Indian Army occupies 21 kanal prime land in Sonamarg

Srinagar, May 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, Indian Army, after occupying land in Tattoo Ground, Gulmarg and Tosa Maidan, has encroached upon 21 kanal of prime land of the locals in the tourist destination of Sonmarg.

The occupation of land in Sonamarg, the meadow of gold, comes to light at a time when Army is yet to relocate from Tosa Maidan or return land it occupied at Tattoo Ground and Gulmarg.

After the land of locals was taken over, elaborate deliberations on the sensitive issue were held between the civil administration and the Army authorities during a Civil Military Liaison Conference (CMLC) that was presided over by Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey on March 18, 2014.

The meeting was convened to discuss the matter that the authorities feared might lead to law and order problems keeping the sensitivity of Amarnath yatra in mind.

Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Sarmad Hafeez informed the authorities that Army had encroached upon 21 kanal land at Sonmarg and fenced it during the night. “No rent has been paid to the locals for more than a decade,” Hafeez said in the meeting.

Among the army authorities, besides the Chief of Staff HQ 15 Corps, Maj Gen Manoj Kumar, Brigadier Q 15 Corps 56 APO, Defense Estates Officer Circle Kashmir, CoI Q, Works 15 Corps, CoI Q 31 Sub Area, Representative Station Commodore Gulmarg, Administrative Commandant Shariefabad Budgam, SDO and Defense Estate Officer Srinagar were also present.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736

Indian trooper kills two seniors before committing suicide in Poonch

Poonch, May 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, an Indian trooper commits suicide after killing his two senior colleagues in Poonch district. The other two soldiers were identified as JCO Subedar Chemail Singh and Havaldar Ranjot Singh.

“A soldier shot at two of his colleagues in Poonch sector at 1315 hours today, soldier then committed suicide by shooting himself,” a defence spokesman said adding that both of them died on the spot.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736

Pakistan, India urged to boldly move for Kashmir settlement

Srinagar, May 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, reiterating his demand to resolve the Kashmir dispute once and for all, has called upon the leadership of India and Pakistan to boldly move forward towards the start of a full-fledged peace process.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement issued in Srinagar, today, expressed his ardent wish that the two leaders would urgently work towards a just and lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute to translate peace, prosperity and stability into a reality in South Asia.

He welcomed any immediate steps – symbolic or otherwise – that might improve the relationship and build confidence between India and Pakistan. At the same time, he emphasized that the Kashmir issue must not be ignored or brushed aside. Precious time should not be wasted before moving forward towards a search for solutions, he said.

“There must be a serious and result-oriented process of dialogue. For this to happen, India and Pakistan must engage the people of Jammu Kashmir as an active and true partner in the search for peace. For any lasting solution, Kashmiris must be involved,” he stressed.

He explained that: “Efforts must be focused on finding a solution that accommodates the needs and interests of all parties and upholds the Kashmiri people’s aspirations and right of self-determination. The solution will have to be acceptable to all. It must ultimately reflect the will of the people of Jammu Kashmir.”

“Let all the political parties of India, Pakistan and Jammu Kashmir make a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir Issue their shared agenda,” he stressed.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736

Bold steps sought from Pakistan, India to resolve Kashmir dispute

Srinagar, May 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has called upon the leadership of India and Pakistan to boldly move forward towards the start of a full-fledged peace process to resolve the Kashmir dispute, once and for all.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement issued in Srinagar, today, expressed his ardent wish that the premiers of the two countries would translate peace, prosperity and stability into a reality in South Asia by finding out a just and lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute.

He emphasized that the Kashmir issue must not be ignored or brushed aside and stressed India and Pakistan to engage the people of Jammu and Kashmir as an active and true partner in the search for peace.

Meanwhile, the veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani in his statement said, whoever comes to India, including the leaders of Pakistan, should discuss the Kashmir issue that would benefit larger political aspirations of the people of Kashmir. He pointed out that their past experiences had seen an unrealistic approach on part of all the previous governments in New Delhi.

On the other hand, curfew was imposed in Kalaroos area of Kupwara district against the death of a Kashmiri youth, who was injured recently during the so-called Indian parliamentary elections in the territory. The man was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Srinagar.

There are reports that Indian army and police have jointly launched a violent operation at Arwaini in Bijbehara. The troops are conducting house-to-house search and subjecting locals to physical and mental torture.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736

Indian troops martyred two Kashmiris in IOK

Srinagar, May 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, two youth were martyred by Indian troops in Nowpora, Kulgam district.

Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism during a siege and search operation martyred two Kashmiri youth in Nowpora, Frisal, Kulgam district.

One residential house was also razed to the ground by Indian troops. The slain youth were identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat of Nowpora and Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat resident of Chakoo, Shopian.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736

Pak Premier’s proposed visit to India

Srinagar, May 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq commenting on Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif’s decision to attend Indian Prime Minister-elect, Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony, has said that Hurriyet is ready to contribute positively to any sincere and serious effort to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq talking to media persons in Srinagar said, “We expect that a sustained dialogue will start in near future between India and Pakistan… we are always ready to contribute positively to any sincere and serious effort for resolution of Kashmir issue.”

He said Hurriyet has always supported improvement in relations between the two countries as “we feel that Kashmir issue also cannot be resolved till the trust and confidence of the two countries in each other does not strengthen”.

“Besides talking about issues, we hope that they will talk on the core issue of Kashmir as well so that ways of resolving this issue are found in a time-bound manner,” he said. He hoped that a bilateral dialogue process between India and Pakistan would move forward and in near future this process would be given a shape.

Calling for involvement of Kashmiri representatives in the composite dialogue process, the APHC chairman said, “Whenever India and Pakistan start a bilateral dialogue, they should include Kashmiri representatives to move forward.”

The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani in his statement said “whoever comes to India, including the leaders of Pakistan, should discuss Kashmir issue that would benefit larger political aspirations of the people of Kashmir. “Our past experiences have seen unrealistic approach of all the previous governments in New Delhi,” he added.

Liberation leaders including, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Aasiya Andrabi termed the invitation to swearing-in of Modi a political gimmick, which, they said, of no significance for the people of Kashmir.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736

National Assembly Parliamentary delegation to visit Tajikistan tomorrow

Islamabad, May 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker National Assembly will leave for Dushanbe from Moscow, tomorrow on a three day official visit to Tajikistan on the invitation of Mr. Shukurjon Zukhurov, Speaker of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will be accompanied by an eight-member parliamentary delegation comprising of MNAs Mrs. Surriya Jatoi, Chaudhary Muhammad Ashraf, Mr Ghulam Muhammad Lali, Rana Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Rana Zahid Hussain Khan, Dr. Imran Khattak, Malik Ihtebar Khan and Mr. Abdul Waseem. The delegation left Islamabad for Dushanbe today.

During his stay in Tajikistan, the Speaker National Assembly will meet his counterpart, Mr. Makhmadsaid Ubaidulloev, Speaker of the Majlisi Milli of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Emomalii Rahmon, President of Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Aslov Sirodjidin Muhridinovich, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and others. Both sides will discuss aspects of enhancing bilateral cooperation particularly the legislature of both the countries.

For more information, contact:
Karamat Hussain Niazi
Secretary
National Assembly of Pakistan
Parliament House, Islamabad
Tel: +9251 922 1082 -83
Fax: +9251 922 1106