Muzaffarabad,
Jammu and Kashmir, 22 September, 2011:
Human rights
organization Press For Peace (PFP) on Thursday urged local government of Gilgit
Balistan (GB) to release political workers and lift ban on
political activities.
“In Pakistan
controlled Gilgit Baltistan (GB) police and other law enforcement authorities
are torturing political workers for voicing the rights of local people.”
In a press
statement issued on Thursday Press For Peace (PFP called upon local authorities
to stop crackdown against people and political workers.
According to
details compiled by Press For Peace
(PFP)police opened fire at the people affected by Ataabad Lake when they were
rallying for compensation during Chief Minister Mehdi Shah’s arrival on 11
August, 2011.
Last year’s
massive floods created Attabad Lake, in the Hunza Valley of northern Pakistan
where 242 houses, 135 shops, some
schools and several hundred acres of agricultural land destroyed and damaged
and victims of the lake have been protesting for compensation.
Gilgit
Balitistan government announced some financial payments for 457 families of the
lake, but over two dozens were not paid, who protested against the
discrimination during local Chief Minster Mehdi Shah‘s visit to the area.
It further
said that two people were killed when police opened fire on protestors. Later,
police also booked 37 agitators; seven are still in the custody of police and
other law enforcement agencies, which are allegedly persecuting the detainees.
PFP also
appealed to the higher judiciary of Pakistan to intervene to protect the
citizens and stop the abuse of power by the officials in Gilgit Baltistan.
“It is a basic
human right of every citizen to protest for rights however shooting protestors,
torture of activists and ban on political activities in Gilgit Baltistan
indicates that the government has failed to protect basic rights in the region,
it further said.
It urged the
government to pay the compensation to the affectees of Attaabad Lake.
Leave Your Comments