Islamabad, July 1: The United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) has expressed grave concern over the escalating human rights crisis in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). They are urging the United Nations (UN) and the international community to intervene immediately.
UKPNP spokesperson Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan accused Pakistani paramilitary forces of using advanced tactical drones and live ammunition against unarmed protesters, resulting in over 24 civilian deaths and hundreds of serious injuries.
On June 26, the UKPNP and the Swiss Kashmir Human Rights Commission (SKHRC) sent an urgent appeal to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the alleged actions against peaceful civilians.
Khan alleged that the Pakistani administration has completely shut down mobile networks and internet services. They have also sealed the region’s borders, halting the supply of essential items such as food, wheat flour, and necessary medications.
According to the UKPNP, many injured individuals are avoiding treatment due to the heavy presence of paramilitary forces in local hospitals, fearing arrest.
The UKPNP and SKHRC are demanding that the UN send an independent fact-finding mission to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings and lift the purported illegal restrictions imposed in POK. The organization emphasized that the international community cannot remain silent on this issue.
They claimed that communication services have been suspended since June 5, and the blockade in the region continues. This has severely impacted the supply of food, medicines, infant formula, and other essential goods, putting millions of lives at risk.
The UKPNP also alleged that injured individuals, the elderly, and those suffering from serious illnesses are unable to receive treatment. Furthermore, essential health services for pregnant women and newborns have also been disrupted.
Criticizing the federal government of Pakistan, the UKPNP claimed that opposition leaders and senators have also been barred from visiting POK.
The organization has called for the UN, international observers, human rights organizations, and foreign media to be granted unhindered access to affected areas, including Rawalakot. They stated, “Peaceful protests are a democratic right, and protesters should not be labeled as terrorists or criminals.”
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