Pakistan treats Gilgit-Baltistan “like a colony”, a U.S.-based activist from the strategic region bordering Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) has alleged, as he demanded that a UN-established fact-finding mission be sent to determine the conditions of imprisoned dissidents.
Gilgit-Baltistan has a regional Assembly and an elected Chief Minister. Pakistan considers it a separate geographical entity.
Like Vietnam, Gilgit-Baltistan cannot end rights abuses without the help of the international community, Sange Sering, chairman of the Movement for Democracy in Gilgit-Baltistan, said at at the 24th Commemoration of Vietnam Human Rights Day held held here. .
“Pakistan has been treating Gilgit-Baltistan like a colony , he said. “We request President (Donald) Trump and the State Department to help the UN establish a fact-finding mission to determine the conditions of imprisoned political dissidents in Pakistan and to impress upon the Pakistani leadership to uphold democratic ideals including free speech and movement.
