Activists from various parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) gathered in Bagh district and carried out a protest rally to demand an end to Pakistan's 'illegal'&nbsp;and 'forceful occupation'.

The protests were held as part of a two-day convention of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP).

Activists raised concerns over the construction of dams and other projects, which, they claim, are aimed at excluding indigenous people from local development.

UKPNP's former central secretary of foreign affairs, Jamil Maqsood, said: "They (protesters) demand the government of Pakistan to stop construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam in Gilgit Baltistan and the violation of state subject rule in Gilgit Baltistan and some parts of Pakistan occupied Kashmir".

He added, "The Party leadership also expressed their concern that the government of Pakistan is violating State Subject Rule in Rawalakot, Kotli, Bagh, Neelum, Muzaffarabad and other areas and allocating land to its retired army-men, bureaucrats and businessmen".

UKPNP's exiled chairman Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri addressed the activists in Bagh via telephone and asked protestors to urge Pakistan to vacate the territory and establish local authority by reviving the fundamental rights of the indigenous people.

In an exclusive interview, Maqsood told ANI, "The activists demanded Pakistan to release all those activists languishing in the prisons, including Baba Jan, who was jailed for peacefully demanding local development and the empowerment of local people in Gilgit Baltistan and Muzaffarabad."

The activists, during the protest, voiced their thoughts about serious environmental concerns in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan due to the construction of dams and other projects.

"The diversion of Neelum-Jhelum, which is known as Kishan Ganga in Jammu and Kashmir, has created a drastic environmental effect and affected the people in Muzaffarabad. We are of the view that Pakistan is establishing such dams that are not benefiting the local people. They are not empowering the local youth and they remain unemployed and unable to find a livelihood," Maqsood noted.

The activists also opposed the construction of the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Gilgit Baltistan.

Jamil said, "The UKPNP on international forums and with the (support of) regional political powers and regional governments are also demanding that they should use their influence to stop Pakistan from creating such a hostile environment after China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is not a pro-people project. We are of the view that the project is pro-military and it has a strategic interest. It is not directed towards developing local people in Gilgit Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Balochistan or elsewhere."

The activists committed to continuing their struggle against the Pakistani occupation of PoK and Gilgit Baltistan.

Maqsood represented the activists'&nbsp;beliefs and said, "The government of Pakistan should abide by its international obligation and UN resolutions which ask her to vacate the territory to push back all the tribal invaders and to vacate its military from the region, but nevertheless, Pakistan has consolidated its occupation on both regions and exploitation of people and natural resources still continues to take place."&nbsp;

Activists from various parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) gathered in Bagh district and carried out a protest rally to demand an end to Pakistan's 'illegal' and 'forceful occupation'.

Activists from various parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) gathered in Bagh district and carried out a protest rally to demand an end to Pakistan's 'illegal' and 'forceful occupation'. The protests were held as part of a two-day convention of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP). Activists raised concerns over the construction of dams and other projects, which, they claim, are aimed at excluding indigenous people from local development. UKPNP's former central secretary of foreign affairs, Jamil Maqsood, said: "They (protesters) demand the government of Pakistan to stop construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam in Gilgit Baltistan and the violation of state subject rule in Gilgit Baltistan and some parts of Pakistan occupied Kashmir". He added, "The Party leadership also expressed their concern that the government of Pakistan is violating State Subject Rule in Rawalakot, Kotli, Bagh, Neelum, Muzaffarabad and other areas and allocating land to its retired army-men, bureaucrats and businessmen". UKPNP's exiled chairman Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri addressed the activists in Bagh via telephone and asked protestors to urge Pakistan to vacate the territory and establish local authority by reviving the fundamental rights of the indigenous people. In an exclusive interview, Maqsood told ANI, "The activists demanded Pakistan to release all those activists languishing in the prisons, including Baba Jan, who was jailed for peacefully demanding local development and the empowerment of local people in Gilgit Baltistan and Muzaffarabad." The activists, during the protest, voiced their thoughts about serious environmental concerns in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan due to the construction of dams and other projects. "The diversion of Neelum-Jhelum, which is known as Kishan Ganga in Jammu and Kashmir, has created a drastic environmental effect and affected the people in Muzaffarabad. We are of the view that Pakistan is establishing such dams that are not benefiting the local people. They are not empowering the local youth and they remain unemployed and unable to find a livelihood," Maqsood noted. The activists also opposed the construction of the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Gilgit Baltistan. Jamil said, "The UKPNP on international forums and with the (support of) regional political powers and regional governments are also demanding that they should use their influence to stop Pakistan from creating such a hostile environment after China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is not a pro-people project. We are of the view that the project is pro-military and it has a strategic interest. It is not directed towards developing local people in Gilgit Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Balochistan or elsewhere." The activists committed to continuing their struggle against the Pakistani occupation of PoK and Gilgit Baltistan. Maqsood represented the activists' beliefs and said, "The government of Pakistan should abide by its international obligation and UN resolutions which ask her to vacate the territory to push back all the tribal invaders and to vacate its military from the region, but nevertheless, Pakistan has consolidated its occupation on both regions and exploitation of people and natural resources still continues to take place."

Activists urge Pakistan to end 'illegal occupation' of PoK, Gilgit Baltistan

Political activists from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) carried out a protest rally in Rawalpindi city against the Karachi Agreement.

Executed on April 28, 1949, between the Government of Pakistan and the then Government of Azad Kashmir, the Karachi Agreement was very much in Pakistan's favour and deprived the people of PoK of significant powers and responsibilities.

Jamil Maqsood, a leader of United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), Brussels said, "While critically analysing the agreement, we get to know that Pakistan was made responsible for the administration of the region, not for the development of the region. Not even a single point is mentioned about Pakistan establishment developing the region. You took control of a large area and declared 4,000 square miles of area independent (Azad Kashmir), while you gave control of the 28,000 square miles to Pakistan without taking assent of the legitimate local administration."

The 1949 Karachi Agreement was essentially formulated by Islamabad to ratify Pakistan's administrative control over the region without consulting any shareholder of the region.

Pakistan has since then been perpetrating worst forms of humanitarian crimes on the people of PoK and Gilgit Baltistan.

"When Pakistan took control of this region, then instead of giving people their fundamental, political, social, democratic and national rights, they declared the name of the region as Northern areas. This region was removed from our syllabus and was added to Pakistan and a narrative was built for the people of Pakistan that this region was being added to Pakistan and this is not even remotely connected with the reality," Maqsood added.

The people in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan are now demanding an immediate abolishment of the agreement with all rights conferred to citizens in letter and spirit.

"We reject all aspects (of agreement) in fact, the whole Karachi Agreement. Today, the circumstances are completely different from the time when the agreement was signed and if the Pakistani government is really serious about resolving the issues of these two regions (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan), then it should abolish both the councils of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and merge them into one with an appropriate representation from both regions," Maqsood said.

The people of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan have suffered decades of discrimination and persecution, owing to skewed policies and agreements framed by Islamabad.

There have been massive social and economic depredations in the region at the hands of state-sponsored machinery. It is high time that Pakistan takes cognizance of the growing resentment amongst the people of the region before it transmutes into something unmanageable. 
&nbsp;

Executed on April 28, 1949, between the Government of Pakistan and the then Government of Azad Kashmir, the Karachi Agreement was very much in Pakistan's favour and deprived the people of PoK of significant powers and responsibilities

Political activists from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) carried out a protest rally in Rawalpindi city against the Karachi Agreement. Executed on April 28, 1949, between the Government of Pakistan and the then Government of Azad Kashmir, the Karachi Agreement was very much in Pakistan's favour and deprived the people of PoK of significant powers and responsibilities. Jamil Maqsood, a leader of United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), Brussels said, "While critically analysing the agreement, we get to know that Pakistan was made responsible for the administration of the region, not for the development of the region. Not even a single point is mentioned about Pakistan establishment developing the region. You took control of a large area and declared 4,000 square miles of area independent (Azad Kashmir), while you gave control of the 28,000 square miles to Pakistan without taking assent of the legitimate local administration." The 1949 Karachi Agreement was essentially formulated by Islamabad to ratify Pakistan's administrative control over the region without consulting any shareholder of the region. Pakistan has since then been perpetrating worst forms of humanitarian crimes on the people of PoK and Gilgit Baltistan. "When Pakistan took control of this region, then instead of giving people their fundamental, political, social, democratic and national rights, they declared the name of the region as Northern areas. This region was removed from our syllabus and was added to Pakistan and a narrative was built for the people of Pakistan that this region was being added to Pakistan and this is not even remotely connected with the reality," Maqsood added. The people in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan are now demanding an immediate abolishment of the agreement with all rights conferred to citizens in letter and spirit. "We reject all aspects (of agreement) in fact, the whole Karachi Agreement. Today, the circumstances are completely different from the time when the agreement was signed and if the Pakistani government is really serious about resolving the issues of these two regions (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan), then it should abolish both the councils of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and merge them into one with an appropriate representation from both regions," Maqsood said. The people of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan have suffered decades of discrimination and persecution, owing to skewed policies and agreements framed by Islamabad. There have been massive social and economic depredations in the region at the hands of state-sponsored machinery. It is high time that Pakistan takes cognizance of the growing resentment amongst the people of the region before it transmutes into something unmanageable.

Activists demand abolition of 1949 Karachi Agreement which gives Pakistan control over PoK

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Activists urge Pakistan to end 'illegal occupation' of PoK, Gilgit Baltistan

Activists demand abolition of 1949 Karachi Agreement which gives Pakistan control over PoK