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Asma Jahangir calls on J&K leaders

Luv Puri

Says one must have a bigger perspective of the verdict of the Pakistan elections

— Photo: PTI

FIELD ASSESSMENT: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad with Special Rapporteur of the U.N. Asma Jahangir at his official residence in Jammu on Friday.

Jammu: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, who is on a fact-finding mission to Jammu and Kashmir, called on Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday.

The visit has attracted attention in the State and across the country as this is a rare occasion when the Centre has allowed a U.N. rapporteur to make a field assessment in Jammu and Kashmir.

Ms. Jahangir, a prominent human rights activist of Pakistan, arrived on Thursday and met leaders of political parties, human rights activists and cultural groups.

She visited the office of the National Conference and met its political brass. She also had a meeting with Gujjar leaders.

Talking to reporters, Gujjar leader Chowdhary Shah Mohammad said, “We told the U.N. [special] rapporteur that there is complete freedom of religion in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

And the only danger to our freedom is the extremism of the militant outfits; otherwise the secular fabric of the State of Jammu and Kashmir is intact.”

Ms. Jahangir also visited the Panthers Party office and met its chief Bhim Singh.

However, her visit has drawn flak from the State BJP leaders who refused to give her an audience.

On Wednesday, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh lodged the party’s protest to the visit. The government had cleared the visit without informing Parliament, he said and added that it would set a “bad precedent.”

Earlier, Ms. Jahangir told reporters that the recent electoral verdict in Pakistan was a strong message to the political establishment in that country that human rights institutions needed to be strengthened.

She said: “One must have a bigger perspective of the verdict of the Pakistan elections. It is not just a verdict for change in the political leadership of the country. People have voted with a specific agenda and the political elite of Pakistan must honour that verdict.

“Human rights institutions need to be strengthened in Pakistan . One must draw a distinction between democracy and governance. Governance is also important in a democratic system in ensuring human rights are not violated.”

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