THIS is apropos the BBC story published on June 2 ‘Uncovering Pakistan’s secret human rights abuses’. The report looks into Pakistan’s fight against militants as part of the post-9/11 ‘war on terror’ and also includes the accounts of locals and the top leader of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), Manzoor Pashteen.

The Pakistan government formally lodged a protest with the BBC for publishing baseless and one-sided stories. A 19-page dossier was handed over to the BBC over the story.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in its statement said the story carried conjectures implicating Pakistan Army without any proof, adding that the report is “in violation of journalistic ethos.”

This is not surprising, for it seems an Indian-funded report. The PTM is entirely dependent on India for its finances and is working against Pakistan’s interests.

On the other hand, the Indian government throughout these four decades has been suppressing innocent Kashmiris by illegal use of force, putting them into jails and interrogation centres under draconian laws.

Whenever any person demands a plebiscite, he is put behind the bars. The Indian forces in occupied Kashmir have been given a free hand to kill any person they choose.

While there is much talk about Pakistan’s alleged human rights violations, the world community keeps a mum on the situation in India-occupied Kashmir.

Afia Ambreen
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2019