Geneva [Switzerland], April 8 (ANI): The United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) has strongly criticized the filing of a case against the Daily Jammu and Kashmir newspaper by the authorities in Pakistan-occupied Jammu-Kashmir (PoJK), viewing it as yet another disturbing example of Pakistan’s ongoing repression of press freedom in the area.
The UKPNP accused Islamabad of treating PoJK as a colony, where unelected Pakistani officials hold unchecked authority while neglecting the rights and aspirations of the local populace.
The party condemned the crackdown on journalists, publishers, and media personnel, asserting that they operate under constant danger from the deep state and extremist factions, creating an environment filled with fear and censorship.
The UKPNP also expressed serious concern regarding the persistent violations of the 1927 State Subject Rule in both PoJK and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB).
The UKPNP stated that strategic areas, tourist attractions, land, and public properties are being transferred to outsiders under the pretense of “green tourism,” “development,” and “defense,” jeopardizing the historical and legal rights of local residents.
Referring to earlier reports by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (from 2018 and 2019), the UKPNP highlighted these systemic issues and called on international organizations—such as the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists—to urgently acknowledge and address the deteriorating situation.
Urging Pakistan to meet its international obligations under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the party emphasized the importance of safeguarding the right to free speech, freedom of expression, and access to information.
“The compliant government in Muzaffarabad ought to recognize that the enforcement of discriminatory laws and breaches of the State Subject Rule are unacceptable,” the UKPNP stated, pledging to resist all oppressive measures aimed at civil society and the free press.
The party appealed to the global community—including the United Nations, the European Parliament, and the U.S. State Department—to hold Pakistan accountable and take immediate action to safeguard fundamental freedoms in the region. (ANI)
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