ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider on Wednesday said that the entire nation was united against
Indian atrocities on Line of Control (LoC).
Talking to a private news channel, the Prime Minister AJK said that
Kashmiris had been rendering sacrifices for their right of self determination since decades and they would continue till the achievement of their rights.
He said these tactics were being used by India to spread fear and anxiety among Kashmiris.
“India wants to provoke Pakistan but we shall answer India on diplomatic front”, he said.
Indian brutality on LoC is also an attempt to divert the attention from upcoming elections by Modi government, he remarked.
“Around 5 lacs Kashmiris living near LoC are being targeted by the Indian forces”, he said.
He informed that 39 persons have been martyred so far by the Indian firing on LoC including 11 of them in one day (Wednesday) when a passenger bus and an ambulance were targeted by the Indian forces.
He emphasized that media must play its positive role to highlight this issue instead of paying attention to insignificant issues.
Entire nation united against enemy: PM Azad Kashmir
Pakistan warns against using water for coercion; stresses respect for river accords
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 23 (APP): A top Pakistani diplomat has called on the world community to ensure that international agreements on waterways, such as the 1960 World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan, were not undermined through “unilateral or coercive measures”.
“Access to water is a fundamental right that must be protected at all
times,” Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, told the Security Council, while warning against any use of water as an instrument of coercion and war.
Speaking in a debate on “Water, Peace and Security”, Ambassador Lodhi noted that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had, in his opening address, also cited the 56-year-old treaty, which regulates the flow of six rivers between India and Pakistan, as an example of positive cooperation. She said, “We will respect and protect our existing understandings and build where they are yet to be reached.”
Her remarks were obviously aimed at India which threatened to block
water supplies to Pakistan after militants attacked in Uri sector of the Indian occupied Kashmir in September.
While the Indo-Pak treaty was a “model of what can be achieved through bilateral agreements”, the Pakistani envoy said it was equally a good case study of what could go wrong if such pacts were not honoured or threatened by one of the state parties to be abrogated altogether. “The international community must remain vigilant to any sign of unwillingness to maintain cooperation and be willing act to avert any conflict.”
As regards member states’ ability to cooperate in water sharing, Ambassador Lodhi said there were several international institutions capable of address the technical or financial needs for developing and sustaining cooperation.
However, she said the only international body that can enhance member states’ political ability to cooperate was the Security Council.
“It is the Security Council’s responsibility to resolve international
conflicts and disputes, especially longstanding, prolonged conflicts, in particular in Asia and Africa,” the Pakistani envoy said. “Unburdened by conflicts of the past, new challenges can then be addressed cooperatively and comprehensively.”
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining cooperation in the face of water scarcity, Ambassador Lodhi said Pakistan will not allow this challenge to put international peace and security at risk.
According to a concept note issued by Senegal, which hold the 15-member Council’s presidency for November, that in the same way that disputes over oil and land have led to conflicts now and in the past, disputes over water could lead to confrontations in the future, if nothing is done.
The debate is an opportunity to showcase successful experiences and mechanisms for cooperation and mediation with a view to strengthening one of the UN’s weaknesses, conflict prevention.
At the outset of her speech, Ambassador Lodhi said Asian and African
States, in particular sub Saharan States, were all witnessing a growth in population, vulnerability to climate change and an ever-increasing hunger for development. The countries of those regions were likely to be the first to face the challenge of sharing transboundary waters.
Therefore, the ability of such countries to cooperate and peacefully share water resources would be critical to their peace and security.
Ambassador Lodhi also underscored that regions most likely to be
affected by acute water scarcity were those facing political turmoil and conflict. Member States, she said, must be willing to share water resources peacefully.
The international community should promote bilateral and regional agreements on waterways and ensure that, once those agreements were developed, they not be undermined through unilateral or coercive measures.
Pakistan rejects Indian claim of soldier mutilation
ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP): Pakistan on Tuesday strongly rejected the false and baseless media reports regarding the alleged mutilation of an Indian solider on the Line of Control (LoC).
According to a statement of the Foreign Office, these reports were a fabrication and a blatant attempt to malign Pakistan.
“The Pakistan Army, with its professional approach, is not involved in any such unethical and non-professional activity and neither does it support any such action,” the Foreign Office statement said.
However, Pakistan was fully prepared and ready to respond to any misadventure across the LoC, Working Boundary or International Border, the statement added.
The Foreign Office said in fact India was constantly violating the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, targeting civilian and trying to divert the international attention from its atrocities in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Irfan Siddiqui inaugurates Readers Club Membership campaign
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 22 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage Division Irfan Siddiqui on Tuesday inaugurated Readers Club Membership campaign for providing books on discounted rates to readers at National Book Foundation (NBF).
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, he said that efforts were being made for the promotion of book reading culture in the country.
He said, “This scheme will be a unique under which books will be provided on discounted rates to members across the country.”
Appreciating the role of Managing Director NBF for making this scheme practical, he said efforts made by the Managing Director must be a role model for others.
He said that funds would also be increased for the Readers Club scheme to facilitate more people in this regard. Such innovative schemes would also be introduced, he added.
Irfan Siddiqui said that efforts were in progress to set up NBF outlet at the university of Punjab and it would be discussed with the Vice Chancellor of the University.
Advisor to the Prime Minister said that a new scheme would also be initiated for the promotion of book reading among children and students.
Earlier, Managing Director NBF Prof. Dr. Inamul Haq Javeid said that Readers Club was one of the most public oriented book promotional activity attracting readers to buy books of their choice at half price.
“Besides, promoting reading habit, it encourages the overall book industry, help increasing literacy rate, create reasonable demand for good quality reading material and motivating young generation towards developing reading culture in the society,” he said.
The membership Card bearer would be entitle to purchase books of their choice from approved bookshops mentioned on the list of the NBP.
A number of people from different walks of life attended the inaugural ceremony of Readers club membership campaign.
The Members will be entitled to purchase books at 50% discounted
rate fro the bookstalls enlisted on the Panel of the Foundation. However, the NBF shall offer 55% discount to the members at its own outlets.”
“Membership Form can be obtained on payment of Rs. 10/= personally from the Incharge Readers Club at NBF bookshops across the country.
Membership form can also be downloaded from NBF’s website www.nbf.org.pk” he said.
A membership Card will be issued by the Club only after completion of all the formalities i.e. two latest photographs of size 1” x 1” and photocopy of National Identity Card.
People of Balochistan helped state in busting foreign sponsored terror net: COAS
QUETTA Nov 22 (APP): Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on
Tuesday said the people of Balochistan had clearly rejected foreign sponsored terrorists and helped the state in busting their network.
He said this while addressing the officers and troops for Southren
Command, as part of his farewell visits. The COAS had earlier arrived Quetta.
While paying tribute to the officers and soldiers of Southern Command and Frontier Corps, he said the tide in Balochistan has been turned
against terrorists and their sympathizers, and large number of Ferraris were surrendering, “we will continue to work with the provincial and federal governments towards greater security and stability.”
He said, as COAS, security and assistance to civil government in
institution building and development work in remote areas has been his priority which brought him to Balochistan almost every month.
The COAS commended Southern Command for managing an arduous task of construction of over 1,000 KM long road network in the rugged and hostile terrain by FWO and NLC which helped in operationalization of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in a stipulated time frame.
He said Gwadar port and CPEC will usher into new era of hope and prosperity for the area with dividends reaching a common man.
He appreciated Southern Command for reintegrating youth by their mass induction into FC/Army, rehabilitation of earthquake hit Awaran and training of 6,000 policemen and Levies.
He also appreciated the improvement in Management of long and
treacherous border with Afghanistan and Iran which has helped improve overall security situation in the province.
Earlier on arrival at the venue, Lt Gen Aamir Riaz, Commander Southern
Command and Maj Gen Sher Afgun, IG FC Balochistan received the COAS.
New Israeli legislation will be ‘another nail in the coffin’ for two-state solution: UN expert
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 22 (APP): A new piece of Israeli legislation would enable the confiscation of privately owned Palestinian land and if passed, would deal yet another severe blow to hopes of lasting peace in the region, according to a United Nations human rights expert.
Michael Lynk, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
in the occupied Palestinian territories, expressed deep concern over the proposal to legalize more than 100 illegal outposts in the occupied West Bank. The legislation passed its first reading in the Knesset on
November 16.
According to Lynk, the unauthorized outposts have been set up on
private Palestinian land, deep within the occupied West Bank, and are considered illegal under current Israeli domestic law. To retroactively legalize them would be “another nail in the coffin for the two-state solution,” he said.
“These outposts undermine the Palestinian right to self-determination, violate their rights to property, freedom of movement, and development, and continue to confine the Palestinians into smaller and smaller cantons of non-contiguous lands within their own territory.”
If adopted, the legislation would allow the Israeli state to appropriate private Palestinian lands where the outposts have been built, thereby repurposing them for use by Israeli settlers. The Special Rapporteur emphasized that international law prohibits the confiscation of private
property, such as proposed by the current law.
“The Knesset should not be giving the green light to theft by changing the law,” said Lynk, adding that violating international law would be neither lessened nor mitigated by the bill’s proposed measures to compensate Palestinians whose land has been unlawfully taken.
The current draft follows a recent ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court that the Amona outpost must be evacuated by December 25 – thereby rejecting a request for delay from the Israeli government.
“Among the purposes of this legislation is to regularize the legal status of Amona,” the Special Rapporteur said.
Lynk was alarmed to note that some senior Israeli cabinet ministers not only supported the bill, but were also openly calling for annexation of large parts of the West Bank.
“The international community must be very clear with the Government
of Israel,” he said. “The annexation of occupied territory likewise would
be a profound breach of international law. If Israel proceeds with
either step, the international community must be prepared not only to condemn the action, but also to adopt appropriate measures to reverse these violations.”
“An occupying power is expressly prohibited from transferring its civilian population into an occupied territory. This violates the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949, and is contrary to numerous UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, as well as a major advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice in 2004,” he said.
Lynk is part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, which is part of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Rapporteurs are neither UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.
New Pakistani films doing good business: Nadeem
LAHORE, Nov 22 (APP): Famous film star Nadeem has said new Pakistani films are doing very good business.
Talking to APP here on Tuesday, he said films were being produced in
Karachi and Lahore which were reviving the industry and thousands of people attached with the industry had started their earnings.
He said at present, Pakistan was making films of high standards which
were also being released in international market. Nadeem added Pakistani viewers were appreciating these movies.
Prime minister visits governor Sindh
KARACHI, Nov 22 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday visited Governor Sindh Justice (Rtd) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui here at a hospital and enquired after his health and wished him early recovery.
The Prime Minister expressed the optimism that after recovery, the Governor would soon take up his constitutional responsibilities, the Governor House spokesman said.
The two leaders also discussed matters of mutual interest on the occasion.
Governor Sindh thanked the Prime Minister for his visit and said the doctors’ report was encouraging and his health was improving.
Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit.
Panama Papers accusers now finding ways to escape: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Tuesday said on the day one the prime minister had decided that all the proofs in the Panama Papers case would be submitted to courts.
The minister, in a statement, said there was no point to present the proofs before the media or the opposition. However, when the prime minister submitted the proofs in the court, those levelling allegations had now started to find ways for escape, she added.
She advised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan to better think about himself and his proofs instead of seeking others ‘search’ and worry about his own ‘search’.
She hoped that Imran Khan would not take the pretext of head injury, or that it was his political statement.
Imran Khan was now a ‘symbol of failure’ as he had not learnt any lesson from his political mistakes during the last three years, she added.
The minister said,”Imran should definitely follow the ‘Sunnah’ of marriage but he should also read Hadith about telling lies and levelling baseless allegations.”
Defence production aimed at maintaining balance of power: President
KARACHI, Nov 22 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Tuesday said Pakistan had kept the region safe from any mishap by maintaining nuclear balance and the purpose of increase in defence production was also to maintain balance of power in the region.
Speaking at the seminar “Stability and the Economics of Regional Peace in South Asia” on the occasion of the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2016, here, he said Pakistan was a peace-loving country and wanted cordial relations on the basis of equality with all the neighbouring countries, including India.
President Mamnoon emphasised that regional peace and stability was vital to ensure development and prosperity in the region. The regional countries should learn from past mistakes and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of others, he added.
He said Pakistan was swiftly moving forward in defence production and different other fields, and the participation of the increasing number of countries in the IDEAS-2016 proved that fact.
Pakistan, he said, had set a precedent for the world by effectively curbing terrorism through the Operation Zarb-e-Azb and National Action Plan.
He said the excellent exhibition of defence production reflectd the extra-ordinary expertise and dedication of the experts and workers associated with their field.
The President pointed out that the government through a comprehensive strategy had invested in education and also promoted healthy activities among the youth, and those efforts were producing very fruitful results.
About the Kashmir dispute, he said it was the biggest challenge to peace in the region. The people of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of their right to self-determination and were facing brutalities at the hand of occupation forces.
Pakistan, he added, would continue moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir.
President Mamnoon said repeated unprovoked ceasefire violations by India on the Line of Control were claiming precious lives.
No one should misconstrue the policy of restraint, as Pakistan was fully capable to respond to any aggression, he added.
He said India’s refusal to attend the 19th meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) hurt the efforts for regional peace, and violated the SAARC Charter.
The President reiterated that Afghanistan was a close neighbour and brotherly country, and its stability and prosperity was necessary not only for the region, but also for Pakistan.
About China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, he said the whole region woukld hugely benefit from the initiative.
President Mamnoon said the efforts by Pakistani experts in defence production were for regional peace. “We want that by maintaining balance of power, regional stability, development and prosperity be ensured,” he added.
He said the IDEAS-2016 was a milestone towards achieving those objectives, which gained international recognition in very short period.
“We are proud of our scientists and technical experts, who have produced the most effective, sophisticated and low-cost weapons of international standards.”
He said,”We want to invite our friends and the world community to join these endeavours through joint ventures and investment. Our this offer would be very beneficial for the economy of regional peace.”
Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, armed forces chiefs, Director General Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) Maj-Gen Agha Masood Akram, parliamentarians, and a large of delegates attended the seminar.