MANCHESTER: Kashmiri residents in Britain staged a protest in Manchester after learning that Federal Minister Fazal Chaudhry was expected to attend an event at a local community centre, according to members of the protesting community.
The demonstration brought together members of the Kashmiri diaspora who sought to highlight what they described as serious human rights and civil liberties concerns in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Protesters raised objections to alleged restrictions on freedoms, arrests, security operations and the use of force against civilians in the region. They called for greater accountability over allegations concerning the treatment of Kashmiri men, women and children.
The demonstrators demanded independent and impartial investigations into reported incidents of killings, excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and other alleged violations.
Members of the diaspora said their campaign was directed against policies and actions they believe have adversely affected people in PoJK, and not against the Pakistani population as a whole.
They maintained that the protest was peaceful and aimed at raising political and human rights concerns through democratic means.
The protesters also alleged that continuing security measures in PoJK had contributed to fear and hardship among civilians, citing reported arrests, raids, restrictions on movement and communication, and alleged intimidation.
They urged the British government, international human rights organisations and the wider international community to pay closer attention to developments in the region and support credible investigations into allegations of abuses.
Organisers described the Manchester protest as part of a broader campaign by Kashmiri communities across the United Kingdom and said such concerns would continue to be raised through peaceful and lawful channels.
The demonstrators also reaffirmed their commitment to British laws and democratic principles, saying future protests would remain peaceful and within the legal framework.
