Finance Minister reviews progress on Privatisation

Islamabad, January 05, 2016 (PPI-OT): Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting here Tuesday to review the progress of various privatisation transactions. While briefing the meeting regarding the offer made to Government of Sindh to acquire Pakistan Steel Mills, the Chairman Privatization Commission, Mr. Mohammad Zubair informed that the Provincial Government had finally responded and sought detailed information on the financial and other aspects of PSM. He informed that the requisite information was being compiled and will be shared with the provincial government shortly.

The Finance Minister directed the Privatization Commission to provide the required information at the earliest so that the process could be taken forward expeditiously. Secretary Privatisation informed the meeting that Privatisation Commission was working on various entities, which had been approved for privatisation/ divestment by the Council of Common Interest (CCI).

He gave a detailed briefing on the various privatisation transactions in the pipeline and the progress achieved on each of them to-date. The Minister directed the Privatisation Commission to complete the due diligence process for the approved entities and optimally utilize in-house resources for the purpose. The meeting was attended by the senior officials Ministry of Finance and the Privatization Commission.

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Indian police arrest 8 Kashmiri businessmen in India

New Delhi, January 05, 2016 (PPI-OT): Indian police arrested eight Kashmiris in Bikanar district of Indian state of Rajasthan. These Kashmiri business men were on their way to Bajju area, when they were detained on the basis of suspicion. They were travelling to Bajju area in a bus, SHO Kolayat police station Gopal Singh Nathawat said. The SHO said they were detained following a tip off. “Primarily, they said that they came from Kashmir to Bikaner to cut woods. Their credentials are being verified,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of Pathankot attack, the Kashmiri students, businessmen and employees in Indian state of Punjab were harassment by Indian Police. Many students putting up in Punjab talking to media men over phone said that Punjab police of India conducted nocturnal raids in their rented accommodations and quarters. “The incident has created fear and psychosis and we are worried about our safety and security,” they added.

Indian policemen entered their quarters and unnecessarily harassed and asked about the pistols and guns and where we have kept them,” a Kashmiri told media men. Nayeem Ahmad, a lecturer at a private engineering college, said the Punjab police took the photographs of Kashmiris and threatened them of dire consequences. “We couldn’t sleep for the whole night. It was a nightmare for all of us. We are feeling insecure after the incident,” he said.

Around 25 Kashmiris are residing in the rented accommodations at the place. They said whose quarters were raided included, Wilayat Ali, Suhail Bashir, Zahid Manzoor, Basit Junaid, and many others. Hundreds of students from JK are studying in Indian state Punjab. The harassed youth have appealed for their safety and other Kashmiris living outside Kashmir especially in Punjab.

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President Mamnoon Hussain condemns Pathankot terror attack

Islamabad, January 05, 2016 (PPI-OT): President Mamnoon Hussain has said that Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including the incident at Pathankot however Pakistan would continue to adhere to the principled stand of the right of self-determination of Kashmiri people which is the basis of its foreign policy.

The President said this while talking to a delegation of Kashmiri leaders which called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Tuesday. On the occasion, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Muhammad Barjees Tahir, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, leaders of political parties of Azad Kashmir and All Parties Hurriyat Conference were also present. The meeting was organized especially on the day of passing of United Nations resolution for the right of self-determination of Kashmir and as part of commemoration of Quaid-e-Azam’s birth anniversary.

President Mamnoon Hussain said that Pakistan would continue supporting the right of self-determination of Kashmiris because Pakistan considers Kashmir as an unfinished agenda of the partition of the subcontinent. The President stated that the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said that the word ‘K’ in Pakistan denotes Kashmir and Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir. He added that the view of Quaid-e-Azam that Kashmir is jugular vein of Pakistan is a guiding principle for every Pakistani.

The President stated that the support for the right of self-determination for Kashmiri people is the basic principle of Pakistan’s foreign policy adding that Pakistan has raised the voice in support of Kashmiris on every political and diplomatic forum and it would continue playing this role in future as well. The President said that Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim majority area and the efforts underway for turning the majority into a minority there would never be successful.

President Mamnoon Hussain assured the Kashmiri leadership that there would be no change in the principled stand of Pakistan on Kashmir and it would continue to support the just aspirations of oppressed people of the occupied Kashmir. Condemning the attack on airbase in Pathankot, the President said that Pakistan is against all kind of terrorism.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Muhammad Barjees Tahir, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and other Kashmiri leaders also expressed their views on the occasion and highlighted the Kashmir issue.

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Avalanche kills four Indian troops in Ladakh

Ladakh, January 05, 2016 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, four Indian troops were killed in a massive avalanche in Ladakh region. Four Indian troops of 3 Ladakh Scouts identified as Havaldar Tsewang Nurbu, Havaldar Dorjay Gyaltsan, Rifleman Mohammad Yousuf and Rifleman Jigmaid Chosdup were killed when their patrol party was hit by a snow avalanche at the Southern Glacier in Ladkah “, said Udhampur based Indian Defence Spokesman Col SD Goswami.

This is the third time since April last year that avalanches killed Indian troops at Siachan in Ladakh. Last year in April, four Army personnel were killed when an avalanche struck in Chang La area of Siachen where they were performing their duty. On November 15 last year, an Indian Army Captain Ashwani Kumar was killed while 15 Indian troops were rescued when avalanche hit an army post at Siachen Glacier.

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UN chief asked to implement resolutions on Kashmir

Srinagar, January 05, 2016 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, pro-freedom leadership has appealed to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to implement 5th January and other resolutions passed by the World Body on Kashmir. The All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in a statement issued in Srinagar said, on January 5, 1949, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution giving the people of Jammu and Kashmir the right to decide their future through a free and fair plebiscite.

“But 66 years later, the people of Kashmir are yet to be provided with the opportunity to exercise their right to decide their future,” he added. He said the UNSC has agreed in the resolution that aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be the guiding principle in finding any resolution to the Kashmir dispute. “Delay in implementing the resolution has led to continuation of the dispute and resulted in three major wars between India and Pakistan; numerous lives have been lost while property in both the countries and in Kashmir got damaged,” he said.

“As India and Pakistan have decided to resume the dialogue process to resolve all pending issues including Kashmir, we remind both the countries to keep in view the underlying spirit of UN resolutions. They shall recognize centrality of the will and aspirations of the people while addressing and reaching any agreement.” He called for inclusion Kashmiri representatives in the dialogue process.

Other Hurriyet leaders and organizations including Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Zafar Akbar Butt, Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Muslim Deeni Mahaz and Muslim League Jammu and Kashmir in their separate statements demanded implementation of the resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on January 5, 1949, which calls for referendum in Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

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Muslims urged to maintain unity to thwart enemies’ designs

Srinagar, January 05, 2016 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, Hurriyet leadership has called upon Muslims around the world including Jammu and Kashmir to maintain unity and brotherhood to thwart evil designs of enemy forces against Islam and Muslims. The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani in a statement issued in Srinagar pointed out that imperialistic powers and Zionist lobbies were making every attempt to inflame disunity and discord in Muslim world. The veteran leader urged Muslims to rise above the sectarian differences and unite on the teachings of Holy Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to come out of the present quagmire.

APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in his statement cautioned people to beware of the elements trying to stoke sectarian passions and discord. Appealing Muslims throughout the world including Kashmir not to fall prey to the designs of anti-Islam forces. The Mirwaiz said, already large-scale bloodshed is going on in parts of the Islamic world, and appropriate steps are needed to end this bloodshed and create stability in the Muslim world.

Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Chairman, Shabbir Ahmad Shah also appealed people to uphold communal harmony in the territory saying, “We are struggling for a greater cause. We must refrain from every activity that may lead to communal disharmony.” The leaders also condemned the imposition of curfew and restrictions by authorities use of excessive of force by Indian police and paramilitary forces on unarmed civilians and peaceful protestors in different areas of the territory.

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Father dismisses CRPF’s claim about killing of son in Zainkote

Srinagar, January 05, 2016 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the family of Zainakote youth, who was killed by Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Forces on 7th November 2015, has termed as baseless the claims of CRPF that it did not fire shells and bullets which killed their son, Gowhar Ahmad Dar. Nazir Ahmad Dar, father of Gowhar Ahmad Dar, reacting to CRPF statement told media in Srinagar that the statement of CRPF DIG who has said that the paramilitary troops did not fire shells or bullets on the protesters on November 7 was baseless and aimed to give clean chit to the CRPF personnel involved in the killing.

Showing copy of the FIR registered by police, Nazir Ahmad Dar said police have mentioned that CRPF officer, Rajesh Kumar, fired teargas shells toward the protesters. “Police also mentioned in the FIR that Gowhar was reported to be critically injured by the shell. The CRPF also in its statement to media said that it fired 19 shells toward the protesters. How can the CRPF now refute the police FIR and its own statement? This is condemnable,” Dar said.

Meanwhile, the forum led by the veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani in a statement criticized the authorities for giving a clean chit to paramilitary CRPF men in the Zainakote killing case. A youth Gowhar Nazir Dar was killed on November 7, 2015, outside his home at Zainakote in Srinagar. The forum said that the Indian forces would not be prosecuted in Kashmir until black laws were revoked. On the other hand, Voice of Victims, a local human rights body, in a statement expressed concern over raids and arrest spree unleashed by Indian police in Srinagar, Pulwama, Palhalan and other areas of the territory.

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