UN silent spectator to repression: Rehman Malik

Islamabad: Former Interior Minister and Chairman Institute of Research and Reforms (IRR) Senator A. Rehman Malik has said that Kashmir and Palestine are two places where human rights are being blatantly violated and humanity is being humiliated on daily basis but the UN and other human rights organizations are silent spectators.

He addressed and chaired a colloquium on International Human Rights Day which was organized by Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution – IICR, in collaboration with the Institute of Research & Reforms – IRR and the Legal Forum for Kashmir – LFK. He said that United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and Human Rights Day is observed on December 10, every year. He said that the purpose of observing this day is to create awareness among the masses about their social, cultural and physical rights and to raise voice against all kinds of oppression, discriminations, human rights violations and injustices around the world. He said that from this forum, we urge the governments across the world to create equal opportunities for everyone without any discrimination and address the issues of inequality, exclusion and discrimination.

Rehman Malik said that unfortunately the UN itself is not following the principles of equality because the world powers have been given veto power which is discriminatory against the rest of the world. He said that the resolutions passed in favor of the world powers are implemented immediately while the resolutions passed in favor of the smaller nations are ignored and never implemented by the United Nations. He expressed that there is no justice with discrimination so the law of equality is not being followed by the custodian of peace, equality, justice and human rights –the UN.

The former interior minister said that Kashmir and Palestine are two places where human rights are being openly violated and humanity is being humiliated but the United Nations and other human rights organizations are silent spectators. He expressed that Heart bleeds to see the oppressed people of Kashmir and Palestine whose voices are going unheard by world powers including the United Nations. He said that UN Human Rights Commission has itself reported on 14th June, 2018 that alone, since January 1989 till 31st January 2018, 94,700 Kashmiris killed, 8,000 killed in custody, 11,050 women were gang-raped & 7,485 were injured by pellets.

He said that the government should have named today’s International Human Rights Day after Kashmiris but it is unfortunate that today the government has not organized any program on Kashmir which would have raised voice for Kashmiris all over the world. ? He said that the work done by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and PPP regarding Kashmir is historic adding wherever Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto went, she spoke for Kashmiris.

Senator A. Rehman Malik at the end moved a resolution urging UN to take notice of human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir which unanimously adopted. The resolution is reproduced “The Institute of Research and Reforms (IRR), Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR) and Legal Forum for Kashmir (LFK) and the participants, today on International Human Rights Day strongly condemn the unprecedented atrocities, discrimination, inequality and human rights violations by India against the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIOK). We demand the immediate release of all arrested and detained Kashmiri leaders, professionals and activities including the abducted young boys.

The forum appeals the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a UN Inquiry Commission to investigate human rights violations, discriminations and crimes against humanity in Jammu and Kashmir by Indian Forces. This forum unanimously recommends that the Government of Pakistan should move a resolution to the United Nation urging to implement the UNSC Resolutions of granting the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir.”

The colloquium was addressed by Justice Chowhan is chairman Legal Forum for Kashmir, Dr. Farzana Bari is human rights activist, Professor Dr. Sumeera, Mukhtar Baba a senior journalist from IIOK, Sheikh Mateen member APHC and Sabah Aslam, Founder and Executive DirectorIICR and was attended by number of human rights activists members of civil society and students from various universities. Ambassador Dr. Haissam Special Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and Mohamed Ifthikhar Aziz from Sri Lanka also addressed the seminar via video link. The speakers highlighted the importance of human rights day and urged the governments across the world to provide equal opportunities to all their citizens without any kind of discrimination. They emphasized that the principle of equality and non-discrimination is basicto human rights. They called on the United Nations and other human rights organizations to break their silence on human rights violations in Kashmir, Palestine and other disputed areas and play their role in rescuing them from oppression.