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
