Rezvi from JAIL A PASSIONATE APPEAL FROM A PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE SYED HAIDER SHAH RIZVI FROM DISTRICT JAIL SKARDU: - My dear worthy flag bearers of human rights, political activists, journalists and the oppressed people of Gilgit-Baltistan, especially students! Through this letter, I want to communicate and present the factual position to the United Nation Organization, Amnesty International, Asia Watch, Human Rights Organizations of Pakistan and the World, print and electronic media connected journalist society; as well as the conscious people of the World and Gilgit-Baltistan. On 1 Sep 2003, I was illegally, unjustly and without telling any reason arrested by the orders of the Court of the person of Chief Court in Gilgit by cancelling my bail. Instead of taking me to jail, the police barged me into Gilgit City Police Station custody, where they kept abusing and beating me through out the night. After this disgraceful treatment, they took me to Gilgit Jail. I was arrested because I had declared that I will cross the unjust Line of Control in the Laddakh-Kargil area to protest against the continued shelling of the Pakistan and Indian troops, draw attention of world towards permanent settlement of the displaced refugees of the border areas of Baltistan, help in opening of Skardu-Laddakh/Kargil roads and ensuring participation of the representatives of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in the talks over Kashmir Dispute; being the most important party. But before this I was arrested so that through State subjugation and leashing of State terror, the voice of the people is suppressed. In the forlorn and forgotten/isolated region of Gilgit-Baltistan; police, civil bureaucracy and military might is used to full extend to keep the people slaves without any constitutional and human rights in a shameful colonized manner. At this point of time, because of world pressure; Pakistan is negotiating Kashmir problem with India. Though, the Kashmiris are being taken into confidence but till now nobody has bothered to consult the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and Laddakh-Kargil. This is in utter disregard to the United Nation�??s basic and supplementary resolutions on the dispute, which clearly mentions Gilgit-Baltistan dispu te along with the Kashmir dispute side by side but separately. We declare that if we are not taken into confidence while settling Kashmir dispute and if an alien solution is thrusted on us, we will never accept that. Therefore, we request the World community that suitable pressure be brought on India and Pakistan to include Gilgit-Baltistan and Laddakh-Kargil in the ongoing talks on Kashmir dispute so that these areas should also get right of self determination. As an alternative, Govt of Pakistan should reestablish our strangulated but legal Govt of Gilgit-Baltistan, established on 1 Nov 1947. In Gilgit Jail, Pakistan Secret Agencies have many a times threatened me of murder and without my consent they have brought tremendous pressure on me to change my loyalty and ideology. They have issued statements under my false signatures to the newspaper that I have joined Pakistan Peoples Party, Patriot. I very clearly declare that I have not joined PPP, Patriot because there is no mention whatsoever, in the constitution of Pakistan about Gilgit-Baltistan, therefore the presence and activity of any Pakistan based political and religious party over here is illegal, immoral and unconstitutional, besides, it is a violation of international laws also. At this point of time, the Intelligence Agencies are threatening me to put me in Chilas Jail as before, so that over there they can get me killed by some inmate by instigating sectarian motive. Before this through a conspiratorial plot, a sectarian clash was staged once I was in Gilgit Jail. This will provide them a plausible excu se. Beside me, the agencies are also pressurizing nationalist activist Basharat Shafi. They want to harass us, our parents and our nationalist friends. This has resulted in myself being caught up in many diseases including sugar. At this critical juncture, the Kashmir dispute is quickly nearing its logical conclusion, but there is a political deadlock prevailing in Gilgit-Baltistan. The political leaders have been lead astray through the lollypop of Northern Area Council and district councils. If we keep quiet at this point of time, then again our destiny will be hanging in balance like before. Therefore, I appeal to the students and people of Gilgit-Baltistan to shun all their petty prejudices and unite like 1947, for their national identity and rights. The passages between Muzafarabad and Srinagar, Khokrapar and Monabao, Lahore and Amritsar are opening, but nobody is considering opening of routes between Gilgit-Baltistan and Laddakh, Kargil and Kashmir. Therefore we demand that these routes should also be opened forthwith, so that the divided families of these regions can meet each other, mutual trade and brotherly ties should develop. We, the nationalists of Gilgit-Baltistan think that the rulers of Indo-Pak Sub Continent have turned these areas as a zone of their conflicting interests, therefore the UNO should ensure evacuation of foreign forces of India, Pakistan and China from Indian held Kashmir, Pakistan held Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Laddakh-Kargil, Kohistan, Chitral and Aksai Chin. After the evacuation of forces, two independent countries should come into being; one consisting of Jammu and Kashmir and the other named BOLOR consisting of present Gilgit-Baltistan along with Kohistan, Chitral, Aksai Chin and Taghdumbash Pamir. I have a firm conviction that if the problem of Gilgit-Baltistan is ignored and only the problem of Kashmir is solved then there are bright chances of again a war and a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. An independent peaceful buffer State of BOLOR is the only answer of ensuring peace between neighboring countries. I appeal that all bogus and false cases registered against hundreds of nationalists of Gilgit-Baltistan be withdrawn forthwith. Steps should be taken to safeguard the life and property of all nationalists of Gilgit-Baltistan, including me. I will be thankful to all those periodicals, newspapers and organization, who will publish my this appeal and pay attention to its contents. SYED HAIDER SHAH RIZVI DISTRICT JAIL SKARDU 16 JANUARY 2004
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