PTI
Times of India
Posted on
Titl'Situation in PoK worse than in J&K' Author: PTI Publication: Times of India DatDec. 4, 2000 NEW DELHI: Some leaders from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have said the people in PoK were "worse-off" than their brethren in Jammu and Kashmir and blamed Pakistan for using the area for its "own vested interests". Terming PoK as a training ground for militants, these leaders said "development in that part of Kashmir is a distant dream and people are missing even most important necessities of life." A senior leader from PoK's Rawalakote area Mohammed Mumtaz Khan said "In PoK even the right hand does not know what the left is doing." Khan, who was here to attend a seminar, said the PoK area is full of militant camps and it seems the people in these areas were living in a "guerilla warfare school". Speaking on the developmental front in PoK, Khan said "The area lags by ages behind Jammu and Kashmir, where development had moved at almost the same pace as that of other cities in India." Khan, who has sought political asylum in Canada, says even the medical facilities in PoK were "pitiable and god forbid, if an epidemic broke in there, it could prove to be a catastrophe." Founding father of JKLF Nazir-ul-Haq feels that Pakistan has neglected the area and has only used the region for its own vested interests. About the continued opposition to giving peace a chance in the state by Pakistan, Mumtaz Khan said "there is deep-rooted psyche in Pakistan, instilled by its political leaders and military rulers, that Kashmir is the only cause for the people of Pakistan." The PoK leader, whose party stands for independent Jammu and Kashmir, also flayed Pakistan for gross violation of human rights in PoK and northern areas. Khan, who has been raising voice against these violations in the United Nations Human Rights Conference, said people from Kashmir should be allowed to cross over to PoK so that their perception about that area would end. Khan said "If I am asked to compare PoK with Jammu and Kashmir, the former lags ages behind." He said PoK has absolutely no powers and has only to follow the diktats from those at the helm of affairs in Islamabad. "The moment there is a change of guard in Islamabad, the PoK government also ensures effective changes as per the wishes of masters," Khan said. Nazir-ul-Haq also endorsed the views of slow development pace in PoK and said Pakistan has even illegally annexed the northern areas including Gilgit and Baltistan. Haq, who has formed Jammu and Kashmir national liberation front said his party along with the people of PoK would continue their struggle against it. Disputing the claims of militant groups like Lashker-e-Toiba (leT) and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, haq Said "These groups are determined neither to allow peace to return to Jammu and Kashmir nor to PoK as they would be jobless... But has anyone asked them why are you spreading terror. Islam religion disapproves of it." He said in the name of jehad (armed crusade) no one can continue to harm the interests of people as "This is the most heinous crime even as per Islam, whose warriors they claim to be." Mumtaz Khan also doubted the sincerity of Pakistan in implementing the UN resolution on Kashmir saying "For so many years, Pakistan has not even implemented its own Supreme Court order which said northern areas including Gilgit and Baltistan were a part of disputed Jammu and Kashmir and should be restored back." However, Pakistan continues with its earlier order of annexing these areas and has even implemented draconian Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Law to quell any uprising in the region. He said his party was of the belief that an independent struggle was more needed in PoK rather than Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan had completely spoiled the area by setting up training camps for militants. PTI ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ofbjp.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A worldwide community of BJP's friends, supporters and activists: Friends of the BJP - Worldwid http://www.ofbjp.org/fob featuring Monthly Chat: Second Saturday of every month, 10 AM Eastern US time (calculate local time accordingly) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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