Several slogans echoed outside the United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland, after the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) rallied and called out Pakistan for various acts of terrorism towards the minority communities. They accused the Pakistan army of sponsoring terrorism and carrying out gross human rights violations. Similarly, Sindhi political activists also slammed Pakistan for targeting minorities like Hindus and exploiting the natural resources in Sindh province. The Pashtuns from Pakistan and Afghanistan rallied from Lake Geneva to Broken Chair in front of the United Nations. The protesters raised slogans against Pakistan Army for carrying out genocide of Pashtuns by supporting terrorist outfits like the Pakistani Taliban.
The Afghans accused Pakistan of targeting Afghan refugees and carrying out atrocities on them.
Pashtun Human Rights Activist, Fazal-ur-Rehman Afridi said that the Pashtuns are facing a tough time in Pakistan. He said that the Pakistani Army commits gross human rights violations such as extra-judicial killings, torture and enforced disappearances
Speaking to ANI, he said, “You know Pashtuns are going through a very critical period of their life. You know the Pakistani Army is committing gross human rights violations like extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture, but this time we are concentrating on one of the most important points, that is the systematic use of torture by Pakistan Army.”
Afridi added that in the past few months, PTM activists have been tortured in custody and then forced to publish videos against PTM.
“For last few months , they are arresting the activists of PTM and then torturing them in custody and then forcing them to publish the videos against PTM…that is an important issue as UN convention on torture states that no torture is acceptable in any way,” he added.
The protesters were carrying banners saying “Pakistan Stop Ethnic Cleansing of Sindhi Hindus”, “Cutting Karoonjhar is a crime against nature, Sindh and Humanity” and “Millions of Sindhi flood victims remain abandoned.”
Lakhu Luhana, Secretary General of the World Sindhi Congress said that the state was collapsing and the human rights violations were getting worse.
Speaking to ANI, Lakhu Luhana said, “There are 1000 issues. What is happening in Sindh, as the state is collapsing? There is literally no other institution, other than intelligence. They are becoming more aggressive, more ruthless, more cruel. So the human rights situation on every front is worsening. The forced abductions, enforced disappearance, forced conversions of Sindhi Hindu girls.”
Luhana further said that the Pakistani government is sponsoring gangs.
“The Pakistan government is sponsoring gangs…they come, kidnap people, and even when the ransom is given, they are not released. These gangs come on social media and chant ‘Army Zindabad,’ so you know where they are coming from,” he added.
The protesters also put up pictures of the Sindhi political activists who have been abducted, tortured and killed by Pakistani secret agencies. Pictures of Sindhi Hindu girls were also showcased who were forcibly abducted and converted to Islam.
He claimed that the government of the country was taking over the land of the poor who were then left to fend for themselves. Many are malnourished and poverty-stricken. He said that the government has grabbed around 1.3 million acres of land.
“They are taking our lives because the land is our lives. They decided they would take 1.3 million acres of land. People are dying…of hunger, of malnutrition, of poverty. Recently there were floods, it is the worst situation, and as rogues, they are not ready to listen. They don’t care. They don’t bother, " Luhana said.
Luhana called for international communities to put pressure on Pakistan to stop the atrocities.
“Therefore, we request the international community and all the powers to press Pakistan to stop these crimes. They should act now before it’s too late,” Luhana added.