Author: hamid

Jammu: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed the decision of the Union Health Ministry to open New Medical Institutions in the state. Addressing a function here today the party President In a statement issued to KNS, Mehbooba Mufti, president PDP has expressed her gratitude to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for sanctioning 2 Cancer Institutions and 4 Medical Colleges in the state which could drastically improve health facilities and opportunities of medical education in J&K.
The function was organized to welcome into the party fold a prominent political worker from Noorabad constituency of South Kashmir into the party fold. Gulzar Ahmad Dar joined the party along with his supporters at the function which was attended by among the others senior party leaders and legislatures Abdul Gaffar Sofi, Nayeem Akhtar and Peerzada Mansoor Hussain and local leader of Noorabad Abdul Majeed Padroo.
In her address Mehbooba said there was always need and scope for up gradation of advance medical facilities in the state, especially in the field of treatment of Cancer for which people have generally to go outside the state involving huge expenditure and inconvenience. Similarly, given the shortage of medical professionals in the country, the establishment of Medical Colleges will open new avenues for the talented youth of the state who want to pursue the profession, said Mehbooba.
PDP President said it would have been appreciable if Rajouri and Poonch had been included for the establishment of Medical Colleges in the Pir Panchal region and PDP will pursue that project in future.  She said Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Muzzafar Hussain Beigh have been constantly making efforts for the establishment of Medical Colleges at Baramulla, Anantnag and during the previous govt invested considerably for the establishment of 300 bedded hospital, a pre requisite for setting up of medical college. She said the medical college in Doda region will cater to the needs of that area which is at present lacking even basic health infrastructure.
Mehbooba said the people of the state have made up their mind to get rid of the mis-governance and corruption that has been the hallmark of National Conference and its government, She said change in the state is inevitable and PDP has emerged as the instrument of that change as indicated by all recent opinion polls and that trend is endorsed by the entry into party by political workers like Gulzar and people from different sections of society in large number. (KNS)

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Saturday said that the secret execution of Afzal Guru would remain a question mark over the functioning of Indian courts for times to come as it was carried out against the general court procedures and prescribed legal canons.
According to a statement issued to KNS, on the first martyrdom anniversary of Afzal Guru, Mirwaiz along with a high level Hurriyat delegation including Bilal Gani lone, Agha Syed Hassan Al Moosvi, Musadiq Adil, GN Zaki, Javed Ahmad Mir, Engineer Hilal Ahmad War, Hakim Abdul Rashid, Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, Syed Bashir Andrabi, Farooq Ahmad Saudagar and others leaders visited the native house of martyr Guru at Abgah Sopore to express their condolences and solidarity with the bereaved family. The leaders sympathized with the family and prayed for the deceased soul and entire martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir who laid their lives for the cause.
Speaking over the occasion, Mirwaiz said martyrdom of Afzal Guru was a tragic incident for the family and entire Kashmir. On one hand he said the secret execution of Guru has unveiled the true face of Indian democracy and justice hidden beneath the mask, while on the other, it has strengthened the resolve and commitment of Kashmiri nation to carry on with the struggle. Mirwaiz said Gurus martyrdom would inspire the future generations to take the struggle forward till it reaches its conclusion.
Mirwaiz also visited house of the noted social personality of Sopore and paternal uncle of Bilal Gani Lone, Master Ghulam Ahmad Ganaie and condoled with the family members. Expressing his sympathy and solidarity with the members and Bilal Gani Lone, Mirwaiz threw light on the social life later Master Ghulam Ahmad and prayed for the deceased soul.
Meanwhile, senior hurriyat leader Zaffar Akbar Bhat visited the houses of two freedom fighters in Shopian who were martyred by Indian troops during a recent gunfight. Paying rich tributes to Rashid Ahmad Sheikh of Haripora, Zainpora and Abid Ahmad Rather of Shopian, Bhat on behalf of APHC, he said the mission of all martyrs would be taken to its logical end.
APHC also organized a special prayer session to commemorate the 39th martyrdom death anniversary of martyr Gulam Mohammad Bulla at Sopore cemetery. Hurriyat leaders including Javaid Ahmad Mir, Hakeem Ab Rashid  Gh. Nabi Zaki,Khan Mohammad Sopori PL Leader Shakeel-u-Rehman, Imtiyaz Ahmad Reshi, Jaffer Kashmiri, Gulam Mohammad Mir and others participated in the prayer session.
The leaders said Kashmiri nation can’t forget the sacrifices. They said instead of surrendering before the oppressors, Gulam Mohammad Bulla, S Hameed Wani, or Sheikh Abdul Aziz preferred martyrdom. They said that the brave sons of Kashmir sacrificed their lives for Kashmir freedom and not for the vote bank or administrative units.
Condemning the arrest of youth in Bandipora, the spokesman said that they were arrested after they staged a peaceful protests against the beating of a shopkeeper. He demanded immediate release of the detained youth.    (KNS)

Srinagar: State Congress President and Rajya Sabha member Professor Saif-u-Din Soz Saturday said that he is representing the people of Jammu and Kashmir to his best ability in the Indian Parliament. “Tell me which issue I did not raise in Parliament. I never ignored any issue pertaining to Jammu and Kahsmir, be it Pathribal fake encounter, AFSPA, train service, Machil fake encounter, unemployment, Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme or occupation of Government forces in hotels and other buildings,” Soz told Srinagar based news gathering agency CNS adding that he never compromises when it comes to Kashmir.

Soz said that despite having a busy schedule, he never missed or misses an opportunity to raise any issue pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir. He said a day after Army closed Pathribla fake encounter case; he vehemently raised the issue with Defense Minister and asked Jammu and Kashmir Government to approach Supreme Court of India. “My stand on Pathribal fake encounter is clear. I want Jammu and Kashmir government to become a party and approach to Supreme Court,” Soz said adding that Kashmir is my constituency it is always on his mind.

He said that in Rajya Sabha, he on record raised the questions about the illegal arrests and detentions of Kashmiri youth in outside states and urged Prime Minister of India to ensure their release and pay compensation to their families. “There are some issues which do not find a space in a section of press but that does not mean I have failed to represent Kashmir,” he said.

Responding to a query, Soz said that he does not believe in exist polls which claimed that Congress will get only one Parliament seat in Jammu and Kashmir. “I hope that Congress party would emerge winner in Jammu and Kashmir in both Parliament and Assembly elections. So many intellectuals, former bureaucrats and politicians are joining Congress party which makes it clear that this party is very vibrant in Jammu and Kashmir,” he told CNS.

Saif-u-Din Soz further said that it was his vocal support for the incorporation of 73rd amendment that Jammu and Kashmir Government finally incorporated it in letter and spirit. “The incorporation of 73rd amendment in Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act will make the Panchayati Raj Institutions strong and viable. Our motive is to give due share to Panchayats so that they could participate in governance,” he said.

When asked Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme has proved to be damp squib and under this scheme future of Kashmiri students was put at stake, Soz said that he has taken up the matter with the Prime Minister of India and HRD Ministry and he is hopeful that all the students will be accommodated.

Enhancement of retirement age will coincide with increase in over-age Limit

Srinagar: Terming the allegations of Mirwaiz baseless that Government is shielding Congress politician Shabir Khan, National Conference Saturday said that had there been an intention of the government to shield him, no case would have registered against him.

“Government initiated action against Khan allegedly involved in molestation case. What else Government can do. Court has come up with directions in this regard and government has nothing to do with it now,” National Conference leader and Minister for CA&PD, Choudhri Muhammad Ramzan told CNS soon after the culmination of his public rally in North Kahsmir’s Handwara town.

He said that Shabir Khan was forced to resign on account of charges leveled against him and still some people especially opposition party and separatist leaders feel that government is shielding former Health Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan.

Responding to query, Ramzan said that Kashmiri people have nothing to do with Kejriwa;’s Aam Aadmi Party and there will no Kejriwal wave in Jammu and Kashmir. “Kejriwal is a flop show and he resigned to save his skin. Not speaking of Kashmir, AAP has no base even in New Delhi,” he said.

He confirmed that government is mulling to enhance the retirement age of State employees by two years. “We have formed a committee to look into the issue. If it materializes, there will be no repercussions of this decision on unemployed youth as government will also extend to limit of ‘over-age’ factor,” he said. (CNS)

Srinagar: Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons Saturday staged a peaceful protest against Army decision to close Pathribal fake encounter case. Scores of APDP activists led by Parvena Ahangar assembled in Press Enclave Srinagar. Protestors were carrying banners and placards seeking justice for Pathribal fake encounter victim families. The protestors termed the Army decision as murder of justice and as a mark of protest had wrapped their mouths with pieces of clothes.

Talking to reporters, APDP chairperson, Parvena Ahangar said that Army decision has not come as a surprise to the people of Kashmir as generations of Kashmiris have been witness to extra judicial killings, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, molestation, humiliations and other heinous violations at the hands of the Indian soldiers and their collaborators in Kashmir.

She said that not a single Indian soldier has so far been convicted for the crimes they committed in Kashmir reflects that the tall claims of justice and reparation made by the Indian state and its collaborators are nothing but a tactics to hood-wink the international community and an attempt to cover-up India’s crime against humanity in Kashmir.

“As parents and relatives of the victims of enforced disappearances we are not unfamiliar with the Indian state’s architecture of oppression. Last twenty years of our struggle for justice and liberty is witness to the fact that in Kashmir elaborate oppressive apparatus of Indian State ensures control over every aspect of our lives. The fair and impartial trials, which have historically been the cornerstone of civilized regimes across the globe, are impossible in case of Kashmir.”

APDP said that Pathribal Fake Encounter Case was very unique as it attracted media attention and was indeed an exception among thousands of incidents of human rights abuses which never get reported.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Indian State acts as the judge, the jury and the executioner. Time and again, the Indian state has demonstrated that its interests in Kashmir guarded by its soldiers are superior to the rights of the individual Kashmiris. The Indian judiciary has been hand in glove with the state in sustaining the predominance of the India’s interests over the rights of the people of Kashmir. Such closures expose the Indian oppression and Indian State’s facade of justice in Kashmir. It also exposes the so called mainstream regional parties of Kashmir who have all along been their partners in the crime.(CNS)