Destroy terror camps in PoK and Gilgit: Exiled Kashmiris tell Pakistan

Exiled Kashmiri leaders have asked Pakistan to destroy all terror camps existing in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan at an event held in Torino, Italy.

Held under the aegis of United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), the event was held in memory of Arif Shahid, a leader of All Parties National Alliance, who was brutally murdered in Rawalpindi in May 2013.

The participants held deliberations on Pakistan's nefarious plans to deny basic rights and human rights to people in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Kamran Ayub, General Secretary of the United Kashmir People's National Party, put forth a set of demands which includes "granting the people of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan their full rights. All illegally detained activists and leaders should be released, Revenue earned from PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan be spent upon the development of the region, The environmental challenge that aroused due to changing the flow of Neelum-Jhelum and Diamer-Bhasha Dam should be rectified, Withdrawal of the National Action Plan, All terror camps in the region should be destroyed, speedy justice in cases related to human rights violations, end to religious extremism among others."

Apart from these grave issues, the leaders also highlighted the domestic and international efforts to prevent growing intrusion and increased influence of Pakistan and China in plundering of natural resources and constructing mega projects in Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK.

Jamil Maqsood, Secretary, Foreign Affairs of the UKPNP, said "The CPEC project was started to build infrastructure, but now, it is only building dams. The Neelum-Jhelum and Diamer-Bhasha Dam have been constructed, but they haven't started producing any electricity yet."

Pakistan wishes to declare Gilgit-Baltistan as its fifth province to clear the path for China-Pakistan economic corridor. The project has several environmental ramifications and the consensus of the locals was not taken.

And hence to counter the same, leaders and activists are trying to thwart any such plan of the Pakistan regime.