Manzoor Parwana arrested for expressing support for refugees of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Below is an article published by Balawaristan National Front:
Manzoor Parwana, the Chairman of Gilgit
Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) was detained during a concerted
operation of Pakistan's law enforcement, Pakistani Rangers, Khyber
Rifles and secret service personnel on July 28, 2011 at approximately 2
PM 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 re-instatement of State Subject Rule
in the region; demanding withdrawal of Pakistani security forces from
the region; and demanding basic human rights for the occupied nation of
Gilgit-Baltistan.
Right after his arrest, 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 held press conferences condemning the
incident 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 has 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 which lie 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.
Babajan Hunzai has demanded release of
all political prisoners of Gilgit-Baltistan and an end to apartheid era
in South Asia. Similar appeal has 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.
In support of local political parties;
Gilgit Baltistan National Congress (GBNC) condemns abduction of Manzoor
Parwana who is a seasoned politician and voice of the two million
voiceless people of occupied Gilgit Baltistan.
GBNC requests International Human Rights
organizations including Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty
International to take immediate action. 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.
Senge Sering
Gilgit Baltistan National Congress
1831 Belmont Road NW
Washington DC, DC
http://www.unpo.org/article/12973
No comments:
Post a Comment