UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has backed High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk\u2019s call for a prompt, impartial inquiry into the killings of protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).<\/p>\n
United Nations: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backs his human rights chief\u2019s call for an impartial inquiry into the killings of protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), his Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Haq said that there should be accountability if peaceful protesters were harmed.<\/p>\n
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called for \u201cprompt, thorough and impartial investigations into all deaths that have occurred due to the unrest, both among protesters and members of security forces\u201d during the popular protests against election irregularities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.<\/p>\n
Asked at his briefing about Turk\u2019s statement last month, Haq said, \u201cThe Secretary-General supports the work of his High Commissioner, and we certainly hope that the pleas made by Volker Turk will be listened to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that all authorities everywhere allow for peaceful protest, and certainly that is the case here\u201d in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the UN Chief\u2019s Deputy Spokesperson added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there have been people harmed for engaging in peaceful protest, there needs to be accountability for that,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
About 50 protesters have been killed in the recent protests by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) against Pakistan reserving seats for outsiders in the elections to the local legislature.<\/p>\n
The Human Rights office said, \u201cThe Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) \u2014 a movement behind the protests comprising traders, transporters, students, lawyers, activists and others \u2013 has been banned under anti-terrorism laws for allegedly threatening public order and security.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the group\u2019s leaders have subsequently been arrested. The criminalisation of a civil society organisation and imposition of strict limitations on gatherings raise serious concerns about infringements on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Turk called for giving the detained JAAC leaders \u201caccess to legal representation and their families\u201d and said, \u201cTheir rights to due process and fair trial must be fully guaranteed,\u201d according to his Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence.<\/p>\n
The Security Council Resolution 40 from 1948 demands that Pakistan withdraw its forces and citizens from the area it occupies.<\/p>\n
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