Manzoor
Parwana, an outspoken politician opposed to Pakistani occupation, was
arrested on 28 July 2011 for challenging military encroachment in the
region.
Below is a article published by Expert Click:
Manzoor Parwana is one of the leading
politicians in Gilgit-Baltistan who opposes Pakistan's unilateral
occupation of the disputed region, which is also claimed by India. He
was abducted on July 28 by Pakistani security forces for raising voice
for more than ten thousand Ladakhi refugees, who reside in different
parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, and desire reunification with their relatives
in India.
This happened at the time when Pakistani
foreign minister, Ms. Khar, was on her visit to India. With no
realization of detention and torture of political leaders in
Gilgit-Baltistan, she was lecturing India on promoting freedom of
expression and political activity in Kashmir. She was also provided with
the relaxed environment to join Hurriyat leaders in their demand for
the right of self-determination for Kashmir; something that Pakistan
categorically denies for Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan. These two
occupied regions are tightly controlled and largely out of bounds, which
restricts both political and international humanitarian work.
Manzoor was arrested for expressing
something which adds to the insecurities of Pakistani champions of
democracy and self-rule. During his speech at the annual convention of
Balawaristan National Students Organization in Gilgit, which became the
basis for his detention, he challenged Pakistani presence in
Gilgit-Baltistan based on constitutional grounds. He stated that
Pakistan lacks the sovereign rights over Gilgit-Baltistan and therefore
must withdraw her troops and citizens from the region. He drew parallels
between Pakistani troops stationed in Gilgit-Baltistan to Syria's
presence in Lebanon and said, "Just because some elements desire to see a
permanent Pakistani presence in Gilgit-Baltistan does not mean that
Pakistani troops have gained the legitimacy to continue the occupation.
Pakistan is violating international laws and UN resolutions on
Gilgit-Baltistan, which exposes her true face viz. a viz. Kashmir
issue."
For all these years, Manzoor has been
critical of military's involvement in the political affairs in
Gilgit-Baltistan. He was under surveillance since last few months for
approaching international policy and rights organizations to garner
support for Gilgit-Baltistan. In June, Manzoor was going to be the key
note speaker at a conference in the European Parliament; however, he was
barred from travelling abroad.
According to his attorney, Advocate
Ehsan Ali, who is also the president of Gilgit-Baltistan High Court Bar
Association, Manzoor has been booked for sedition and questioned for his
connection with those among the Ladakhi refugees who declared a long
march towards the Indian line of control in protest of Pakistani
reluctance to open the LOC on humanitarian grounds. In reality, he is
being punished for his networking skills to disseminate information to
individuals and institutions in Europe and America.
Advocate Ehsan and others within
political organizations of Gilgit-Baltistan have requested Human Rights
Watch, Freedom House and Amnesty International to take immediate notice
of the grave political situation in Gilgit-Baltistan and demand of
Pakistani authorities to release Manzoor Parwana and respect freedom of
expression and political activity in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Pakistani civil society must realize
that Pakistan's double standards on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan only
make the CBMs futile and overburden rapidly depleting resources. Only
the people of Pakistan and not the outsiders can force the military
establishment discard its colonial era tactics and work for social and
economic integration within South Asia.
http://www.unpo.org/article/12983
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