Latest news with #AmjadAyubMirza
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Amjad Ayub Mirza exposes systemic persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan
London [UK], June 9 (ANI): Amjad Ayub Mirza, a leading activist from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), has delivered a scathing analysis of the Voice of Minority in Pakistan's May 2025 report, which highlights the deteriorating situation of religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and Ahmadis, under the country's majoritarian framework. Mirza accused Pakistan of cultivating a culture of impunity in which Muslims, protected by blasphemy laws, supposedly have a 'licence to kill.' Citing Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code, he emphasised how simple accusations of blasphemy can result in arrests, lynchings, or even capital punishment, as seen most infamously in the cases of Asiya Bibi and the assassinations of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Christian minister Shahbaz Bhatti. According to the report, at least 43 cases of religious persecution occurred in May 2025 alone, including deliberate violence against Hindus in Sindh's Mirpur Khas and against Christian women in Lahore. Notably, six attacks on the Ahmadiyya community were reported in districts including Kasur, Sialkot, and Lahore, with several reportedly carried out by bar associations, Tehreek-e-Labbaik, and police officers. Mirza described how young minority girls, some as young as 12, are abducted and forced to convert to Islam. He also quoted the Sindh Assembly, where MPA Faisal verified reports of Hindus being compelled to eat beef, which is profoundly repugnant to their religious views. These reported actions frequently coincide with religious festivals, such as Bakra Eid. Beyond physical violence, minorities are systematically excluded from civil services, education, and political participation. Many are relegated to low-paying jobs like sanitation work and live in neglected neighbourhoods lacking basic utilities. Temples, churches, and gurdwaras are frequently vandalised or illegally occupied, while media outlets ignore or suppress reports of festivals like Diwali or Christmas. Mirza concluded that the persecution of minorities in Pakistan is not incidental, but embedded in the ideological foundation of the state. 'Being a Christian or a Hindu in Pakistan is treated like a crime,' he said. (ANI)
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Eid has no meaning amid state repression, says PoJK Activist Amjad Ayub Mirza
London [UK], June 7 (ANI): As millions prepare to mark Eid with joy and tradition, Amjad Ayub Mirza, a leading activist from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), has declared the occasion hollow for those living under state repression in Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Balochistan. Speaking from London, Mirza lamented the ongoing incarceration of key political and human rights activists, including Ehsan Ali Advocate of the Awami Action Committee, Mumtaz Hussain Nagri of the Karakoram National Movement, and young voices like Sakhi Asif and Mahrang Baloch. 'Eid is meant to be a celebration of compassion and community, but how can we celebrate when our people are jailed for demanding basic rights?' he said. This year's Eid has been overshadowed by a surge in civil unrest across the occupied regions. In Balochistan, the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) held protests even on Eid day, demanding answers for the thousands who have disappeared. In Gilgit, schoolteachers entered the 14th day of a sit-in, demanding fair treatment. Meanwhile, in PoJK, pensioners and non-gazetted government employees continue their struggle for economic justice. 'These are not isolated grievances; they are cries of a suppressed population,' Mirza said. He criticised the Pakistani elite for celebrating Eid in luxury while ignoring the daily suffering of ordinary citizens. Calling for urgent international intervention, Mirza urged global human rights bodies and independent media to spotlight the realities of the occupied territories. 'As long as our voices are silenced and our people remain behind bars, Eid will have no meaning for us,' he concluded. His message is a stark reminder that behind the celebrations, countless lives remain shadowed by fear, loss, and injustice. (ANI)
India Gazette
6 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
Pakistan must end terror support and stop blaming India, says UK-based activist Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza
London [UK], June 4 (ANI): Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza, a political analyst and human rights advocate from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir based in the UK, has termed the latest charges against India by Pakistani authorities as 'baseless and misleading,' in an exclusive interview with ANI. 'A classic example of psychological projection by a state long implicated in terrorism across the region,' he said of the accusations. Dr. Mirza's remarks came in response to Field Marshal Asim Munir and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent visit to Balochistan, where they accused India of supporting terrorism in Pakistan during talks with tribal elders in Quetta. According to Dr. Mirza, these narratives are outdated and aimed at deflecting attention from Pakistan's long history of sponsoring terrorism. He highlighted that the international community has repeatedly acknowledged Pakistan's role in fostering terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has consistently placed Pakistan on its grey list for failing to address money laundering and terror financing. Terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) reportedly operate under covert state protection despite international criticism. Dr. Mirza also pointed to Pakistan's continued support for UN-designated terrorists including Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, and Dawood Ibrahim--individuals held responsible for major terrorist attacks like the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2019 Pulwama bombing--who remain free and protected by the state. He condemned Pakistan's brutal suppression of the Baloch freedom movement through Islamist militias and military forces. Citing reports from international human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Dr. Mirza noted widespread abuses in Balochistan, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances. He said these violations expose Pakistan's true internal policies and contradict its attempts to blame others. Dr. Mirza asserted that terrorism remains a tool of Pakistan's state policy. He recalled how former President Pervez Musharraf admitted to supporting militant groups to 'internationalise' the Kashmir conflict. He added that this deliberate use of terror has caused chronic instability and suffering in South Asia. In conclusion, Dr. Mirza urged Pakistan to abandon baseless propaganda and take genuine steps toward accountability and reform. He called on the Pakistani government to demilitarise Balochistan, halt human rights abuses, and dismantle its terror infrastructure, which is widely condemned internationally. He stressed that India remains committed to peace, cooperation, and dialogue based on mutual respect and responsibility--principles Pakistan must embrace for true regional harmony. (ANI)
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Gilgit-Baltistan faces environmental and political crisis, says Dr Amjad Mirza on Radio Himalaya News
London [UK], May 26 (ANI): Political activist from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza, has raised alarm over the deteriorating environmental conditions and political developments in Gilgit-Baltistan in his latest episode on Radio Himalaya News, Kashmir News Exclusive. Speaking on the urgent issue of melting glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan, Dr Mirza stated that unchecked deforestation, unregulated tourism, lack of waste management, and rising plastic pollution are accelerating glacial melt in the region. He criticised the absence of a national glacier monitoring policy and pointed out that neither Pakistan nor Gilgit-Baltistan possesses the modern technology necessary to manage glacial water, recycle waste, or monitor changes via satellite. 'India is the only country in South Asia with the capability to address these challenges effectively,' Dr Mirza said, arguing that Gilgit-Baltistan should be integrated with Ladakh under the Indian Union as per the Instrument of Accession signed on October 26, 1947. He also criticised the recently passed Land Reforms Bill 2025 in Gilgit-Baltistan, which, he said, further strengthens bureaucratic control while undermining the rights of local people. The bill, currently awaiting the Governor's assent, has triggered widespread public dissent. Civil society organisations, including the Public Action Committee led by Ahsan Ali Advocate and the Anjuman-e-Imamia Association, have opposed the bill, demanding its return to the Assembly for revisions. Several activists have been jailed for protesting the legislation, which is being described as a move to legalise land grabs. Dr Mirza warned of a potential civil disobedience movement if the demands of the people are not met. 'Gilgit-Baltistan may be ignored by the world, but not by Radio Himalaya News,' he concluded. Earlier on April 12, Mirza issued a strong statement supporting India's recent counter-terrorism offensive -- Operation Sindoor -- targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and its occupied territories. Speaking to ANI, Mirza warned that the threat of terrorism from PoJK is far from over. He asserted that the terrorist camps in PoJK have not been dismantled but only relocated after India identified their locations. 'The terrorists have been moved from places like Muzaffarabad, Leepa Valley, and other known sites. These camps are very much active -- just shifted, not shut,' he said. He accused Pakistan of continuously exploiting PoJK -- which he emphasised as Indian territory -- to wage proxy war against India. 'Pakistan will keep using PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan against India until these areas are reintegrated into the Indian Union,' he stated. (ANI)
India Gazette
20-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
PoJK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza seeks to join Indian Parliamentary delegation to brief foreign governments on Op Sindoor
London [UK], May 20 (ANI): Amjad Ayub Mirza, a prominent political analyst, author, and human rights activist from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), has formally offered his services to the Government of India to join the 59-member parliamentary delegation. The delegation is scheduled to brief Western governments and international stakeholders on Operation Sindoor and ongoing provocations by Pakistan, including its continued use of non-state actors and cross-border terrorism. In a public statement, Mirza emphasised the strategic importance of including voices from PoJK in international engagements, saying, 'Our lands are being used as training grounds for terrorism. As people living under Pakistan's illegal occupation, we are directly impacted by its state-sponsored use of jihadi elements to destabilise India. It is vital that the international community hears our voices.' Mirza, who resides in exile and has been a vocal advocate for the rights of oppressed communities in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, expressed his willingness to make formal presentations and participate in dialogues with government officials, ministers, and lawmakers in Europe and beyond. He wants to expose Pakistan's strategy of exporting terror under the guise of diplomacy and to reinforce India's position as a victim of sustained hybrid warfare. He further noted that his participation in the delegation would strengthen India's case on the global stage by offering first-hand insights into the ground realities of Pakistan's proxy war through terrorist proxies trained in PoJK territory. In a major diplomatic initiative following Operation Sindoor, the Indian government unveiled a list of 59 members of parliament on Saturday, who will form seven all-party delegations tasked with amplifying India's voice on the global stage. These delegations, comprising MPs from the ruling BJP, its allies, independents, and members of the Opposition, are set to visit over 30 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Prominent Opposition leaders have been given key roles in this outreach. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will lead the delegation to the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and Guyana. NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule will head the group, travelling to Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. DMK's Kanimozhi and JDU's Sanjay Kumar Jha are also among the delegation leaders from the opposition. (ANI)
