GILGIT BALTISTAN: Speech of Abdul Hamid Khan,Human Right Council 15th Session Geneva

Speech of Abdul Hamid Khan, Chairman Balawaristan National Front (BNF) in Human Right Council 15th Session Geneva.

Human Right Council 15th Session

Human Rights of Ethnic and Religious minorities in South and Central Asia, Room XXVII

23rd Sep 2010

Two covenants on human rights, civil and political rights, and social economical and cultural rights are cornerstone of all human rights, and freedom of choice is core concept in representative political system.

Balawaristan (Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan) which is disputed territory like rest of Jammu & Kashmir under the UNCIP resolutions of 13th Aug 1948 and 5th Jan 1949 with approximately 72,000 Sq KM area, with its 2 million populations. It is rich in culture, and resources, but is highly deprived and neglected part in the entire state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) due to its different and unique ethnical and cultural background in South Asia. The people of Indian controlled J&K have their all rights like rest of Indian states. In addition with special status under article 370 that gives it more powers in legislation, judicial, financial, cultural and executive powers as compare to other states of India. It, in spite of being constitutional part of India, state subject rule remains in force which protects its unique culture and economical rights. Similarly, State subject rule is intact in Pakistan occupied Kashmir too. Whereas this is not case with Gilgit Baltistan which is also disputed territory, but in order to settle foreigners, like Pakistani, Chinese and Afghan national in Gilgit Baltistan to change the ethnic demography and unique culture of this Area.

Apparently, Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) having all trappings of sovereign state such as so-called Prime Minster, President and Supreme Court but it is subservient to the KANA, Ministry of Islamabad and Kashmir Council. In spite of all these serious flaws and political disempowerment in POK, Gilgit Baltistan status is far weaker than PoJK too, and one can imagine its political status. The unchallengeable control of military and intelligence agencies in PoJK making local governance non-entity and irrelevant in the local administration and judicial affairs.

BUT

In Occupied Gilgit Baltistan (OGB), military holds the sole powers in every sphere of life and making mockery of local governance.

The PoGB, in spite of new package PPP government has recently announced in 2009, in the name of empowerment but issues of economic empowerment, and political autonomy of this region remains unattended and unaddressed after six and half decade of Pakistani occupation. Moreover, this entire exercise of package fails to provide any legal or Constitutional protection to this so-called administration and judiciary. The denial of State Subject Rule has had sever adverse impacts on the ingenious people and their culture who are facing invasion of foreigner, and taking up their businesses, jobs, lands and fomenting the ethnic and sectarian tension in the region. ISI manages to engineer sectarian riots to marginalize the political dissent voices and nationalist constituency, so the indigenous people are not united.

The newly established legislative Gilgit Baltistan Assembly lacks legislative, financial and executive powers which all lie with PoGB Council, headed by Pakistan Prime Minister along with 8 other Pakistani national who monopolize all powers.

The ethnic distinction of this region from rest of Pakistan, and religious diversity is viewed against the dominant Pakistani fundamentalist culture, and therefore, people are victimize and deprived from all socio, economic, cultural and fundamental rights.



This is why:


3. Pakistan disbanded our local Military used to be known as Gilgit Scouts, Northern Scouts and Karakorum Scouts, and re-organized it as NLI (Northern Light Infantry). The same NLI soldiers were used as mercenaries against India during Kargil war in 1999, in disguised of Mujahedeen.
4. due to different religious and ethnic character of the region, Islamabad deprived us from all basic rights including democratic rights.
5. There is no religious freedom for the indigenous people who are serving in Pakistan Army. Many solders of NLI were sent behind bars in Gujranwala cantonment in Pakistan when they offered prayers.

6. while Pakistan had to abandon construction of Kalabagh Dam, which is situated in its own legal territory, in Nawshehra, Pukhtonkhowa, due to the resistance from other three provinces. By ignoring people will Pakistan is determined to build the mega dam in a disputed territory of J&K in Diamar in spite of the opposition from the people. Two people (Saifullah from Gonar Farm of Chilas, and Fara Mulk of Chilas) were killed and 14 seriously injured in the cold blood by the Pakistani occupying regime on 18th Feb. 2010 when thousands of indigenous people protested peacefully against the construction of dam.

7. Pakistani occupying regime has been sending more and more troops and officials after killing innocent people of PoGB. From Deputy Commissioner to Police Superintendent, Home Secretary, Chief Secretary, Head, and Deputy Head of police, Force Commanders, Rangers, all are Pakistanis. Now it has started to malign local indigenous Police by its puppet Chief Minister to depute even low ranking Police officers and soldiers with a Pakistanis in order to ensure the strong control of Pakistan.
8. Government of Pakistan has violated Universal Declaration of Human Rights by serious discrimination with the indigenous employees like Police and other department. The Police in Pakistan is paid 20,000 Rupees while in PoGB is 8000 Rupees.

8. There is clear discrimination in salaries and promotion in NLI (Northern Light Infantry) than their counterparts in Pakistan Army.

According to the constitution of Pakistan, and UNCIP resolutions on Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan’s stance, PoGB does not fall in the legal jurisdiction of Pakistani courts and its constitution. In spite of this the occupying regime of Pakistan is awarding capital punishment to the indigenous people of this disputed land without giving them the access to appeal in any High Court and Supreme Court. The following are the victims of such arbitrary type court, which is nothing but extra judicial killing.

1 -Shkoor khan resident of Minor of Gilgit executed

2-Brather resident of Tangir of Diamar district awaiting execution
3-Shabeer Hussain resident of Astore, who is absconding.
The following are awaiting execution
1-Ehsanullah resident of Bargot
2-Juma Khan resident of Majini Mohalah
3-Naveed Husain resident of Bargo.
4-Shah Mir Hussaun resident of Majini mohalah
5-Attiq Hussain resident of Majini Mohalah
The following have been given life imprisonment.
1-Imran resident of Astore
2-Sakhi Ahmed khan resident of Hunza
3-Hussain ullah Baig resident of Jalalabad juram
4-Sheertullah resident of Yasen
5-Miro resident of Danyore, Gilgit.


RELIGIOUS discrimination IN PAKISTAN ARMY
(NLI Soldiers Jailed & Dismissed)


The religious discrimination is not confined to the civilian population but NLI which belonged to PoGB was not spared under the then, so-called, moderate General Musharraf’s rule. Following 15 NLI soldiers were sentenced and dismissed from their jobs because of offering their prayers.


three Havildars of 14 NLI Regiment, namely, Havildar Hassan, Havildar Skirchan and Havildar Ali were sentenced to imprisonment for one year through a summary court martial and were sent to Civil Jail Gujranwala. One Naik Clerk, two Lance Naiks and one Sepoy of 14 NLI Regiment were dismissed from service. Three Havildars were demoted to the rank of Sepoy. Five soldiers were given rigorous imprisonment for 28 days. The wives of these Havildars have appealed to Judge Advocate General Branch, General Head quarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi for ending these unjust jail terms and reinstating them to service. Their civilian liaison person is Mr. Javed Hussain (+92 346-5379308, +92 346-5379308). The Colonel is still enjoying full service benefits and perhaps will be given a discreet pat on his back as well. The details of the affected soldiers are as under:-

1. No. 2841716 Havildar Ali, Village Ghomo, Post Office Dambudas, Tehsil Rondu, District Skardu
2. No. 2843535 Havildar Mohammad Hassan, Village Kuardu, Tehsil and District Skardu
3. No. 2850425 Havildar Mohammad Skirchan, Village Triko, Post Office Dambudas, Tehsil Rondu, District Skardu
4. No. 2849981 Nail Javed Karim, Tehsil Hunza, District Gilgit
5. No. 2849381 Lance Naik Ali Khan, Village Chamqapah, Tehsil Shigar, District Skardu
6. No. 2847652 Lance Naik Nisar Hussain, Village Kundus, Post Office Dum Sum, Tehsil Meshabrum, Khaplu,District Ghanchhe.
7. No. 2850773 Sepoy Fida Ali, Village and Post Office Chhorkah, Tehsil Shigar, District Skardu


The names of the demoted soldiers are :

8. Havildar Azhdar of village Astak, Tehsil Rondu,Dist. Skardu

9. Havildar Fida of village Shoot, Tehsil Rondu, Dist. Skardu and

10. Havildar Qasim of Gultari, Dist. Skardu.
Those who have been tortured and given rigorous imprisonment includes:
11. Lance Naik Ibrahim - Gamba, Skardu,
12. Sepoy Ibrahim - Khaplu,District Ghanchhe.
13. Sepoy Asghar – Kuwardu,Dist. Skardu
14. Sepoy Fida Ali and Sepoy Feroz of Shigar.)


On the similar pattern of religious and ethnic discrimination against Local employees, Police, Administration personnel, Para-Military, Education, Health and other departments is common practice to harass the people and seek compliance to Pakistan’s occupation. Local higher officials equally face the variety of serious discrimination from Islamabad in salaries and promotion. For example, the salary of a Police constable in Pakistan is twenty thousand Rupees, and that in Gilgit Baltistan is eight thousand only.
10. Recruitment in all departments including Administration, Courts, Police, Education and other Civil and Military is made along sectarian basis.

Irony is that instead of helping the flood victims, Pakistani intelligence agency, the, has killed the following people recently to divert the attention from the flood affected people.

1. Imran from Khomer of Gilgit city. 2. Saeedulrehman. 3. Ikramullah from Kashrote, Gilgit city. 4. Qari Sadiq Akbar from Sherqilah Ghazer district. Many others were critically injured.

In spite of bringing the perpetrators to the justice, Pakistani rangers along with the Pakistani Intelligence agencies has begun to harass the indigenous innocent people in the pretext of the so-called search operation to find the killers. Though it’s a fact that mostly killings are carried out by Pakistani notorious intelligence agency directly or indirectly.

An example of another religious and ethnic discrimination, Sadiq Ali, son of Rajab Ali, age 30, an innocent man and son of a former district member from Jafarabad, Nagir, was arrested by city Police Gilgit, but took over by ISI and tortured seriously in a fake murder case, as a result he lost his life in the night of 26 June 2009.

This entire practice of discrimination, victimization, abuse of rights is geared to seek the local compliance to Pakistan’s illegal rule and control which majority of pollution doesn’t accepts.

In spite of huge natural resources, like Minerals like high quality Gold mines, Ruby, Uranium and other precious and semi precious minerals, Water resources, Tourism, Forest, The Karakoram Highway, Wild Life and Air Routes, mostly of the population live below poverty line, because the resources are not in the hands of the local people due to Pakistani occupation.

Following are the details of Flood Affected Districts, damages and destruction caused by Floods and mountain slides in Gilgit Baltistan in 2010

81605 People affected, 25470 displaced, 2830 houses destroyed, 501 water Channels washed away, 347 villages affected and 183 lost their lives. In spite of the International aid, Prime Minister of Pakistan who is also Chairman of the Gilgit Baltistan Council, announced 50 Million Pakistani Rupee which equals 446, 000 Euro which is not enough to provide support even a single village out of 347 of Gilgit Baltistan, even if that, miraculously gets 100% fairly distributed under the most corrupt regime.

In spite of giving aid to the affected people intelligence agency of Pakistan and Rangers are torturing and killing innocent people, so they are unable to protest like Indian side of Jammu & Kashmir.

Chinese and Pakistan were stealing our precious mines including Copper, Gold, Uranium and the minerals to use in their space technology, during this flood disaster. In the name of help for flood affected people, more Chinese soldiers are coming. This is the same process that Pakistanis have been repeating since 1970 and what British Empire too, had done in the name of East India Company in 17th century.

Abdul Hamid Khan
Chairman
Balawaristan National Front (BNF)
Head Office: Majini Mahla, Gilgit, Balawaristan (Pakistan & China Occupied Gilgit Baltistan)
Website: www.balawaristan.net
Email: balawaristan@gmail.com
balawaristan@hotmail.com
Ph: 0032 22311750