Arif Aajakia, a former mayor of Jamshed Town in Karachi and a human rights activist, is a strident critic of Pakistan’s legal framework and its army. Currently, in exile, he talks to Amin Ali about the country’s problems:

You have been a vocal critic of Pakistan government and the army. What have been the major issues that need immediate attention?

Pakistan’s human rights record is not very impressive. Pakistan army is conducting military operations in Sindh, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for decades. Fundamental human rights are suspended in these regions. The issues of atrocities against ethnic and religious minorities are not highlighted. United Nations, European Parliament, British and the US authorities need to press upon Pakistan to restore basic human rights. Army is ruling Pakistan through its handpicked puppet prime minister. Freedom of speech does not exist in Pakistan. No one is allowed to speak against the policies of Pakistan army. Child labour, bonded labour, sex slavery, child molestation in mosques and madrassas are going on unnoticed.

What are the major issues affecting the Mohajirs today?

Mohajirs are subjugated systematically in Pakistan. Through legislations in early 1970s, a quota system exists, which limits opportunities for Mohajirs in higher education and jobs. In Karachi, where Mohajirs are in majority, police is imported from other areas of Pakistan. There are only 5% Mohajirs in Karachi police. A military operation has been going on since 1992 in Karachi in which more than 25,000 Mohajirs have been killed extra-judicially; thousands are missing as state security forces abduct anyone, anytime. The representative political party of Mohajirs, MQM, is not allowed to work in Pakistan. All MQM offices are closed or bulldozed. Mohajirs are facing a systematic discrimination in Pakistan and have been denied their fundamental human rights.

Has the world taken note of human rights violation of minorities and other ethnic groups in Pakistan?

The world has not taken any interest in the miserable situation of human rights in Pakistan. Pakistan has a track record of blackmailing the world. Everyone knows that Pakistan is openly involved in terrorist activities in many places in the world, in particular, India and Afghanistan are their favourite grounds. Pakistan totally depends on US financial institutions and they keep funding Pakistan without any mention of improvement of human rights record in loan agreements between global financial institutions and Pakistan.

What are the major issues in the areas of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, where you worked a lot?

PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan are the most deprived areas under Pakistan control. The demography has been changed by ‘Punjabising’ the region. Punjabi has been the most widely spoken language in these areas. Chinese influence and investment in the region too has its implications on indigenous population. There is no infrastructural development at all. There is no airport in PoK, no university and no medical college. People of PoK have no control on their natural and financial resources. Water and electricity is supplied to entire Pakistan from PoK without any royalty or benefits.

You have stated that anti-India statements by ministers of Pakistan government have belittled Pakistan’s standing globally. Please elaborate.

Pakistan’s PM and other ministers keep issuing statements about India’s domestic issues, mainly on minorities’ and Kashmir. International community does not take Pakistan’s statements seriously because Pakistan’s own record on human rights of religious minorities in Pakistan is very bad. Religious minorities in Pakistan are facing discrimination and persecution. Anyone can be hanged in the name of blasphemy or killed by a mob. Forced conversion of minority girls is the order of the day. The difference in India and Pakistan is that in India, Muslims that are the largest religious minority, can perform their prayers anywhere. Often thousands pray on streets and roads. They, with total freedom, perform their religious rituals and processions throughout the year, in every region of India. In Pakistan, an Ahmadi [Qadiyani] cannot perform any of their religious duties openly. They cannot call their place of worship a mosque.

Has PM Imran Khan been able to deliver on the socioeconomic front?

I do not think that people who are aware of Pakistan politics had any expectations from Imran Khan. Everyone knows that Khan was brought in by Pakistan army by rigging the elections. All other political opponents were not allowed to run their elections campaign. Many were disqualified through their kangaroo courts.

Foreign, domestic, economic, social and other policies are made and worked by Pakistan army. Most of the major state corporations like PIA are headed by men in uniform. Pakistan is a stratocracy.

What’s needed for peace between India and Pakistan?

Pakistan has to change its policies of proxy wars in India and Afghanistan. Pakistan does not need such a massive army and military expenditure. Cut the army and its budget.