Geneva, Switzerland – In a compelling intervention during the 54th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Junaid Qureshi, a distinguished research analyst and prominent Kashmiri activist, made a fervent plea regarding the dire situation facing the inhabitants of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He passionately conveyed that the repressive political climate imposed by Islamabad has coerced many to seek refuge in foreign lands.
Qureshi disclosed a tragic incident that shook the international community’s conscience, revealing, “In the Mediterranean Sea, a migrant boat, bearing 750 souls, tragically capsized this June. Regrettably, this calamity claimed the lives of at least 300 individuals, including 135 hailing from Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir.”
Lamenting the recurrent nature of such heart-wrenching events, Qureshi expounded, “These tragedies have regrettably become a recurring nightmare for Pakistanis who perceive no end to the relentless economic, political, and climatic crises that compel them to undertake perilous journeys to foreign shores.” He also serves as the director of the prestigious Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies.
Notably, a disproportionately large number of youth from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir find themselves embarking on such treacherous odysseys due to dismal living conditions and a stifling atmosphere perpetuated by an oppressive regime.
“The Jammu and Kashmir issue, while undeniably complex, cannot be obscured by Islamabad’s undue claims, as the princely State had legally acceded to India. The fundamental question that arises is whether an occupying power should be permitted to retain territory devoid of legal title, dubbing it ‘Azad’ or ‘free’ while treating it as a colony to be exploited and ultimately impoverishing its populace through exploitative policies and regrettable neglect, consequently compelling mass emigration solely for survival,” Qureshi passionately conveyed to the esteemed UN assembly.
Qureshi also underscored that human trafficking continues to thrive as a harrowing ‘industry’ within Pakistan, sustained by the patronage of unscrupulous politicians and officials. This alarming fact was corroborated by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, which unequivocally urged the State to assume accountability “for its role” in the tragic incident off the shores of Greece. (ANI)
