BANG-E-SAHAR

Weekly Bang-e-sahar Saturday, April 19—25, 2008

Brussels:  A two-day conference on constitutional, political and socio-economic conditions of Gilgit Baltistan was held at the European Parliament on April 8-9 under the banner of International Kashmir Alliance (IKA).

   International Kashmir Alliance had taken this initiative to highlight the plight and miseries of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and constitutional and political deprivation of these areas.

    Members of the European Parliament from all political groups, civil society organizations, journalists, intellectuals and academicians from all over the world including Kashmiri Diaspora participated in the conference.

    Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Secretary General of the Alliance, met several MEPs and civil society organizations to invite them to this conference. Prominent member European Parliament  and vice-chair Foreign Affairs Committee and sub-committee on human rights Baroness Emma Nicholson was guest of honor in both the sessions along with several other members European Parliament.

   Issuing a statement from Brussels, IKA Secretary General Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri said that since the European Parliament had approved a very strong resolution on Kashmir and democratic government installation in Pakistan it was time to knock at the doors of world’s most influential institutes like European Parliament to seek help ending difficulties of the people through peaceful and meaningful methods and supports by the world community.

    He said Gilgit-Baltistan was part and parcel of Jammu Kashmir and people of this region had suffered a lot under undemocratic rule of Pakistan.

Weekly Bang-e-sahar Saturday, April 19—25, 2008

LAHORE: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has said  national and international rights organizations should support the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in their efforts to attain basic rights which they have been denied for the last over six decades.

Speaking at the concluding session of the annual convention of the commission here, HRCP Gilgit-Baltistan coordinator Israruddin Israr said without a constitution the concept of human rights was a farce. He regretted that human rights organizations had been ignoring the situation in Gilgit-Baltistan, where people were still treated like slaves by outsiders.

He said instead of hoodwinking the people by announcing so called constitutional packages, the masses of the aea should be given right to rule so that they can decide their own fguture. Highlighting the socio-economic, political and cultural importance of the area, he said besides absence of a constituion, Gilgit-Baltistan was still  without proper facilities of basic life including education, health care, infrastructure and electricity, etc.

Mr Israruddin also highlighted  state sponsored harrasment of media persons and ban on political gatherings.

He said denial of constitutional and political rights to the people of  Gilgit-Baltistan even in the 21st was a matter of reflection for the international community. He said the silence of the local populace over the situation should not be construed as their weakness