Sunday, February 13 2005 11:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The European Union (EU) has assured a Kashmiri group that it will take into account human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Northern areas comprising Gilgit and Baltistan, while finalising its agenda for next month's session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

This was stated by Chairperson of the sub-committee on Human Rights of European Union, Helene Flautre, to a delegation of International Kashmir Alliance (IKA), an amalgam of overseas Kashmiri separatist organisations headed by Syed Nazir Gilani, which visited Brussels recently.

"We briefed her on human rights situation in three administrations -- Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), Muzzafarabad and Gilgit (both in PoK). She has no knowledge about the administration of Northern Areas," Gilani told sources in New Delhi over phone from London.

"It was agreed that she will take on board our views on PoK and Northern areas and that her delegation will remain in touch with us during the forthcoming session," he said.

Flautre took keen interest to know about restraints being put on the freedom of choice and freedom of expression in PoK and the human rights situation in Northern Areas, he said.

"She was surprised to know that Pakistan Government has not honoured the PoK High Court's ruling that Northern areas are part of PoK," Gilani said.

He said, "Our visit has quashed the earlier monopolised impression caused due to free run by the Kashmir Centre (of Pakistan). Our efforts have been considered important and more reliable."