgit-Baltistan cannot be booked for treason
since they are not citizens of Pakistan. If supporting the refugees of
Ladakh to promote their birth right of free travel, and socio-economic
activity is a crime, then GBUM will continue to commit it. GBUM will
support rally of the Ladakhi refugees towards the line of control even
after the arrest of Manzoor Parwana.” Agha also condemned Pakistani
establishment for awarding illegal mining licenses to the Chinese
companies, who have their eyes set on uranium rich mineral deposits of
Gilgit-Baltistan.
Manzoor is currently fighting a sedition case for criticizing Pakistani military for their misgivings during the Kargil War of 1999.
His publication called Kargil International Magazine was also banned
during the same time for exposing military crimes. He remains vocal
demanding freedom for Gilgit Baltistan which remains in Pakistani
occupation since 1947.
The Gilgit Baltistan National Congress (GBNC), Washington, also condemned ‘abduction’ of Manzoor Parwana. Senge Sering of the GBNC requested international human rights organizations including Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International to take immediate action in this regard. GBNC also requests the United Nations, American Congress, the European Parliament and Saarc to take immediate notice of the failing human rights situation in occupied Gilgit Baltistan.
GBNC calls for demilitarization of Gilgit-Baltistan, promotion of
genuine autonomy and democracy, withdrawal of extremist elements,
re-instatement of state subject rule and people to people contact
between Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan. It asks the United Nations to
play its role in empowering local political institutions and ensuring
freedom of expression and political activity.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Labour Party and Progressive Youth Front also strongly condemned the arrest of Mr Parwana and termed it a fascist action of government and intelligence agencies. It is the worst type of human rights violation. The so-called puppet Chief Minister Mehdi Shah and his toothless government was even not aware of this barbaric action of state forces against nationalist political workers of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The only reason behind this state terrorism is just to suppress nationalist and revolutionary movement in GB. We appeal to the oppressed people of GB to come forward and accelerate their struggle against the pro-imperialist and pro-capitalist corrupt rulers and capitalist system.
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