Pakistan’s Oppressed Nations Stage Protest in Geneva
Exiled leaders from Sindh, Balochistan, Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan protested together yesterday [10 March 2016] in front of the UN in Geneva to push the international community to demand an end to gross human rights violations perpetrated by Pakistan against the aforementioned nations. Representatives of Gilgit-Baltistan also protested against the creation of the CPEC economic corridor, a multi-billion dollar project, allowing China and Pakistan to exploit the region’s resources without guaranteeing any benefit for the region itself.
Below an article published by The Times of India
Exiled leaders from Sindh, Balochistan, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan staged a protest against Pakistan for its oppressive policies and human rights violations at the United Nations office here.
"In Pakistan, the oppressed nations - Sindhis, Baloch, and Pashtuns, people from Gilgit, Baltistan and from Pakistan occupied Kashmir - are facing one of the worst human rights atrocities," Lakhu Luhana, Chairman of World Sindhi Congress told ANI.
"The purpose of this protest is to make UN and the international community aware of these human rights violations, and to request them to save us from these atrocities," he added. The protesters also submitted a petition in the United Nations office in Geneva demanding an end of atrocities by Pakistan.
Meanwhile, exiled Baloch leader Mahran Marri said it the responsibility of the United Nations to take note of the human rights violations being faced by people in Punjabi dominated Pakistan.
"We are standing united and appeal to the UN to take a note of the human rights violations in Pakistan," Marri told ANI.
Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Secretary General of United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) said there are common issues and they would like to strengthen and send message to Pakistan government to change their attitude and respect the human rights of people.
The activists from PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan also joined the protest and opposed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) calling the multi-million dollar project as a design by Pakistan and China to exploit their resources.
"The people of Gilgit have no placement in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) committee. The locals have no hope of getting any revenue with this project. We also don't have any expectations of establishment of an economic zone in the area," Senge Hasnan Sering, Director of Gilgit Baltistan National Congress told ANI.
"The CPEC lane from Gilgit-Baltistan is only a strategic lane as similar to Karakoram highway, so it will not provide any economic benefit to the local people", Senge added.
