“The cowardly and condemnable attack on the vehicle of United Kashmir People’s National Party Senior Vice Chairperson Sardar Tania is a grave assault not just on an individual or a party but on all voices advocating for democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression,” UKPNP have stated.
This incident is a clear reflection of the growing trend of silencing dissent in Pakistan through violence and intimidation.
UKPNP is a peaceful democratic party committed to finding a dignified and non-violent resolution to the Jammu & Kashmir dispute. Any attempt to stifle its voice through bullets and terror is not just an attack on the party but an attack on democratic values and fundamental human rights.
Condemnation and Strong Response
The exiled Chairman of UKPNP, Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, speaking from Geneva, strongly condemned the attack, stating: “This is not just an assault on our party but on the very principles of democracy and human rights. We will not tolerate such cowardly acts. If any harm comes to our leadership or members, there will be severe diplomatic and political consequences. We will raise this issue globally to expose Pakistan’s oppressive tactics against peaceful political activists.”
The party’s central spokesperson Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Jamil Maqsood, and other senior leaders also issued a stern warning to the Pakistani government: “This attack is part of a systematic strategy to suppress UKPNP’s peaceful and democratic struggle.
“We caution the Government of Pakistan that if any harm comes to our leaders, we will launch a strong protest at the international level, including at Pakistani embassies, diplomatic missions, and global institutions. We will not be silenced by bullets and state repression.”
Failure of the Pakistani State – A Pattern of Political Suppression
This is not the first time political activists, human rights defenders, and advocates of Kashmiri self-determination have been targeted in Pakistan. The attack on Sardar Tania appears to be yet another attempt to weaken voices that challenge the status quo through peaceful and democratic means.
The growing pattern of violence against democratic movements in Pakistan raises serious concerns about the complicity of state institutions in suppressing political opposition. Such actions violate fundamental human rights, international democratic norms, and even Pakistan’s own constitutional principles, which guarantee freedom of speech and political participation.
Call for International Attention
UKPNP urges the international community, the United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other global human rights organizations to take immediate notice of this attack and hold Pakistan accountable for ensuring the safety of political activists.
We also appeal to international media and journalistic institutions to highlight this cowardly attack so that the world can see the reality of Pakistan’s treatment of democratic forces.
Resistance and Future Course of Action
UKPNP remains a peaceful, democratic, and progressive political movement. We will not back down in the face of repression and will continue to expose human rights violations and suppression of political freedoms. If any further harm is inflicted upon our members, we reserve the right to launch a diplomatic, political, and legal struggle at the global level.
