Human Rights Commission of Pakistan slams Pakistan’s ISI on gross human rights violation in Pak occupied Kashmir
Media Report
Feb. 18, 2005

The Human Rights commission of Pakistan slammed Pakistan on gross violation of human rights in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. It cited ISI the intelligence and covert operational wing of Pakistan in these allegations.

According to K.P.S Gill, The Northern Areas in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) have been split into five districts: Gilgit, Baltistan, Diamir, Ghizer and Ghanche. A population of 1.5 million inhabits a vast area of 72,495 square kilometers. Sparsely populated as the area is, the ethnic groups are varied – Baltees, Vashkuns, Mughals, Kashmiris, Pathans, Ladakhis and Turks, speaking a multiplicity of languages, including Balti, Shina, Brushaski, Khawer, Wakhi, Turki, Tibeti, Pushto and Urdu.

The sect-wise breakdown of population in the Northern Areas is:

Gilgit – 60% Shia, 40% Sunni;
Hunza –100% Ismaili;
Nagar – 100% Shia;
Punial – 100% Ismaili;
Yasin – 100% Ismaili;
Ishkoman –100% Ismaili;
Gupis – 100% Ismaili;
Chilas – 100% Sunni;
Darel/Tangir – 100% Sunni;
Astor – 90%Sunni, 10% Shia;
Baltistan – 98% Shia, 2% Sunni.

The Northern Areas are the only region in Pakistan whose status is not specified in the Constitution. While Kashmir is mentioned as a disputed territory, the Northern Areas find no mention in the relevant schedule, nor do they have an autonomous or constitutional status of their own. The people of the Northern Areas are, consequently, not citizens of Pakistan within the meaning of the Constitution and do not enjoy any fundamental, legal, political or civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The region is also out of bounds to foreigners and journalists, except for occasional tightly controlled guided tours selectively organised by the Army or the intelligence agencies. The Northern Areas have thus been under virtual Martial Law for over five decades. Under the existing Frontier Crime Regulations (FCR), framed during the colonial era, every resident of the region has to report regularly to local intelligence personnel and all movements from one village to another have to be reported to the authorities.

From being continuously "watched and monitored" by Pakistan's ISI to denial of basic fundamental rights including access to judiciary and fair trial, people in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have suffered gross violations of their rights, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

"The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has a strong presence in the region (PoK) according to information gathered by the HRCP and people continuously feel they are being watched and monitored," said a report released by a 11-member delegation of the commission which had been on a fact-finding mission to PoK.

"There are various constitutional limitations on Azad Kashmir's autonomy," the report said. "Defence, security, foreign affairs and currency are, for instance, outside the purview of the Azad Kashmir's government."

The government is also not having control over the state's natural and financial resources and decision on their use. On the status of security in the 13,297 sq kilometre stretches, the report said, the judicial powers of the people are undermined and rights to expression are violated.

"People feel that civil and political rights of Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC have been infringed," it said adding that under the guise of the ''''Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance,'''' which prohibits activities that are prejudicial to public safety, the fundamental freedom of the public is violated.

The report touches upon several heads, which include press freedom, status of women and children, education, health and employment, prisons, and militancy, which reflects on the human rights issues involved in these sectors and is published by the agency under the title ''''Visionaries''''. On the freedom of press in PoK, the report quotes journalists as complaining that their freedom of expression is restrained. "Journalists frequently face harassment at the hands of intelligence agencies, jihadis and the government," the report said citing cases of abductions and execution of journalists in the region.

The plight of women, however, brings a little cheer to the report, which claims that their literacy rate is 46-50 per cent higher than many of the neighbouring communities. However forced marriage, domestic violence is common evils with many who have non-Kashmiri fathers facing difficulties with their domicile rights. Children of PoK are denied their rights and do not receive priority in the government's policies, according to the report. Child labour is a common practice in PoK, it said.

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