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Speakers highlight HR violations in Kashmir on Int’l human rights day
Speakers highlight HR violations in Kashmir on Int’l human rights day


LAHORE: (Tuesday, December 10, 2019): Speakers at a seminar at Punjab University have said that serious violations of human rights in Indian Occupied Kashmir were being committed by Indian forces, which was a big question on criminal silence of so-called flag bearers of human rights. They were addressing a seminar to mark International Day for Human Rights organized by Punjab University Department of Gender Studies in collaboration with Ministry of Human Rights and Christian Care Foundation at Pervaz Hassan Environmental Law Auditorium here on Tuesday. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad, MPA Mahindar Singh Pal, MPA Ayesha Iqbal, Department of Gender Studies Chairperson Dr Raana Malik, Ministry of Human Rights Director General Lubna Mansoor, Director General Commerce Azhar Iqbal, senior analyst Salman Abid, faculty members and a large number of students participated in the seminar. “Where is the United Nations? Where are the advocates of human rights? Why international community is not taking serious notice of human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir,” asked PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad while addressing the seminar. “UN will be useless if it cannot implement its own resolutions on Kashmir and cannot ensure implementation of its charter on human rights in the valley,” the VC said, adding there was complete lockdown in the valley since 128 days. He said Kashmiris had no access to medicine and even they were not being allowed to bury their deceased in graveyards. He said that India was even not following the decision of her Supreme Court and the rights of Muslims, Sikhs and Christians were being usurped. Prof Niaz Ahmad said that we must prove ourselves as a responsible nation and raise voice over violations of human rights in Occupied Kashmir. He said that Pakistan’s human rights situation had improved manifold and we encouraged minorities in all sectors. He said that our Constitution provided protection to every citizen and whosoever violated rights of others, strict action was being taken on that violation as per law. MPA Mahindar Singh Pal said that Hazrat Muhammad SAWW had given the lesson of equality presenting the best charter of human rights in speech while performing Haj 1,400 years ago so there was no need to make new policies on human rights. He said that India had converted Occupied Kashmir into the largest jail of the world and violations of human rights in Occupied Kashmir demanded us mark Kashmir Day instead of marking International Human Rights Day. He said that he was wearing turban in green color today to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. MPA Ayesha Iqbal stressed the women to get education and help each other to ensure protection of their rights. Ms Lubna Mansoor said that young people were constructive agents of change and they must come forward to create awareness about human rights in Pakistan. Mr Azhar Iqbal said that our GSP Plus status was connected with human rights situation in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan had signed 27 conventions and treaties in the wake of GSP Plus status out of which seven were associated with human rights. He said that improvement in human rights situation could enhance Pakistan’s exports to foreign countries. Dr Bushra Rehman said that women must have awareness and comprehensive understanding about their rights in order to protect their rights. She said that due to ignorance about rights, others get chance to usurp rights of women. She urged the women to take good care of their health and become voice of the voiceless. Senior analyst Salman Abid said that we had the best human rights policies and laws but unfortunately we could not implement them in a proper manner. He called upon the need to develop a transparent and accountable mechanism to implement human rights policies and laws. He said that we must establish good and real perception about situation of human rights in Pakistan. Dr Raana Malik said it was necessary to ensure human rights for achieving sustainable development goals. She said that Hazrat Muhammad SAWW had instructed us to deal with women in a good manner. After the seminar, on the announcement of PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad, the participants of the seminar held a protest demonstration and organized a protest rally to condemn India over its atrocities and express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.