Author: hamid

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Monday again decided not to travel to Delhi, where he has been summoned by the National Investigation Agency for questioning in a funding case.
Mirwaiz’s lawyer wrote to the agency that the chief cleric was facing an “assassination threat” and he should, therefore, be questioned in Srinagar only.
The Hurriyat Conference (M) also supported the reasons cited by the Mirwaiz’s lawyer and stated that many people have been questioned by the agency at Humhama in Budgam and that he (Mirwaiz) too should be questioned in Srinagar.
Mirwaiz was summoned the second time by the NIA since March 10. He was asked to present himself before the agency’s office in Delhi on March 18.
Mirwaiz’s lawyer, advocate Aijaz Ahmed Dhar, had in his first letter also cited hostile atmosphere and security concerns as major reasons why his client couldn’t travel to Delhi. In his fresh response, Mirwaiz’s counsel writes that it is unfortunate that his client has not received any “express response” to his earlier communication.
“Instead a poor transmission of a notice which is not legible was delivered at his residence. My client also informed the local police station (about the issue) but they expressed their helplessness. With great difficult it appears that my client has once again been summoned to Delhi on March 18,” Dhar’s reply reads.
“It appears that the genuine concerns which had been mentioned in the earlier response have not been considered objectively. I reiterate that my client is not refusing to be examined in connection with the subject matter of some investigation.”
The chief cleric’s counsel further states in his response that his client has serious concerns about his safety, adding that security cover provided to him had been withdrawn “unilaterally”.
“Your attention is invited to some of the distressing comments which have appeared in mainstream print media since the news about him being summoned to Delhi. There are open calls for assassination,” the reply reads. “Merely stating in the notice that security will be provided to (Mirwaiz in Delhi) appears to be perfunctory observation.”
The Hurriyat chairman’s lawyer further states that there are serious implications to his client travelling to Delhi apart from security concerns, which were broadly identified in the first response.
“It seems that such concerns have escaped the attention of NIA,” the response reads. “I therefore ask you to consider the earlier responses and the present one fairly and fix time, date and place for examination of my client at Srinagar as may be convenient.”
Mirwaiz’s lawyer has in his reply mentioned the assassination threats issued to the Hurriyat chief on social media ever since NIA summoned him to Delhi.

SRINAGAR, MAR 18: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Kavinder Gupta said that Election commission of India should take immediate action against Mehbooba Mufti ‘Mujahideen’ remark.

While speaking to Press trust of Kashmir Gupta said “Mehbooba Mufti is frustrated and the mental balance of Mehbooba Mufti is not ok”.

He said that Political party takes oath under Indian constitution and Mehbooba Mufti should understand this, added that she can’t say that her party works are ‘real Mujahideen’. Gupta added that election commission should take action against her and banned her party.

He added that regional party has started a competition for Anti national elements, people know what is good for them. (PTK)

March 18: Srinagar Police arrested two persons involved in selling adulterated Saffron in PanthaChowk area by arresting two accused persons involved in the crime.

Acting on specific information about selling replica of Saffron by some unscrupulous persons, a police team of Police Station PanthaChowk arrested one prime suspect identified as Aarif Ahmed Bakhroo son of Ghulam Mohammed Bakhroo resident of Jogi Lankar Rainawari.

Officers have recovered one Kilogram of adulterated saffron from his possession.

On the disclosure of prime suspect, one more person identified as Umar Ahmed Ghuroo son of Farooq Ahmed Ghuroo resident of Parimpora involved in the crime was arrested by the police party.

A case FIR No 12/2018 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station PanthaChowk and investigation is going on.

Jammu and Kashmir Police seeks public help in identifying such elements so that they can be punished under law.

Srinagar, March 17: PDP chief and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Sunday extolled her party workers as “real mujahideen.”
Addressing a large gathering in Kupwara district, Mehbooba said even though a PDP worker “may not have a gun or stone in his hands, you are the real mujahid.”

“Your contribution to the society is far greater than the contribution of workers of other parties that have been around for decades,” she said.

Mehbooba said every Kahsmiri should feel proud of PDP as every single worker of the party is an ” asli mujahid.”

She said the PDP was only the party which gave “relief to Kashmiris from POTA, task force, and set up universities and colleges.”

The party also realised the “dream of opening Muzaffarabad- Srinagar route,” she said.

She said the PDP believed in acting as “a bridge between Pakistan and Kashmir so that every Kashmiri will have excess to anywhere he wants to go whether it is Afghanistan or Iran.”

She said her father Mufti Saeed’s tenure as chief minister was a “success due to opening of traditional routes linking Kashmir to rest of the world.” (GNS)

Srinagar: The former IAS officer Shah Faesal on Sunday launched his own political party in Srinagar.

His first political rally in Srinagar saw him alongside Shehla Rasheed, a student activist.

He unveiled his party Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement which will make first plunge in upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Valley. (PTK)

NEW DELHI:- India continues to work with the UN Security Council sanctions committee on the listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and will show patience on the issue, official sources said Saturday, days after China blocked a proposal at the world body to ban the JeM chief.

They also said steps taken by Pakistan in the last few days, against terror groups are cosmetic in nature.

“India continues to work with the UNSC’s sanction committee on listing of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist,” official sources said.

India believes “terrorism is a major issue for China. They know a number of terror groups are based in Pakistan”, sources added.

On China blocking Azhar’s listing as a global terrorist, sources said India will show patience as long as it takes.

On Beijing continuing to oppose Azhar’s listing as global terrorist, government sources said there are issues which China needs to resolve with Pakistan.

On Wednesday, China for the fourth time blocked the bid in the UN Security Council to designate the chief of the Pakistan-based terror group as a “global terrorist” by putting a technical hold on the proposal. The Chinese move was termed “disappointing” by India.

LUCKNOW — Army chief General Bipin Rawat, on Saturday said Indian authorities would not shy away from resorting to strong military action if Pakistan “failed to stop pushing (militants) into India.”

General Rawat, who was in the state capital at the concluding ceremony of Medex-2019 the field medical exercises of ASEAN and ASEAN Plus countries— said terrorism on Indian soil would not be tolerated. He was speaking at the convention.

“We are also followers of peace and harmony but cannot tolerate any attempt to disturb our integrity.”

Claiming that Indian Army was fully prepared to take action against Pakistan if they meddled with the peace of India, the Army chief said the army was ready with the plan to take action against camps “still active in Pakistan.”

“In future also such strikes will continue. If atmosphere will be vitiated, we will act again,” he said adding that if needed, the army would take action in consonance of political decision irrespective of the ongoing elections.

“Elections do not impact Army’s action,” he stated. The army chief elaborated by saying that plan to target “Lashkar” camps was also ready and that the Indian army was capable of facing any challenge in the aftermath of airstrikes.

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Visits Ladakh

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding – in-Chief, Northern Command visited forward posts in Western Ladakh on Saturday and reviewed operational preparedness in the sector. He was accompanied by Lt Gen YK Joshi, General Officer Commanding, Fire & Fury Corps.

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh interacted with troops deployed on the Line of Control and complimented them for the high standard of professionalism displayed by them, despite the terrain and weather challenges, a defence spokesman said. He urged them to continue to discharge their duty with the same tenacity and resolve.

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh also paid homage at the Kargil War Memorial.