Mufti Sayeed on way to meet Sheikh Abdullah’s fate in IOK

Srinagar, March 01, 2015 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, there is a palpable sense of deception and betrayal among the people of Kashmir Valley who had voted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to keep the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party out of power.

As Mufti Muhammad Sayeed took oath as the puppet chief minister of PDP-BJP, today, people in Kashmir felt betrayed. Ever since the so-called Assembly election results were declared on 23 December, the PDP showed growing inclination towards allying with the BJP. The party even turned down offers of unconditional support by the National Conference as well as Congress.

Detractors took to social networking sites, newspapers and televised debates, warning Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, that he would meet the fate of one Kashmir’s one time tallest leader, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, whose grave needs round-the-clock police protection.

“After Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s will be the second grave to require police protection if PDP allies with the BJP,” Showkat Reshi, a student at University of Kashmir, wrote on Facebook.

“It needs to be pointed out that a PDP-BJP dispensation will not necessarily be historic in a positive sense. In fact, it would most likely accentuate the Kashmir-Jammu divide because the governance would be predicated on religious identity, not on civic needs,” renowned political historian, Siddiq Wahid, said.

In South Kashmir’s Bijbehara town where PDP has its original roots, residents say the party has already lost its foothold, which was why it lost six seats from the area, which was once considered as its stronghold. “We voted to keep BJP out of power but the same BJP will rule us now. This is not what we have voted for. This is not why we trusted Mufti Sayeed. We feel cheated and the PDP will face the consequences in coming years,” Nazir Ahmed Wagay, who lives in Anantnag, said.

The fears of ordinary people that the fringe elements in the BJP will fiddle with the religious sensibilities of the region, Ajaz Ahmad, who teaches Political Science at Srinagar college, said. To be a power player in the Muslim majority Kashmir is surely a dream come true,” noted political commentator, Shujaat Bukhari, in Rising Kashmir.

Another analyst said that the vote in Valley was to stop BJP’s entry into the power structure. It is a known fact that BJP never had a foothold in Kashmir and it tried all means to do that in the recent elections but failed miserably by losing the security deposit in 33 out of 34 assembly seats. Now that PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has made an unholy alliance with BJP, it needs to be seen whether he can achieve his agenda or gets lost in the saffronised power, he added.

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Gilani for trial of culprit Indian troops by UN body

Srinagar, March 01, 2015 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has demanded proceeding cases under War Crimes Tribunal of the United Nations against the Indian troops involved in the massacres of Zakura and Batmaloo and other killings during the past twenty five years in the territory.

Over 50 people were gunned down by the Indian troops in two separate massacres at Zakura and Batmaloo areas of Srinagar on this day in 1990. The Indian troops fired upon a passenger bus at Tengpora around 5:00pm killing around 30 persons including five women on the spot while several sustained injuries in the firing.

Two hours earlier, an army convoy returning from Sonamarg, fired on a pro-freedom procession at Zakura crossing, killing 11 people on the spot and scores sustained injured of which 18 succumbed to their injuries in Soura Institute of Medical Sciences taking the toll to 29. The next day, the Amnesty International called for an impartial probe into the massacres and urged the Indian forces to exercise restraint.

Syed Ali Gilani in a statement issued from New Delhi deplored that no investigation was made in the gruesome killings. He said that Jammu and Kashmir had become the most militarized zone in the world and the troops had been involved in the killing of innocent people since 1990.

Meanwhile, Democratic Political Movement leader, Advocate Muhammad Shafi Reshi paying tributes to the martyrs said that Indian army and police enjoying impunity under draconian laws were massacring innocent people in Kashmir. He demanded justice into the massacres.

Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement in a statement said killings by India was aimed at preventing Kashmiris from continuing their struggle for right to self-determination.

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Indian troops martyr 9 Kashmiris in February

Srinagar, March 01, 2015 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops in their continued acts of state terrorism martyred 9 Kashmiris during the last month of February.

According to data issued by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, today, of those martyred one civilian was killed in police custody. During the period, 93 people were injured when Indian troops and police personnel resorted to brute force on peaceful protesters while 178 persons including Hurriyet leaders and activists were arrested.

The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani on the anniversary of Zakura and Batmaloo massacres, in a statement issued from New Delhi demanded the trial of Indian troops involved in the killings by War Crime Tribunal of the United Nations. Over 50 people were gunned down by the troops in two separate incidents in Srinagar areas on this day in 1990.

An Indian trooper committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at an Army camp in Doda. This incident of suicide raised the number of such deaths among Indian troops and police personnel to 333 since January 2007.

On the other hand, pro-India Kashmiri politician, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was sworn in as the puppet chief minister of PDP-BJP coalition administration in the territory. Mufti Sayeed’s swearing-in enabled the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party to make entry for the first time in the political set-up of occupied Kashmir.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir expressed strong resentment over PDP’s alliance with BJP, saying that they did not vote Mufti Sayeed to offer his shoulder to the Hindu communalist party to reach the power corridors in Kashmir.

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Executive Committee of the National Economic Council to meet on Monday

Islamabad, March 01, 2015 (PPI-OT): Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is all set to meet on Monday at the Prime Minister’s office. Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar would chair the important meeting.

ECNEC would consider power transmission scheme for Neelum Jhelum, Karot and Azad Pattan Hydropower projects(HPPs); matters pertaining to machine readable passport/visa phase-2 and water supply scheme for Mirpur city in the vicinity of Mangla Dam. Other items including Diamer Bhasha resettlement scheme would also be discussed.

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Prime Minister’s message to Afghan president Ashraf Ghani

Islamabad, March 01, 2015 (PPI-OT): ”I was deeply troubled upon learning of the devastating avalanches in Afghanistan that have taken hundreds of our Afghan brother and sisters from us. I join you in praying for them and their families. ”I have instructed Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority to provide whatever support it can and we have already deployed multiple convoys to airlift support to Afghanistan.

”I am confident that your leadership at this time is of even more importance than during ordinary times. The Pakistani people and our resources stand available to you as always. I also want to assure you that my staff is keeping me apprised of the situation on an hourly basis. InshaAllah we will not sleep peacefully until we know that this crisis has passed.”

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Rumours about governor’s rule baseless: Sharjeel

Karachi, March 01, 2015 (PPI-OT): Sindh Minister for Information and Local bodies Sharjeel Inam Memon has said the rumours mongering about Governor rule in Sindh were totally baseless and unfounded. The civil government and armed forces are on same pitch working together against terrorism and promotion of democracy.

Minister said this while replying to volley of questions by media at the inauguration of a flower show in district Karachi central Fateh Bagh during a campaign of green, clean and peaceful Sindh on Sunday.
Replying to a question minister further said there was no dead lock between MQM and PPP and all issues will be resolved in an amicable manner, clear picture would come out after talks will be held when senate elections end.

Sharjeel Memon said after April 1st ghost employees chapter will be closed. Minister said corruption was being eliminated from all the departments including local bodies and will not sit idle till it ends. He said to ensure attendance of the employees the biometric system was being introduced in KMC,
He instructed that after April 1st all the town administrators and administrators of Karachi DMCs should submit details of salaries and expenses at websites.

He said anti-encroachment campaign has been started in Sindh including Karachi. He instructed all the concerned officers to remove all encroachments from the city. Taking action against encroachments Minister sealed a marriage hall which was constructed on a hockey ground illegally, hall was in front of Fateh Bagh.

He said after April one all the employees of local bodies will get their salaries through biometric system and physical presence through banks, a major step wash out ghost employees. He said the employee will have to give thumb impression while coming to office and going out, this will completely eliminate nuisance of ghost employees.

Minister said problems in Sindh including Karachi have been jumbled up and encroachments at and around nullahs have become a serious problem. Referring to Gujjar nullah, he said at present more than two lac people are residing at nullah and some government offices have been made at various nullahs of Karachi.

He said government has started a campaign to end bill boards and said several companies have been invited. Minister said officers and bureaucracy paid no attention to cleanliness campaign and plantation of trees and he was compelled to come on road see the work done physically. He said companies will establish dustbins of their names and get publicity.

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