PoK protests reflect Pak's oppression: India seeks to hold Islamabad accountable
The government on Tuesday asserted that the ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were a direct result of Pakistan's decades-long "systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental
The government on Tuesday asserted that the ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were a direct result of Pakistan's decades-long "systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights and administrative oppression" and called on the international community to hold Islamabad accountable for the human rights abuses in the region. Responding to a question at a weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the unrest in PoK stemmed from longstanding grievances of the local population living under what India described as Pakistan's "illegal and forcible occupation". Read Full Story "The ongoing protests in PoK are a direct consequence of Pakistan's decades-long systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights, and administrative oppression in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation," Jaiswal said.
PoK has witnessed widespread protests in recent weeks over rising living costs, administrative neglect, political discrimination and atrocities against minorities. Reports have also emerged of clashes between protesters and security forces, with allegations of police brutality resulting in deaths and injuries. Accusing Pakistan of suppressing dissent instead of addressing public concerns, Jaiswal alleged that the Pakistani state had resorted to excessive force against demonstrators. "Rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the local populace, the Pakistani state has responded with extreme police brutality, including against helpless women and children, blocking essential supplies, including food and medicine, enforcing internet blackouts, and deploying lethal force against unarmed civilians that has resulted in tragic fatalities," he said.
The MEA spokesperson said India expects the global community to take note of the situation and hold Pakistan responsible for what he termed "egregious abuses and misdeeds" in PoK. "We expect the international community to hold Pakistan fully accountable for these egregious abuses and misdeeds," Jaiswal added. The latest wave of unrest was triggered by opposition to the reservation of 12 seats in the Pak-occupied Kashmir's Assembly for refugees from Jammu and Kashmir residing elsewhere in Pakistan. Protesters argue that the arrangement dilutes the political voice of local residents. This snowballed into a mass anti-government movement, with protesters raising a range of grievances, from corruption and poor governance to soaring inflation and economic hardship.
The BriefWire