A lady is buying bangles from a roadside lady vendor at Friday Bazaar
A young vendor is selling country hens to a customer near Daulat Gate Chowk
A view of banners diaplayed at a padesterian bridge ahead of Kashmir Solidarity Day at Faizabad
Security forces kill two terrorists in Esham, North Waziristan fire exchange
ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (APP):The security forces have killed two terrorists amid intense fire exchange that took place between the terrorists and forces in general area Esham of North Waziristan District.
According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release, the killed terrorists remained actively involved in subversive activities against the security forces whereas weapons and ammunition were also recovered from their possession.
“The incident re-vindicates Pakistan Army’s resolve to have zero tolerance against terrorism in Pakistan and reaffirms its determination to take on any and all entities that resort to violence,” it added.
Country needs all parties’ collaboration to ensure economic stability: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (APP): In the wake of deep economic crisis being faced by the country, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Friday called upon all the politicians, irrespective of the party affiliation, to work as a team to come out of the crises.
“Pakistan is passing through the worst economic crisis so, it is not the time to fight with each other but to work in collaboration to elevate the country among the world’s top economies”, he said while speaking as chief guest at the launching ceremony of British Council’s report here.
The minister also urged all stakeholders including the establishment, judiciary, and the politicians to put heads together to ensure sustainable socio-economic development of the country.
Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan has a huge proportion of young people who should be given the best socio-politico-economic environment to ensure a strong and stable Pakistan in next decade or so.
He said Pakistan is celebrating its 75th years of formulation, but still its economy is so weak that it seems helpless in front of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to get few billions of dollars of loans.
“Corruption isn’t the major reason behind our failure because we are as honest as is the rest of the world is and as corrupt as others are,” he said adding that the main reason is disruption in the democratic system and policies.
He said whatever the government system the state adopts, it must be ensured that there must be continuity of policies.
Ahsan Iqbal said that in order to empower youth, the government has launched an internship programme for youth under which 60,000 young graduates from across the country would get paid internships.
Similarly, he said the government would impart Information Technology (IT) based skilled training besides providing an opportunity to another 100,000 young people to get technical and vocational training.
On the eve of 75th year of independence of Pakistan, he said the government is also offering 75 scholarships to those who manage to secure admissions in the top 25 universities in the world.
Likewise, the minister added that 100,000 university students would also be provided laptops to make them digitally empowered.
“In our previous tenure, we provided one million laptops that resulted in the promotion of free-lancing culture among the youth”, he added.
Silence of int’l community encourages India to pursue inhuman policies in IIoJK: Altaf Wani
ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (APP): Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Altaf Hussain Wani Friday urged the international community to raise its voice against human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIoJK).
“The silence of the international community has encouraged India to pursue such policies which are now threatening the very existence of the people of IIoJK”, he said during an interview with APP in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day falling on February 5.
“International community has a responsibility towards the people of Kashmir and they must play their role to make India accountable for the atrocities against people of IIoJK”, he said.
Kashmir Solidarity Day reminds the international community of its responsibility to play its role in settling the longstanding Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Altaf Wani acknowledged the stance of the Pakistani nation for showing solidarity with the Kashmiri people on every national and international platform and raising their voice over the Indian atrocities in the valley.
He termed the resolution of the Kashmir issue as instrumental to ensure peace in the South Asian region and said India has already lost IIoJK through their unlawful occupation and military aggression.
Kashmiri people have rendered numerous sacrifices and still fighting against the third largest army in the world and a fascist regime to get their due right of self-determination.
The support shown by 220 million Pakistanis on Kashmir Solidarity Day is a clear message for the people of IIoJK that they are not alone in their struggle as well as for India that they cannot suppress the voice of Kashmiri people by force.
Meanwhile, prominent human rights activist, Dr. Farzana Bari emphasized on adopting a consistent approach for highlighting the Kashmir issue internationally during the whole year.
“Only seminars, rallies and conferences on different Kashmir-related days will not work but we have to adopt a consistent approach to highlight this issue at the international level throughout the year”, Dr. Bari.
She stressed the need to pursue a national-level policy to fight the Kashmir issue on diplomatic and intellectual fronts at the level of states and civil societies as well.
Dr. Bari said that the present government should adopt a more systematic approach to fight the Kashmir cause with the seriousness which was missing in the past.
She said every year such days expose the hypocrisy of Indian authorities and gross violation of the international standards of human rights in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIoJK), exposing their real face.
The way right to self-determination movement of Kashmiri people was subjugated and severe human rights violations in IloJK including killings, mass rapes, violence against women, and use of pellet guns was unprecedented and a matter of great concern.
She emphasized that it is the responsibility of the state to fight the case of the Kashmiri people at international forums in more effective way.
Every embassy of Pakistan should be mandated and assigned the responsibility to engage with the academia, parliament, human rights community and civil society in their respective countries and sensitize them about the massive human rights violations in IIoJK.
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Kashmir Solidarity Day: ‘Thanks Pakistan’ posters appear in different parts of IIOJK
ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (APP): In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, posters reading “Thanks Pakistan” appeared in different areas of the territory as the people of Pakistan prepare to observe the Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 (Sunday).
The posters, displayed by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Alliance, Jammu and Kashmir Sada-e-Mazloom and Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Movement with pictures of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders, including Masarrat Alam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Aasiya Andrabi, Dr Hameed Fayaz and Mushtaq-ul-Islam, appeared in most parts of the valley, including Srinagar, Baramulla and Pulwama districts.
The posters thanked the people and government of Pakistan for effectively presenting the case of the Kashmiri people at all international forums.
The posters read the whole Jammu and Kashmir is part of Pakistan as per the Two-Nation Theory and aspirations of the people of Kashmir, whereas India has been illegally occupying one of its parts by military occupation since October 1947. The people of Kashmir are struggling for justice and an end to Indian illegal occupation.
The posters have been put up in IIOJK ahead of the Kashmir Solidarity Day, which is observed in Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and abroad every year on February 5 to express solidarity with the oppressed people of IIOJK facing the worst Indian state terrorism.
Through the posters, the commitment of the Kashmiri people has been reiterated to continue the struggle for freedom from the Indian yoke.
The Kashmir Solidarity Day was first observed on February 5, 1990, when the entire political leadership of Pakistan unanimously expressed solidarity with the people of IIOJK.
Indian atrocities in IIOJK result in escalation of killings, violence
ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (APP): The Indian annexation of Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on 5 August 2019 has resulted in a persistent state of violence and oppression for the people of the region, according to the report of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations.
The annexation was accompanied by a media blackout, the deployment of 350,000 additional forces, and the arrest of all mainstream and pro-movement leadership. Since then, India has implemented various tactics to tighten its grip over IIOJK, including political engineering, demographic marginalization, socio-economic machinations, cultural invasion, media curbs, legal strangulation, and high-handedness/coercion. These efforts are aimed at permanently merging IIOJK into the Indian Union and erasing its disputed character.
In the political realm, India has increased the number of seats in Jammu and Valley, reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, and created nominated seats for Kashmiri Migrants and Kashmiri Pandits. However, all regional mainstream leaders have rejected these efforts.
In terms of socio-economic coercion, India has facilitated mainland businesses at the expense of local traders, extended mainland economic activities in IIOJK, established industrial units, signed MoUs with foreign companies, and facilitated the settlement of non-local laborers.
These actions have resulted in the loss of Rs 367 crores per day for two years during the lockdown, a high rate of unemployment among Kashmiri youth, and the destruction of the local economy.
In demographic engineering, India has implemented a Domicile Law, allowed outsiders to purchase property, empowered the army to seize land, and encouraged the settlement of non-locals. The government has also terminated over 1,000 government employees and denied basic human rights, such as passports and jobs, to over 60,000 families.
Media curbs have been implemented, with the administration deciding what constitutes “fake” or “anti-national” news, and strict monitoring of social media activities. Students have been prevented from studying abroad, especially in Pakistan and Turkiye. The Kashmir University Teachers Association and 15 other unions/associations have been banned, and pro-movement leaders and activists have been targeted with re-opened cases related to their activities.
The Indian actions in IIOJK have resulted in 707 total killings, 141 custodial killings/fake encounters, 2303 people who were tortured/critically injured, 18,354 arrests, 1101 cases of arson, 43 widowed women, 108 orphaned children, 126 cases of gang-rape/molestation, and 15,208 cases of cordon and search operations. These actions continue to escalate, with the international community remaining largely silent on the issue.
PM, Apex Committee participants offer fateha for eternal peace of Police Lines mosque’s attack martyrs
PESHAWAR, Feb 03 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and others members of the Apex Committee here Friday offered Fateha for eternal peace of all martyrs of the Police Lines’ mosque attack and speedy recovery of all the injured.
The collective Fateha was offered by the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of all four provinces and Gilgit Baltistan and Prime Minister Azad Kashmir, federal ministers, advisers, and senior civil and military officers for the eternal peace of the Malik Saad Shaheed’s blast victims.
The Fateha was offered by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Maulana Abdul Shakoor.
ANF arrests 3 drug peddlers, recovers drugs
ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (APP):The Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) in various crackdowns against smugglers of contraband items countrywide, arrested three accused drug peddlers and recovered a huge quantity of drugs from their possession.
According to a spokesperson of ANF, the team during an operation, seized 934 kgs hashish from a factory, in the jurisdiction of Kila Abdullah.
In another operation, the ANF seized 5 kgs hashish from the accused who was the resident of Quetta on Sariab Road.
At Sialkot International Airport, the force recovered 5 kgs of ice from a family who were leaving for Bahrain and arrested two drug peddlers.
In another operation in Karachi, the force seized over one kg of heroin and arrested a drug pusher.
The Anti-Narcotics Force has registered cases against the accused arrested, under the anti-narcotics law.
Further probe was underway.