HRCP raises alarm over detention and maltreatment of people in Hunza
LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed alarm at the arrest of over two dozen political activists in Gilgit-Baltistan and reports of maltreatment of some of them in detention.
At least 33 people have been arrested in Gilgit-Baltistan following protests against the August 11 killing of two people in police firing. The police had opened fire when nearly 200 people were protesting during the chief minister’s visit to Aliababad in order to highlight delays in payment of compensation to families displaced by the Attabad landslides.
HRCP said in a statement, on Thursday, “The commission takes serious exception to the manner in which the authorities have chosen to deal with public resentment following the August 11 killings. The policemen accused of the killings have yet to be arrested but many political and civil society activists have been held in a crackdown against the protesters.
HRCP has noted with concern reports of mistreatment of some of the activists. Strong-arm tactics must not be used to suppress legitimate protest against the August 11 killings and due process rights of all citizens must be respected without exception. Now that a judicial probe into the incident is underway, the authorities should wait for its findings instead of ordering a crackdown on the people. Furthermore, it is a matter of grave concern that rehabilitation of those displaced by the January 2010 Attabad landslides is yet to be completed and the people feel that their concerns are not being addressed. This obviously is the root cause of public unrest.”
HRCP called upon the government to ensure that violence against political activists is stopped forthwith, due process rights are respected, findings of the judicial inquiry are made public.
What else should one expect? The simple people of GB were sweet talked into electing a corrupt government (as if the situation in the rest of Pakistan wasn’t an eye opener enuff) and now their elected government is busy working on the agenda of alienating the people against the state of Pakistan
Nasir, I agree with you. I point out though that whether we be simple or not, we are responsible for our future and our well being. Yes, we are affected bY what our leaders do, what system does and so on, however there come a time when one stop crying wolf and one learn to protect and care for one home and family.
The time has come for us to come together, I dont know what we are waiting for? Will 100 of us die before we will rise up or will our wives and daughters to be violated before we wake up?
We can blame everyone for our misfortunes but for how long will this go on and what benefit we get from complaining and making useless noises.
Tell me ONE instance where we have managed to get something for our people that has benefited us all? Nothing is the answer, we are not 1st class citizen in our own country and our treatment is visible for all to see.
Pakistan is our home but at the moment Pakistan being run by despots and criminals who are destroying our motherland, and still we sit and do nothing.
The northern areas where we live is OUR home but we treat as if we are outsiders and government and civil servants from Islamabad treat us with disrespect and as if we are unwanted guests that have come here.
PLEASE do something positive for change:
DO not elect any people who you have seen doing nothing in this term
Select and help groom our local good people, promote women
Make sure that our requirements is prioritized and approved by all communities
Get all sects and all local into central forum and focus on priority points
Isolate the so called political leader who do nothing
Refuse to go to meetings and jalsas where these politicians come
Always use mass media to make our points reach everyone
FINALLY ENCOURAGE RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE – WE USED TO LIVE SIDE BY SIDE, SO WHAT HAS CHANGED? OUTSIDERS WHO BRAINWASHED US AND NOW LIVE AMONGST US – WHO TEACH HATRED AND INTOLERANCE.
WE DONT NEED TO KILL AND HARM THEM BUT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THEM AND TALK TO THEM IN A MASS FORUM AND ASK COMMUNITIES TO DISCUSS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE GAINING OR LOSING FROM THIS BEHAVIOUR?
THE TIME HAS COME TO JOIN TOGETHER, FOR RIGHT REASONS AND FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THIER FUTURE AND FOR OUR HERITAGE AND CULTURE TO FLOURISH.
WE MAY BE SOFT AND NICE BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT WE BE SLAUGHTERED BY THESE VULTURES AND CRIMINALS.
WE PEOPLE ARE THE STRENGTH, NONE OF THESE PEOPLE CAN EXIST IF WE DONT SUPPORT THEM! REMEMBER THAT.