| ‘Women were molested, raped during PoJK protests’ | | | Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 12: Prominent social activist and founder of the Washington-based Institute of Gilgit-Baltistan Studies, Senge Hasnan Sering, has alleged that women who participated in last year's protest movement in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) were subjected to sexual violence, including molestation and rape, by Pakistani security personnel.
Speaking about the ongoing unrest in PoJK, Sering claimed that many women have stayed away from the latest round of demonstrations out of fear of becoming targets of abuse by security forces.
"Last time, a large number of women participated in the agitation. Unfortunately, the modus operandi of the Pakistani military and paramilitary forces has been to abduct, molest and rape women," Sering alleged. "This time, many women have decided to stay away from the protests because they fear being subjected to such atrocities."
He said the current protest movement was gaining momentum and predicted that demonstrators would continue their agitation until their demands were met.
"I think the crowd is going to be huge, and this time they will not leave until their demands are fulfilled," he said.
Sering, regarded as one of the leading scholars and commentators on Gilgit-Baltistan and PoJK affairs, asserted that the growing protest movement across the region is unlikely to subside until demands for greater autonomy, local control over natural resources, and political reforms are addressed.
"There are thousands and thousands of protesters coming from all parts of the occupied territory," he said.
According to Sering, public anger intensified after the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)—a coalition of traders, students and civil society activists spearheading the movement—was declared a banned organisation on June 5.
"After the ban, people poured onto the streets in large numbers," he said, alleging that Pakistani authorities responded with force.
Sering further claimed that security forces had launched a widespread crackdown on protesters and civilians across PoJK.
"Pakistani law enforcement agencies, including Punjab Police and paramilitary forces, have deployed between 15,000 and 20,000 personnel brought in from Pakistan. They have targeted people across PoJK," he alleged.
He accused security personnel of raiding homes, looting property and intimidating residents during the crackdown.
The activist also alleged that medical professionals were being pressured not to provide treatment to injured protesters.
"They have gone to hospitals and threatened doctors and medical staff, warning them against treating injured demonstrators," he claimed.
Sering acknowledged that independently verifying casualty figures and reports of abuses remains difficult because of severe restrictions imposed in the region.
"At present, there is a complete shutdown. Phone and internet services have been suspended, and independent media is not being allowed to operate," he said.
Drawing a distinction between the current agitation and earlier protest movements, Sering argued that residents of PoJK have lost faith in assurances given by Pakistani authorities.
"People no longer trust the promises made by Pakistan. They believe they have been repeatedly misled, and that is why this movement is unlikely to lose momentum," he said.
The remarks come amid escalating tensions in PoJK, where protests over political rights, governance issues and economic grievances have triggered a confrontation between demonstrators and Pakistani authorities, leading to growing international concern over the human rights situation in the region. |
|
