SYSTEMATIC USE OF TORTURE & HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN PAKISTAN

Geneva March 18, 2024:

An International Conference was held in Geneva Switzerland on March 18, 2024 on the sidelines of  of 55^th Session of  United Nations Human Rights Council. The conference titled Systematic use of Torture & Human Rights Violations of Ethnic Minorities in Pakistan was attended by the leaders and activists of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Pashtun-Afghan leaders, diplomats, International Observers, Human Rights Defenders, journalists and leaders of all oppressed nations from Pakistan to discuss in details the increase in terrorism, arbitrary detentions and torture  in Pashtun-Land and find ways & means to force Pakistan to abide by International Human Rights Law and relevant UN conventions and treaties.

Pakistan use torture as a tool to instill fear and stifle freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly of ethnic minorities. Despite the fact that Pakistan is signatory to the UN Convention against torture, she uses torture systematically against Human rights defenders, journalists and activists of Pashtun ethnic minority.

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The speakers and experts from the region with direct experience with Human rights situation in Pakistan discussed in detail the prevailing human rights situation in Pakistan in areas of Enforced Disappearances, Extra-Judicial Killings, Arbitrary Detentions & Torture.

 ⁠Dr. Naseer Dashtee Chairman (BHRC) Human rights violations of Pashtuns, Balochs, Sindhis and Kashmiris in Pakistan has a context. This state was created by colonial powers to rob us of our language, history and traditions and subsequently syllabus was created to rob us of our national identity.

Lahku lohana Secretary General (world Sindhi Congress) in his emotional speech pointed towards an important issue and said that we Pashtuns, Balochs, Kashmiris and Sindhis are not minorities but historical nations who existed on this land for thousand of years. We are nations without a state but we are subjugated nations under Pakistan.

⁠Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri  Chairman (UKPNP) said that we are not minorities but historical nations. Kashmir was a historical state but Pakistan divided it. Pakistan was created to protect the interests of British colonialism. Pakistan does not fulfil the requirements of a nation state. Rather it is made up of different nations which are oppressed by Pakistan.

DR JOSEPH CHONGSI Director Centre for Human Rights and Advocacy said that as member of United Nations and signatory to Convention against torture Pakistan has obligations to fulfil in areas of basic fundamental human rights. He said that torture is equivalent to Genocide, a war Crime and Crime against humanity. Those responsible should be brought to justice.

LEVSA Bayankhail Women Rights Activist & President PTM Denmark pointed towards an important issue of absence of Pashtun women activists in Pashtun society. She said that we cannot have a prosperous , just and democratic society until or unless women are not given their due rights and their basic fundamental rights are not protected.

Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan Spokesperson of UKPNP Said this is high time that International Community come forward to protect Pashtuns, Sindhis, Kashmiris and Balochs and make Pakistan accountable. He further said that the International Community is not listening to the historical nations of Pakistan.

Habib Rahman Zamankhil President of PTM France said we have gathered here to inform the world and human rights organization that the terrorist Army of Pakistan is violating the rights of oppressed nations like Pashtuns, Sindhis and Balochs. Pakistan is looting and plundering the resources of other nations living in Pakistan.

⁠Mashriqwal Kaihan President PTM Italy Said PTM conferences are for the protection and freedom of Pashtun nation. We need to woke up the sleeping nation. Pakistan is a terrorist sponsor state but still International Community support it which should be stopped.

Malik Bazai Co-Ordinator PTM Europe thanked the participants of the conference and said the fascist Pakistani state is involved in the genocide of Pashtun Afghans and PTM has stood against this tyranny and we are further organizing ourselves to protect our interests.

Biro DIAWAR Secretary General of Interfaith International said that Pashtuns should work closely with UN Committee on Torture. We need to understand the UN procedures to submit cases of torture to be recognized/considered and taken up with the state of Pakistan.

Fazal-ur Rehman AFRIDI President IRESK & Principal Representative at United Nations of Tumuku Development and Cultural Union discussed the issue of systematic torture used by Pakistan to stifle the freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly of Pashtun ethnic minority in Pakistan. Special attention was brought to the harassment, intimidation and torture in custody of renowned Human Rights Activist and leader of PTM Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen during his 3 months incommunicado detention. Two dozens more PTM atavists have been forcibly disappeared and tortured by Pakistan. We request the international Community to take up this  issue of  torture with the state of Pakistan which is a signatory to the UN Convention against Torture (signed the convention on April 17, 2008 and ratified on June 3, 2010), to find the culprits and punish them.