November 10, 2022

Pakistan calls for sustained engagement of International community with interim Afghan Government

Islamabad, November 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pakistan has reiterated the importance of sustained engagement of international community with the interim Afghan government, to ensure continued wellbeing and prosperity of the Afghan people. This came during meeting of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar with Iranian President’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, Hassan Kazemi Ghomi in Islamabad on Thursday. She said the international community’s engagement is important due to multiple and complex challenges confronting Afghanistan.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s abiding commitment to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, the Minister of State underscored that deep rooted fraternal ties underpin the strong bonds of solidarity between the two countries. Hina Rabbani Khar said as friends and neighbours of Afghanistan, both Pakistan and Iran have critical role to this end.

Earlier, the Iranian Special Representative also met Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq and agreed to further strengthen cooperation towards advancing the mutually reinforcing goals of regional peace and development.

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

November 10, 2022

CDA active against encroachments and illegal constructions in Islamabad

Islamabad, November 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):On the instructions of Federal Development Authority (Capital Development Authority) Chairman Captain (Retd) Muhammad Usman Yunus, the Enforcement Department on Tuesday launched raids against the mafia in different areas of Islamabad.

By carrying out extensive operations, many illegal constructions were demolished and 60 kanals of government land were handed over, while 12 truckloads of encroachers were also confiscated. These operations were started from Mouza Kari Dhok Balag, a suburb of Islamabad, where the squatter mafia was trying to take over the government land, against which, with the help of the Finance Department, CDA, the marking process was started.

These constructions were found on the land acquired by CDA. In the light of Nishandhi, the attempt to seize 60 kanals of land by demolishing the vast four walls built on the CDA land was foiled. Similarly, under the direction of Chairman CDA Captain (Retd) Muhammad Usman Yunus, the Enforcement Department has started a special campaign to eliminate encroachment from public corridors, public passages and footpaths in the centers and commercial areas of Islamabad. Operations are being carried out in various centers and commercial centers of Islamabad on a daily basis.

During this campaign, the enforcement department took full action against encroachments in Sector F-11 Center, F-10 Center, F-7 Center, G-9/4 Peshawar Mor, during which road sides, public passages and dozens of stalls on the footpath were removed and 9 truckloads of goods were also seized from the encroachers. Apart from this, 2 trucks of goods were confiscated while removing encroachments in Margalla Town Phase-I and Motorway Chowk.

Moreover, a new house was being constructed in Syedpur Model Village for the purpose of occupying the land of the National Park area. An attempt to seize government land by demolishing a house was foiled. Moreover, in front of Shifa International Hospital in Sector H-9, the footpath was encroached by making a motorcycle parking lot, causing serious problems to the pedestrians. During the action against this illegal parking, several motorcycles were seized while the footpath was cleared.

On this occasion, Chairman CDA Clayton (Retd.) Muhammad Usman Yunus praised the actions of the Enforcement Directorate and said that by developing the Enforcement Directorate on modern lines, Islamabad will be made an encroachment-free city so that all possible facilities will be provided to the residents here can be provided.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Directorate
Capital Development Authority (CDA)
Main Office, G-7/4, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-9252614
Email: getreply@cda.gov.pk
Website: www.cda.gov.pk

November 10, 2022

Court dismisses appeal against acquittal of Hindutva leaders in Babri Masjid demolition case

Allahabad, November 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):The High court in Allahabad, India dismissed a petition against the acquittal of some key Hindutva figures in the Babri Masjid demolition case. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the petition against the acquittal of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Uma Bharti, Murli Manohar Joshi, LK Advani, Kalyan Singh and other prominent Hindutva figures in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

The court had had reserved its judgment on 31st October after concluding the arguments in the case filed by two Muslim residents of Ayodhya, Haji Mahboob Ahmad and Syed Akhlaq Ahmad, against the acquittal of saffron politicians by a special CBI court. Haji Mahboob Ahmad and Syed Akhlaq Ahmad had challenged the 2020 judgment of the special CBI court that held there was nothing on record to establish the existence of a conspiracy to demolish the Babri Masjid.

The appeal claimed that they were victims as well as witnesses who suffered the loss of their historic place of worship, the Babri Masjid. They also said to HC that they suffered financial loss on account of destruction of their houses due to arson, loot etc. In 2020, all the 32 people were accused of criminal conspiracy and inciting a mob to tear down the Mughal-era mosque in 1992.

On December 6, 1992, thousands of Hindus gathered for a rally near the mosque site and large number of them climbed the mosque and demolished it with axes and hammers, which sparked anti-Muslim violence that left some 2,000 people dead, majority of them Muslims. Meanwhile, on 9 November in 2019, Indian Supreme Court awarded the mosque site to Hindus, handing the BJP a victory to drive home its Hindu nationalist agenda. In its ruling the top court ordered the entire disputed area of 2.77 acres to be allocated to Hindus for the construction of the temple. Muslim groups and activists called the verdict as “blatant injustice towards Muslims.”

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

November 10, 2022

Pakistan’s Government, army providing strict security for Chinese projects: Zhao Lijian

Islamabad, November 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):China has acknowledged the security measures taken by Pakistani government and the army for protection of the Chinese projects across the country. During his regular briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that Chinese workers are in Pakistan for a long time and Pakistani government and the army have been providing strict security protection to them.

The spokesperson said that China and Pakistan have close communication and coordination over security matters. Zhao Lijian rebutted the media reports regarding use of bullet-proof vehicles for all outdoor movement of the Chinese nationals working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects.

November 10, 2022

India must shun rigidity, resolve Kashmir dispute as per UN resolutions

Srinagar, November 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference has said that the Kashmir conflict is a reality, urging India to abandon its rigidity on the long-pending dispute and take steps to resolve the dispute as per the relevant UN resolutions and the Kashmiris’ aspirations. The APHC spokesman in a statement issued in Srinagar said India is forcibly denying the right of self-determination of Kashmiris, for which the people of the occupied territory, especially the youth, are making great and unprecedented sacrifices for the last over seven decades to end the oppression and subjugation of their motherland. The statement added, “It is our responsibility to continue the mission of our great martyrs until the goal of freedom is achieved”.

India has suppressed the Kashmiris’ birth right by dint of it military power, the spokesperson said, adding that till now the occupation troops have killed and injured lakhs of Kashmiris, subjected them to brutal atrocities by locking them in jails, but Kashmiris have not been deterred and are continuing their struggle with determination. He said that as a result of India’s continuous obstinacy and stubbornness, the bloodshed of innocent people continues without any hindrance.

The statement said that such inhuman and immoral tactics had failed to suppress the Kashmiris’ freedom sentiment in the past and would meet the same fate in the future as well. The APHC spokesperson said that instead of taking concrete measures to resolve the lingering Kashmir dispute in its historical perspective, New Delhi wanted to thrust it rule through barrel of gun. He said that it was the collective responsibility of the people of Kashmir and the leadership to take the ongoing liberation movement to its logical conclusion.

He said that Kashmiris have been striving for their right to self-determination in a peaceful manner, however, Indian authorities responding beastly and ruthlessly, are silencing their legitimate voice through coercive measures. He said Kashmiris will never budge from their stand and will carry their mission till its logical end.

Meanwhile, the APHC leaders including Zamrooda Habib, Shabbir Ahmad Dar, and Dr Musaib in their separate statements, expressing serious concern over the deteriorating health condition of detained leaders and youth in jails and demanded their immediate release. They appealed to the world human rights organizations particularly the UN Human Rights Council and the International Committee of Red Cross to take cognizance of the arbitrary and illegal acts of Indian forces in the occupied territory.

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

November 10, 2022

Modi govt opposes reservation for Dalit Christians, Muslims

New Delhi, November 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Modi-led Indian government has opposed before the Supreme Court petitions seeking Scheduled Caste status for Dalits who have converted to Christianity and Islam. According to Kashmir Media Service, in an affidavit filed in the top court, the Modi government said, “The Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950, was based on historical data which clearly established that no such backwardness or oppression was ever faced by members of Christian or Islamic society”.

“In fact, one of the reasons for which people from SCs have been converting to Islam or Christianity is so that they can come out of the oppressive system of untouchability which is not prevalent at all in Christianity or Islam,” the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment affidavit admitted. It faulted Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission for favouring SC status for Dalits converted to Christianity and Islam, saying it was not based on field studies. The government said the commission took a myopic view of the social environment in India and failed to take into account the effect that the inclusion would have on the present castes listed as SCs.

Last month, New Delhi had appointed a three-member commission headed by former CJI KG Balakrishnan to examine whether SC status could be given to those members of Scheduled Caste community who had converted to Christianity or Islam. The first Dalit CJI, Justice Balakrishnan, also served as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission.

Noting that the legal issues involved had to be settled, the Supreme Court had on August 30 given three weeks to the government to spell out its stand on the issue. The Constitution (SC) Order, 1950, says that no person professing a religion other than Hinduism or Sikhism or Buddhism could be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste. However, Muslim and Christian groups have been demanding similar status for Dalits who have converted to Christianity or Islam, arguing that the restriction went against their fundamental right to equality, religious freedom and non-discrimination. The petitioners contended that the change in religion did not change social exclusion and caste hierarchy continued to hold fort within Christianity even though the religion forbade it.

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

November 10, 2022

Government to withdraw appeal against Shariat Court’s verdict: Dar

Islamabad, November 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Federal government has decided to withdraw the appeals filed by State Bank and National Bank of Pakistan in the Supreme Court against a verdict of Federal Shariat Court regarding interest free banking system in the country.

In a tweet, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the decision has been taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in consultation with the Governor State Bank. They also decided to promote interest-free banking system in the country on fast track basis.