Protesters ask UN to protect rights of suffering citizens

GENEVA: Human rights activists have called on Pakistani authorities to protect fundamental rights of all vulnerable communities regardless of their affiliations.

During a protest here outside the United Nations Office, leading campaigners urged the United Nations to play its role effectively in safeguarding the rights of citizens from various state and non-state actors. The protest continued for two hours and was attended by representatives of various human rights organizations and political parties.

Balochistan’s representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council Mehran Baloch said there has been an alarming rise in rights violations of the common people throughout the world in various forms. He said the UN charter on human rights insists on the member nations to respect its charter and guarantee fundamental rights of the people but sadly the powerful governments were involved in violation of the UN charter. Mehran Baloch said that the Balochistan government has not made serious efforts to restore the law and order situation. He alleged that the government operatives were involved in rights violations in the name of dealing with militancy. He said that rights campaigners and political activists have been targeted.

United Kashmir Peoples Party leader Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri said that the passage of women’s rights Bill in Punjab was a step in the right direction. He said that the federal government of Pakistan must do more to help those who have suffered on account of their political work and social belongings. He said rights of citizens in south Asian countries generally were disregarded by the government while a pattern was noted in regions all over the world where governments have become more draconian. Kashmiri said peace can be established only when citizens and nationalities are given their rights without the states resorting to curbing their freedoms and dignity.

Senge H. Sering, President of Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies, said that the UNHRC has a responsibility to promote peace and harmony in the world. “As one can realize that political tensions have engulfed the world and whether it is South Asia, the Middle East or the East China Sea, the UNO has a much larger responsibility to fulfill and it needs help from organizations and stakeholders like ours to lend a hand and support its mechanisms especially as they are valuable in holding the member states accountable,” he said. He said the UNHRC has a fundamental responsibility to attend to the marginalized, who need immediate help. “Peace in Gilgit Baltistan is vital for peace in entire South and Central Asia.”

Hidayattulah Bhutto and Lakhu Luhana said that the Sindh government has done nothing to improve the lot of local masses and landlords and powerful elements in inner Sindh controlled lives of local people. “The state has abandoned these people. The ruling elite is disaffected and doesn’t care for these people.”

Noordin Mengal said the UN has duty towards all nationalities and rights of all nationalities must be protected whether or not they have oil resources. He said methods of repression adopted by the governments have only emboldened resolve of the people yearning for their freedom.