London, Aug 22 (IANS) More than 70 British Parliamentarians have written to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging intervention over the worsening situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), while calling for an end to the bloodshed caused by Pakistani forces and measures to protect civilian lives.
The appeal comes amid the escalating violence and abuses in the occupied territory, where hundreds have been killed and injured in a brutal crackdown by Pakistani forces. The region also remains under a strict blockade, curfew, and a total communications blackout.
In the letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, the British lawmakers said, “Over recent months, reports of deaths and injuries, restrictions on communications, arbitrary arrests, disruption to essential supplies, and limitations on peaceful civic and political expression have caused considerable concern. We have also continued to hear from British Kashmiris who remain deeply anxious about the safety and wellbeing of relatives and loved ones in the region.”
They further welcomed the recent attention given by the UN to the dire situation in PoK.
“In particular, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for calm, meaningful and inclusive political dialogue, full internet access, respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into deaths arising from the unrest. We also note the Secretary-General’s Deputy Spokesperson’s subsequent statement that those responsible must be held accountable where people have been harmed for engaging in peaceful protest,” the letter mentioned.
Stressing the importance of these interventions, the lawmakers said that the alarming situation in PoK now requires sustained international engagement to help secure de-escalation, accountability and a peaceful way forward.
They called on the UN, through its appropriate bodies and good offices, to support efforts to end the bloodshed and prevent further loss of life, restore and protect access to communications, and ensure the unhindered movement of food, medicines and other essential supplies.
They also appealed to the UN to press Pakistani authorities to end arbitrary arrests, ensure due process and access to legal representation, and facilitate appropriate access for independent human rights observers and those able to support peaceful mediation in the occupied territory.
“These steps should be accompanied by respect for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and political participation. Human rights can never be disputed or compromised. Lasting stability cannot be achieved through restrictions or confrontation. It requires meaningful dialogue in which the rights and legitimate concerns of the Kashmiri people are heard and respected,” said the lawmakers.
–IANS
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