September 20, 2020

Rituals of Baba Guru Nanak death anniversary start at Kartarpur

Islamabad, September 20, 2020 (PPI-OT): Three-day rituals in connection with death anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji are starting at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur from Sunday.

On the directions of the Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board, all arrangements including security, accommodation and lungar have been completed. As many as 2,000 Sikhs Yatrees from Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Peshawar and other districts of the country will participate in the event.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

September 20, 2020

APC a flimsy attempt to put pressure on Govt to back off, on accountability: Shibli Faraz

Islamabad, September 20, 2020 (PPI-OT): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz says the All Parties Conference is a flimsy attempt to put pressure on the government to back off, on accountability.

In a tweet on Sunday, he said nation has witnessed that opposition has used politics for personal gains and used parliament to protect their personal empires. The Information Minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan will never compromise his commitment on corruption. Hence no NRO will be given.

September 20, 2020

FATF related bills passed by parliament to steer the country out of grey list: Shibli Faraz

Islamabad, September 20, 2020 (PPI-OT): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz says the FATF related bills recently passed by the joint sitting of parliament were very important to steer the country out of the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force. Addressing a news conference along with Adviser on Interior Shahzad Akbar in Islamabad on Saturday, he said no legislation was done in the past to check money laundering.

Shibli Faraz said the opposition parties want to stoke anarchy and confusion as well as create law and order situation in the country to achieve their vested interests. Referring to opposition’s All Parties Conference to be held tomorrow, he said such gatherings have failed in the past and the result of the latest one will also be zero.

Alluding to Nawaz Sharif, Shibli Faraz said he is a convicted person who fled the country on the pretext of indisposition. He said the government is ready to sit with the opposition for legislation and public welfare but no compromise will be made on corruption. Highlighting the improvements witnessed on the economic front and Covid-19, the Information Minister said the benefits of the economic recovery have started reaching the masses.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahzad Akbar said the opposition parties wanted concessions for extending support to the FATF related bills. He said the opposition also resorted to propaganda campaign against the FATF related bills to mislead the nation. The Adviser on Interior clarified that the government has simplified the anti-money laundering bill and deleted the power of arrest from it. He said the money laundering has also been made a cognizable offense as is the practice in the world.

September 20, 2020

Response to media queries regarding visa matter of senior Indian diplomat

Islamabad, September 20, 2020 (PPI-OT): Responding to media queries, the Spokesperson said that leaking misleading information and twisting facts is not only contrary to diplomatic norms but is also not helpful in the conduct of diplomatic relations. The news in certain sections of Indian media, quoting sources in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, regarding assignment visa for senior Indian diplomat Jayant Khobragade proposed as Charge d’ Affaires at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, is misleading. It may be recalled that following India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Pakistan took a number of steps, including the downgrading of diplomatic relations with India.

The purpose of downgrading the relations was to register Pakistan’s strong protest and condemnation of India’s illegal, inhuman and unacceptable actions in IIOJK. Pakistan believes that by proposing a senior diplomat, who has already served as Ambassador in another post, India is trying to circumvent the effect of downgrading of diplomatic relations, which is obviously not in line with Pakistan’s decision. However, keeping in view the diplomatic norms, Pakistan has counselled India to nominate an officer with seniority commensurate with Pakistan’s decision of downgrading the diplomatic relations.

As for the veiled threats in Indian media reports that the issue of grant of assignment visa to Mr. Khobragade will “further destabilize” India-Pakistan relations, it must be clear that the relations between India and Pakistan are inextricably linked to the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

A just and lasting solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is critical for durable peace and stability in South Asia. Accordingly, India is once again reminded of its international obligations with regard to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. India must listen to the voices of the Kashmiri people and the world community.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

September 20, 2020

Message from National Coordinator NACTA, Mr. Khaliq Dad Lak on International Day of Peace on 21st September, 2020

Islamabad, September 20, 2020 (PPI-OT): 21st September is celebrated as the “International Peace Day” to uphold the values of peaceful coexistence and also to acknowledge the efforts of those working to promote peace. Over the last few decades, the world has witnessed multiple economic, social and environmental challenges. However, the rise in incidents of violent extremism and terrorism remains at the forefront. There is a growing realization that all these issues are multi-faceted and inter related.

Consequently, the need for pursuit of peace and the resolve to live in harmony has become imminent. This can only be achieved by working together through an integrated model espousing whole of a government and society approach. This is also the theme of this year’s Peace Day “Shaping Peace Together”. This theme underlines the fact that the ideal of peace cannot be achieved by any nation or community in isolation.

It is only possible by inculcating values of freedom, plurality and peaceful coexistence and by promoting cultural understanding and respect among various segments of society. Our aim should be to end isolation and develop integrated communities which are less vulnerable to the influence of extremist elements. On this day, I invite all communities to join hands for a peaceful world.

September 20, 2020

Around 1.7 million people given IIOJK domiciles, India confirms

New Delhi, September 20, 2020 (PPI-OT): Indian Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy informed the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian parliament, on Sunday that as many as 1.679 million people have been given domicile certificates in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, so far. Replying to a written question in the Lok Sabha, Reddy said as per the information provided by the IIOJK administration, a total of 21,13,879 people have applied for domicile certificates.

The minister said as per the registration records maintained with the Provincial Rehabilitation Officer (PRO), IIOJK, a total of 6,565 families were registered as displaced families from the Chhamb Niabat area during the Pakistan-India war of 1971. For the displaced families of 1971, agricultural land at the rate of 4 acres (irrigated) or 6 acres (un-irrigated) was allotted. A cash compensation of Rs 7,500 per family was also paid, he said.

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

September 20, 2020

OIC urges probe by UN into fake encounter killings in IOJK

Jeddah, September 20, 2020 (PPI-OT): The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-IPHRC) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of three innocent Kashmiri labourers by Indian troops in Shopian district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir on July 18.

The OIC-IPHRC in a twitter message said, “Admission of this heinous act [by Indian forces] reinforces IPHRC’s repeated concerns on intensity and frequency of such crimes committed by Indian forces in IIOJK with impunity under (draconian law) Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) supported by the [Indian] State apparatus under the Hindutva ideology and widely condemned by UN, OHCHR and OIC.”

The OIC-IPHRC urged the international community to establish Commission of Inquiry under the United Nations to investigate these extrajudicial killings and grave human rights violations. It called upon India to repeal the draconian laws, Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act and respect Kashmiris’ right to self-determination as per UN and OIC resolutions. The statement said that the killing of three IIOJK labourers had been confessed by the Indian forces in their statement of 18th September 2020 as ‘excessive wrongdoing’ of its soldiers under draconian AFSPA.

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