Published 09:02 IST, September 26th 2020
After European think-tank's 'Why is Pakistan a member?', PTM leader exposes ISI at UNHRC
Thousands of displaced persons in last 18 years are still forced by Pakistan to live in miserable conditions in most tribal areas, a PTM leader said at UNHRC
A Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader on Friday drew the international community’s attention towards the treatment meted out against 40 million Afghan-Pashtuns living in Pakistan and said that the recent brutal attack on Zeba Safi (also known as Malala - but different from Malala Yousafzai) in Momand district of Pakhtunkhwa by unknown assailants was likely done by Pakistan’s secret military service.
"Thousands of displaced persons in the last 18 years are still forced by Pakistan to live in miserable conditions in most tribal areas," the PTM leader said at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. “Zeba Safi was attacked by unknown persons who were likely military secret service,” he added.
The PTM leader slammed Pakistan for supporting and sponsoring terrorist organisations on both sides of the Durand Line. He held the country responsible for the miseries and genocide of Afghan-Pashtuns. “Pashtuns are living in Pakistan as slaves. They demand the right to self-determination guaranteed under the UN Charter”, he added.
European think-tank exposes Pak’s terrorism
On Thursday, Imran Khan's 'Naya' Pakistan was once again humiliated on the international platform for failing to act against terrorism and supporting it. Veronica Ekelund, the Research Analyst at the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), speaking at the 18th Meeting of the 45th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission said stated several instances of Pakistan admitting to protect terrorists on its terrorists.
"Respect for Human Rights is universal and paramount and it applies to all countries including Pakistan. Terrorism inherently undermines the promotion and protection of Human Rights. Talking to CNN in February 2019, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi admitted that UN-designated terrorist and chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad Masood Azhar resides in Pakistan. To BBC in March 2019, Mr Qureshi confessed that his government and Jaish-e-Mohammad maintained official contact," she said.
"In July 2019, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan told the US Institute of Peace in Washington that his country hosts 40,000 terrorists. In June 2020, Imran Khan referred to Al-Queda leader Osama Bin Laden as a martyr in the country's Parliament. Last month, Pakistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the presence of UN-designated terrorist Dawood Ibrahim on its territory," she added.
Veronica further slamming Pakistan in her intervention said, "Madam President, there is no need to elaborate that Pakistani officials have time and again confessed the country continues to be a safe haven for terrorists and terrorist organisations. The UN Security Council's consolidated list of terrorist individuals and entities included a hundred and forty-six entries from Pakistan. With all due respect, I am compelled to ask, why is Pakistan still a member of this council?"
(With inputs from agency)
Updated 09:02 IST, September 26th 2020