New Delhi, Aug 24: Pakistan came under severe attack both at the just concluded United Nation sub-committee on human rights and its sidelines for gross violation of the rights in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and maltreatment of people and uprising in northern areas like Gilgit and Baltistan. Traditionally a battle ground for India and Pakistan for last seven years, the focus this time shifted to PoK with several international groups charging Pakistan with gross human rights violations in the occupied areas.
Several seminars held on the sidelines of the global meet were also critical of Pakistan government's trampling on the fundamental rights of people in northern areas including Gilgit and Baltistan.
The first seminar organised by World Peace Council focused on the Mangla dam being erected in PoK with JKLF leader Shabir Chaudhury pointing out that raising the height of the dam would result in watery grave for thousands of people in Mirpur.
Another senior separatist leader Shaukat Kashmiri called upon people in Jammu and Kashmir to join hands with their counterparts in PoK and northern areas in sensitising the international community about the excesses committed by Pakistan and its "callous attitude towards Kashmiris".
During a second seminar, Nazir Geelani of International Kashmir Alliance said that during last so many years, all that Kashmiris had achieved was building emotional memorials to their loved ones lost in militancy while losing the moorings of a tolerant and civil society.
Bureau Report