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A Germany-based Sindhi political organization, the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), has strongly objected to the participation of Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, in the ongoing Munich Security Conference (MSC), calling the invitation "deeply regrettable" and urging international stakeholders to take note.
Members of the JSMM protested outside the venue, highlighting the human rights violations in Pakistan. In a formal statement addressed to the United Nations, the European Union, the German government, and international human rights bodies, JSMM Chairman Shafi Burfat expressed what he described as "deep shock and regret" over Munir's presence at the high-level global forum. The Munich Security Conference, widely regarded as a key platform for dialogue and conflict resolution, annually brings together world leaders, diplomats, and security experts to address international peace and security challenges. In its statement, JSMM alleged that Pakistan's military establishment has a historical record of human rights violations and political interference. The group referred to the 1971 events in former East Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh, describing them as genocide. It also accused Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies of supporting extremist elements in the region -- allegations that Islamabad has consistently denied. The organisation further claimed that Pakistan's military wields disproportionate influence over the country's political and judicial institutions. It cited the assassinations of former leaders, including Liaquat Ali Khan and Benazir Bhutto, as well as the execution of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as examples of alleged instability linked to military dominance. It also referenced the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, attributing it to tensions with the current military leadership. Additionally, JSMM alleged ongoing enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The group has urged the Munich Security Conference organisers to reconsider hosting the Pakistani Army chief, arguing that his participation lends legitimacy to what it describes as a regime accused of repression and regional destabilisation. It also reiterated its demand for Sindh's self-determination. (ANI)
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