Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sana Ullah Khan addressing Trafficking in Persons Workshop jointly organized by FIA, UNODC and EU.
OIC Contact Group reaffirms support for legitimate rights of Kashmiris; slams India for its illegal actions
NEW YORK, Sep 21 (APP): The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday reaffirmed its support for the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination and freedom from the Indian occupation.
The Contact Group also rejected the illegal and unilateral actions taken by India on August 5, 2019 and subsequent steps to change the internationally recognized disputed status of the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and to alter the demographic structure of the occupied territory, said a joint communiqué issued after a meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.
The group reaffirmed its support to the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the recognized OIC position and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The foreign ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly. The Secretary-General of the OIC chaired the meeting.
“Declared that the final settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and a UN supervised plebiscite, is indispensable for durable peace and stability in South Asia,” the communiqué said.
It denounced India’s illegal and unilateral actions and subsequent steps which were in direct violation of UNSC resolutions and were aimed at changing the demographic structure of IIOJK, preventing the realization of the inalienable right to self- determination of the Kashmiris as well as violating their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and to perpetuate India’s illegal occupation of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
It recalled the statement issued by the UN Secretary General of 8 August 2019 which affirmed that the position of ‘the United Nations on Jammu & Kashmir region is governed by the UN Charter and applicable UN Security Council Resolutions,’ it said.
Rejecting the issuance of fake domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris granting them the voting rights, and amendments in land ownership laws, and any other step to alter the existing demographic structure of the disputed territory, the Group said these were in contravention of the existing UNSC resolutions and in violation of the international humanitarian law including the 4th Geneva Convention.
The communiqué further deplored that the Indian forces continued to perpetrate a vicious campaign of repressive actions, including extrajudicial killings of innocent Kashmiris in fake encounters; custodial killings and “cordon-and-search” operations; the use of pellet guns to kill, maim and blind peaceful protestors; the abduction and enforced disappearance of 15,000 young Kashmiri boys; the incarceration of almost the entire Kashmiri leadership; and “collective punishments” with the destruction and burning of entire villages and urban neighbourhoods.
The Contact Group members also condemned that the entire Hurriyat leadership, the true representatives of Kashmiri political aspirations, had been under continued detention for three years with most having been subjected to brutal and inhumane treatment at the hands of Indian occupation forces.
It denounced the sham trial and conviction of Yasin Malik on concocted charges which is the most recent example of India’s attempts to punish Kashmiri leaders seeking freedom even by peaceful means.
Rich tribute was also paid to the unflinching commitment of the Hurriyat leadership, including the late Syed Ali Geelani to the Kashmir cause in the face of persistent persecution and tremendous personal hardships.
Welcoming the role played by the relevant UN Special Rapporteurs, world leaders, parliamentarians, human rights organizations and international media, in raising their voice against illegal Indian occupation and atrocities in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, it also denounced India’s continued refusal to allow the OIC Special Envoy, the OIC- Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHIRC), the UN Special Mandate Holders and international civil society organizations to visit IIOJK.
The group appreciated the role of UNMOGIP in observing the ceasefire on the Line of Control and expressing concern at India’s refusal to cooperate with it in the fulfillment of its mandate.
The foreign ministers also welcomed the report of the OIC Secretary-General on the implementation of the action plan agreed by the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir in its last meeting of 22 March 2022.
The foreign ministers of the contact group demanded that India should reverse all illegal and unilateral measures taken on or after 5 August 2019, stop the gross, systematic and widespread human rights abuses in the IIOJK, halt and reverse the illegal demographic changes in the occupied territory including the construction of settler colonies, land confiscation, home demolitions and disruption of the livelihoods of the people of the IIOJK, allow unrestricted access to UN Special procedures, international media and independent observers to visit occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and take concrete and meaningful steps for the full implementation of UNSC resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.
They also reiterated the call for the international community to hold India accountable for the heinous crimes being committed by the Indian forces in the IIOJK.
The group welcomed the three meetings of the UN Security Council to consider the situation in Jammu and Kashmir dated 16 August 2019, 15 January 2020 and 05 August 2020.
The meetings of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on 25 September 2019, 22 June 2020, 23 September 2021 and 22 March 2022 were also hailed, further noting in particular, that the Joint communiqués adopted by the contact group unequivocally rejected the unilateral Indian actions of 5 August 2019 as inconsistent with international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The members also recalled the two reports issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in June 2018 and July 2019, comprehensively documenting the gross and systematic violations of human rights in IIOJK.
Earlier, the contact group heard the report from the OIC Secretary-General and the IPHRC, the briefing from Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the views of the foreign ministers of other member states of the Contact Group and the True Representatives of the Kashmiri People on the recent developments in IIOJK.
The members of the group further reaffirmed the principle of right to self-determination enshrined in the UNSC resolutions that the final disposition of the State of Jammu & Kashmir would be made in accordance with the will of the people, expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite, conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.
The group also acknowledged that by its Resolutions 91 (1951), 122 (1957) and 123 (1957), the Security Council reaffirmed that attempt by the parties concerned to determine the future shape and affiliation of the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir, or any part thereof, would not constitute a disposition of the State in accordance with the principle of a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices.
The group requested the OIC Secretary General to continue to monitor the implementation of the action plan on Jammu and Kashmir agreed during the last meeting of the OIC Contact Group on 22 March 2022 in Islamabad and present a report on the situation in IIOJK to the next meeting of the OIC contact group.
They also requested the OIC Secretary-General to transmit a copy of this joint communique to the UN Secretary General and President of the UN Security Council.
The OIC Observer Mission in New York and Geneva were also requested to send a copy of this Communiqué to all member states, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.
SCO willing to play active role in resolving difference between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan: Zhang Ming
BEIJING, Sept 21 (APP):Secretary General, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Zhang Ming said on Wednesday that the SCO is willing to play an active role in strengthening communication between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, properly handling and resolving differences, and maintaining peace and stability in the region.
“Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are members of the SCO. Maintaining their own peace and stability and good-neighborly, friendly and cooperative relations with each other is one of the important factors in maintaining regional peace and security, as well as the common aspiration of all SCO members, including the two countries,” he said in a statement issued here.
He said the SCO closely follows the development of relevant events. The member States and the Secretary General have maintained contact with both sides to make active efforts to ease the situation and express condolences on casualties.
“We believe that the two sides are willing to adhere to the “Spirit of Shanghai” and the principles of the SCO Charter, put the overall regional situation first, resolve contradictions and differences through peaceful, political and diplomatic means, and ensure the stability of the border areas between the two countries,” he added.
Zhang Ming said, the two sides signed a protocol aimed at the peaceful settlement of the conflict between the two countries on the September 19th, agreeing on a complete cessation of hostilities and working together to restore peace and stability in the border area.
“We appreciate this and expect the two countries to continue to move towards managing and resolving their differences and seeking common interests,” he added.
APP/asg
SCO Heads of States agreed on future cooperation: Deputy Secretary General
BEIJING, Sept 21 (APP):Deputy Secretary General, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Sohail Khan said that the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of States of SCO held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan has been fruitful with heads of state agreeing on future cooperation.
“The SCO summit has been fruitful, with heads of state agreeing on future cooperation,” he told media at briefing organized by China Public Diplomacy Association here at Beijing International Club.
Deputy Director General of the Department of European-Central Asian Affairs, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Liu Jiangping also attended the event.
Sohail Khan said that one of the most important results is the Samarkand Declaration, where a common-ground is announced.
“All the leaders agree that the world is facing complexity and difficulty, from regional crisis to digital gap to economic instability. That is why we also announced to work to stabilize world supply chain and to work together on food security,” he added.
Responding to a question about connectivity among the member states, he said that the SCO countries have worked on the transit rights and permissions for the future intra-SCO trade during the summit.
“We have signed several documents which are intertwined with each other such as intra-regional trade as well as transport corridors, infrastructure development so on so forth,” he added.
Sohail Khan said that some of the transit corridors are not fully functional specially in South Asian part connecting it with Central Asia via Afghanistan and Iran. That has to be first completed.
“We should have normal highway system for transportation of goods and services,” he added.
He opined that once the trade starts it is automatically resolved because there are other documents which have been adopted where there is a clause for simplification of customs, immigration and other things.
He said that in terms of SCO framework, the countries will try their best to overcome the issue of protectionism. So, hopefully next year when the next summit is held there should be some new documents between the SCO members indicating further simplification facilitating transit trade and corridors for the countries that require transit tracks or provisions.
The SCO deputy secretary-general also informed that an SCO meeting at the prime-minsters level will be held this November in China virtually.
APP/asg
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan can jointly maintain peace, stability in region: China
BEIJING, Sept 21 (APP):A Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson on Wednesday hoped that Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan could properly resolve disputes and jointly maintain peace and stability in the region.
“Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are both friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners of China. We hope and believe that the two sides can properly resolve disputes and differences in the spirit of mutual respect and friendly consultation,”Wang Wenbin said during his regular briefing held here at the International Press Center (IPC).
The spokesperson also hoped that the two countries could jointly maintain peace and stability in the region.
According to media reports, since September 14, armed conflicts have continued to break out in the border area between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. At present, the two sides have reached a ceasefire agreement, but the border situation remains tense.
APP/asg
LHC suspends ECP contempt notice to Imran Khan
RAWALPINDI, Sep 21 (APP): The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench Wednesday suspended show cause notices issued to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and other leaders the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
On August 19, the ECP issued contempt notices to Imran Khan, Asad Umar, and Fawad Chaudhry, which were challenged by the PTI leaders in the LHC Rawalpindi bench that the Commission did not have authority to conduct contempt proceedings.
While hearing the case, LHC’s Justice Jawad Ul Hassan formed a three-member larger bench to hear the case.
The bench comprising Justice Jawad Ul Hassan, Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf, will hear the case on September 29.
Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry, counsel for Imran Khan and Fawad Hussain Chaudhry respectively, were also present in the court.
BISP disburses over Rs. 28 billion among 1,127,420 flood affected families
ISLAMABAD, Sep 21 (APP): Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has disbursed over Rs. 28 billion among 1,127,420 flood affected families across the country.
An amount of Rs.25,000 per family is being provided to the flood affected families of Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab under Flood Relief Cash Assistance.
As of Wednesday evening, Benazir Income Support Programme had so far disbursed Rs.28.185 billion among a total of 1,127,420 flood affected families.
The breakdown of these figures are:
In Balochistan, 133,842 flood affected families received Rs.3,34 billion; 715,564 families received Rs.17.88 billion in Sindh; 125,551 families received Rs.3.13 Billion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 152,463 families of Punjab had received Rs.3.81 billion
Meanwhile, the said figures include 102,241 affected families which had received financial assistance on Wednesday from different campsites established in flood hit areas.
A control room had been established at Benazir Income Support Programme headquarters to ensure smooth payments.
Durable peace to remain elusive without fixing fundamentals: PM
NEW YORK, Sep 21 (APP): As the world observed the International Day of Peace on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that durable peace would remain elusive without fixing the fundamentals.
“As the world observes international day of peace today, let us remember that the establishment of sustainable peace is a worthy ideal. However, without fixing the fundamentals, durable peace will remain elusive,” the prime minister wrote on Twitter as he is currently on a US visit mainly to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
He said the world should work towards strengthening democracy, fighting polarisation, ending social inequality and giving the oppressed people their due rights.
Every year, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
This year, the Day was observed under the theme “End racism. Build peace.”.
NA Speaker urges political parties to promote peace, tolerance for prosperous Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Sep 21 (APP):National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Wednesday urged political parties to promote peace and tolerance in society as it was indispensable to economic progress and development of the country.
He said that our religion Islam stressed upon propagation of peace in the world.
The beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him) had been the symbol of peace for all mankind, he added.
He expressed these views in his message on International Day of Peace, which is observed across the world today under the theme “End racism. Build peace”.
The speaker said that Pakistan being an advocate of peace had also been at the forefront to strengthen peace in the region, especially in Afghanistan where it played a significant role in the Afghan Peace Process and supported the evacuation of different nationals during the Afghan withdrawal.
The speaker underscored the importance of living together with affection, empathy, and brotherhood irrespective of color, class, or religion.
He reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to strengthening peace and stability by playing a positive role in the region.
IHC dismisses reference against ex-NAB officials
ISLAMABAD, Sep 21 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed a NAB reference against its two former director generals and an investigation officer pertaining to misuse of powers.
An IHC bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard the acquittal plea filed by two former DGs Subha Sadiq and Khurshid Bhinder, and deputy director Mirza Shafiq.
At the outset of hearing, the chief justice asked the NAB prosecutor to satisfy the bench regarding the merit of the reference. The prosecutor gave references of various court verdicts.
The chief justice remarked that the accused officers were blamed for misusing their powers, for which a case of misconduct could be framed against them instead of trying them for a crime under the NAB law.
The court said if no corruption was involved in their any decision then it was not a crime. In such case how a reference were prepared against the officers, it added.
NAB had no authority to defame the people, the court noted.
The chief justice observed that a defamation case should be lodged against the NAB chairman NAB, who had given approval for the reference.
The court subsequently dismissed the NAB reference against the ex-Bureau officials.