Published 08:39 IST, September 22nd 2020
India exposes 'Naya Pakistan' sham at UNHRC; lays bare 'military-run democracy' atrocities
During the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council at UN, India accused Pakistan of spreading imposturous political propaganda which is full of disinformation
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During the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations, India accused Pakistan of spreading imposturous political propaganda which is full of disinformation and gratuitous references about New Delhi's internal matters. India asked Imran Khan's 'Naya' Pakistan to "set its own house in order before it speaks about others."
"Yet again, though we are not surprised, Pakistan has twice chosen to divert the attention of the Council with its imposturous political propaganda full of disinformation and gratuitous references about India’s internal matters today," said the First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva Senthil Kumar at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council.
'So-called military-run democratic system'
Kumar further informed the assembly about the numerous instances of incitement to violence against journalists and human rights defenders in the country adding that it is especially worrying that the accusations of blasphemy which could put individuals at risk for violence.
"Just twelve days ago the OHCHR in its press briefing expressed serious concern about the numerous instances of incitement to violence – online and offline – against journalists and human rights defenders in Pakistan, in particular against women and minorities. Especially worrying are accusations of blasphemy – which can put accused individuals at imminent risk of violence," he added.
He further pointed out that human rights defenders in Pakistan are "being silenced every day" through intimidation, secret detention, torture, and enforced disappearances with the direct involvement of the Pakistani Government. "Targeting of journalists through threats, assaults, arrests instilling extreme fear and self-censorship exposes the fallacy of Pakistan’s so-called military-run ‘democratic’ system," the first secretary said.
'You may not return home'
Kumar said that law enforcement agencies, in Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, have been given a free hand and are authorized to arbitrarily detain any person, including those below the age of 18 years.
"Cries of Baloch sister Haseeba Qambrani for her brothers Hasaan and Hizbullah Qambrani, who have been forcibly taken away by the Pakistan military go unheard. Security forces in Pakistan have gained proficiency in unlawful killings and kidnapping of people in so-called counter-terrorism operations. This has been compounded by a weak judiciary in Pakistan which has consistently failed to protect even the basic human rights of the people in Pakistan."
Kumar said further. "This, Mr Vice-President, is the plight of daughters, sisters, and mothers in Pakistan. They say in Imran Khan’s Naya Pakistan (new Pakistan) – you may not return home," he added. With regard to the cases of enforced disappearances in Pakistan occupied parts of Kashmir, he said that it has become "a common standard of practice" adopted to silence anti-government voices.
08:39 IST, September 22nd 2020