Mohajirs welcomes India's statement in UN human rights session: Nadeem Nusrat

The spokesperson of 'Free Karachi' campaign and former convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Nadeem Nusrat said that Mohajirs have welcomed India's statement on their atrocities committed by Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights session.

Highlighting the atrocities committed in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Nusrat said that the inclusion of Sindh in India's statement on human rights violations is an important and encouraging development for nearly 70 million Mohajirs.

"The people of Karachi and Urban Sindh are grateful to the Indian Government for raising the voice on the plight of Mohajirs in Pakistan," he said.

Nusrat further said that Sindh, especially in Karachi and urban centres of Sindh province, had been neglected previously by the world community while highlighting the persecution of ethnic groups in Pakistan.

More than 25,000 Mohajirs have been brutally killed by the Pakistan Army and paramilitary operations in Karachi since 1992. Enforced disappearances, abductions and extrajudicial killings are on the rise in Karachi since the latest phase of operation in 2013.

The term 'Mohajir' is used to describe the Urdu-speaking immigrants, who left India in 1947 and came to Pakistan. A large chunk of them settled in the Sindh province of Pakistan.

Highlighting the issue of terrorism, Nusrat said that religious extremism, fanaticism and terrorism is being nourished by Pakistan which has put peace and security of the region at stake.

"The Pakistani soil has been used to plan and launch major terror attacks in the region. The providers and facilitators of terror sanctuaries in Pakistan must be held accountable by the UN and all peace-loving nations," he asserted.

He further added that the 'Free Karachi' campaign has been drawing world's attention towards the state atrocities of Pakistan on Mohajirs, Balochs, Pashtuns and other religious minorities.

Nusrat stressed that the 'Free Karachi' team is approaching international community, lawmakers, decision-making bodies, human rights groups and is getting tremendous support from all quarters.

He urged all the major regional powers of South Asia and international powers to put pressure on Pakistan to end crimes against humanity in Karachi and urban centers of Sindh along with Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

The 'Free Karachi' campaign was launched on January 15 on the eve of Martin Luther King Day to raise global awareness on human rights violations in Karachi and Urban Sindh.

Also, digital ads of 'Free Karachi' are running on the website of the leading US newspaper 'The New York Times' in the latest phase of the campaign.