The Hindu : Withdraw troops on border: UNHCR chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002

International

International

Withdraw troops on border: UNHCR chief
By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, MARCH 12. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has called for the immediate withdrawal of troops on the Indo-Pakistan border and the resumption of talks between New Delhi and Islamabad.

In an informal chat with correspondents here after meeting a delegation of Kashmiris, Ms. Robinson said the de- escalation of tension between India and Pakistan would greatly help address the human rights issue in Jammu and Kashmir. She expressed concern over the ``human rights violations'' there.

A delegation of the Pakistan National Kashmir Committee also called on Ms. Robinson and apprised her of the dangers to the human rights of the people in Kashmir in view of the tension and unresolved Kashmir dispute.

The Committee, headed by the former Prime Minister and President of the Pak. Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Sardar Qayyum, briefed her on the initiatives taken by the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, for defusing tension in the region and persuading India to come to the negotiating table to resolve all issues, including Kashmir.

A three-member delegation headed by the former Chief Minister of Sindh and Pakistan People's Party leader, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, also called on Ms. Robinson. It expressed doubts about the ``transparency and fairness'' of the elections scheduled for October 2002, as the Musharraf regime had repeatedly said that it would not allow the former Prime Minister and Pakistan People's Party chief, Benazir Bhutto, to come to power. Ms. Robinson was apprised of the ``efforts of the military regime to manipulate these elections.''

A nine-point suggestion was given to Ms. Robinson in response to her question on how to meet the challenge of the election process and to restore more confidence in the democratic process. The delegation stressed the need for a truth and reconciliation commission to be set up.

The delegation also briefed Ms. Robinson on the ``victimisation'' of the PPP and its leadership. She was also informed about the concocted cases against Ms. Bhutto, her husband and other party leaders.

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