Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tuesday briefed Hurriyat Conference (M) chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq over phone about the efforts of the government of Pakistan to highlight the “gross human rights violations” being perpetrated by the Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

A statement issued by the Pakistan Foreign office said: “The Foreign Minister briefed him on the efforts of the government of Pakistan to highlight the gross human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In this context, he mentioned the June 2018, report issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the APPKG report of the UK Parliament. He also emphasized that India should permit the visit of the Commission of Inquiry, as envisaged in both reports.”

The Foreign Office spokesperson in the statement said that Qureshi informed Mirwaiz of the upcoming events, being organized in London at the House of Commons and the exhibition being held in London on 4-5 February 2019 respectively. “These, again, are efforts to highlight the centrality of Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the grave human rights violations against the Kashmiri people, by India, which are being widely condemned and need to be immediately stopped,” the statement said.

The statement said that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq greatly appreciated the efforts of the Government of Pakistan and emphasized that the “Indian atrocities” shall never be able to suppress the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who will continue to raise their voice against “severe Indian repression” and in the face of Indian “black laws”. “He also said that he would have wanted to be present for the London events, but his passport and those of his contemporaries, had been confiscated by the government of India, to prevent them from travelling abroad.”

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the review petition filed against the acquittal of a Christian woman who was on death row for eight years on charges of blasphemy.

The apex court’s decision in October to overturn the conviction of Aasia Bibi sparked nationwide protests and death threats from hardline groups.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, dismissed the review petition filed by Qari Muhammad Salaam, Dawn reported.

During the hearing, Salaam’s lawyer said that the matter of Aasia’s acquittal is a matter concerning the Muslim clergy and religious scholars should also be called to present their point of view.

“How is this a matter of religion?” the chief justice asked. “Has the verdict not been given on merit?”

“The verdict was given on the basis of testimonies; does Islam say that one should be punished even if they are found not guilty?” he asked.

“Prove to us what [you believe] is wrong with the verdict,” said Chief Justice Khosa said.

He further said that if testimonies of those involved in the case were not judged correctly, the court will review them and if the matter needs to be referred to a larger bench, the decision will be taken.

“An FIR lodged five days after an incident is suspect,” said Justice Khosa while referring to report lodged in the case and which formed the basis for Aasia’s prosecution.

He said that testimonies also differed in their account regarding the size and the place of the crowd which had gathered following the blasphemy accusation, the Express Tribune reported.

The lawyer countered that late registration of an FIR does not necessarily mean ill intention.
“Should we then hand an accused on the basis of such testimonies,” questioned the chief justice.

He dismissed the review petition filed against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi, saying the petitioner was not able to point out any mistake in the apex court verdict acquitting the 47-year-old woman.

Security was tightened in Islamabad where the court is located.

Paramilitary Rangers were deployed in addition to the regular police to deal with any unsavoury situation.

Bibi’s lawyer, who fled to the Netherlands after receiving death threats for defending her, returned home last week to represent her in the case.

Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, who is now in protective custody, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

She challenged the verdict in October 2014 in the Lahore High Court which upheld the death sentence.

The apex court’s decision to acquit her had sparked three-day-long mass protests led by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

Qari filed the review petition in the case on November 1, 2018 at the Lahore registry of the apex court, urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.

In the petition, it has been argued that the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Bibi did not meet the standards of jurisprudence as well as Islamic provisions and the “normal principle of justice with reference to application in blasphemy laws”.

We have closed the crowd-funding phase 1. Thousands of people have made small contributions and I am extremely thankful for the support.
Details of the funds received and utilisation will be shared shortly.

Srinagar: An “overenthusiastic” officer in the security wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police took the decision to bar some journalists with adverse reports against them from attending the Republic Day function here, leading to a chaos, officials said on Monday.

After preliminary enquiry, it was found that the officer of the additional superintendent of police-rank prepared a list of journalists based on a CID report and directed his subordinates to bar them from the event, attended by several dignitaries on Saturday, they said.

According to the officials, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) gives regular reports on the background of journalists, which includes their possible leanings towards separatists or any of their kin being associated with militant groups or being an overground worker.

However, the journalists have always been allowed to attend government functions without any problem in the past, they said.

The CID report, based on which the officer issued the direction, nowhere mentions that the journalists or photo-journalists should be barred from covering the event, the officials said.

Journalists had on Saturday staged a protest against the Jammu and Kashmir government after several scribes, especially photographers, were allegedly not allowed to enter the venue of the Republic Day function despite possessing valid accreditation passes.

This had prompted Governor’s advisor K Vijay Kumar to issue a statement that the issue would be looked into. “It is learnt that today at Republic Day parade venue in Srinagar some journalists were not permitted to cover the event as the security passes issued to them were found not to be authenticated. The matter shall be looked into,” Kumar, who is in-charge of the Home Department, had said in a statement issued in Jammu.

The mediapersons, carrying placards which read “journalism is not a crime”, had staged the protest in the heart of the city.

The Editors Guild of India on Monday said the denial of entry to several senior journalists into a stadium in Srinagar to cover the Republic Day function was an “unprecedented state-sponsored attack” on press freedom and demanded an inquiry into the incident.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police has fine-tuned the already existing surrender policy to ensure return of youth who have picked up arms and to plug the fresh recruitment, official sources told Valley Media Service.

Even though police and other forces claimed to have killed over 250 militants in year 2018, 200 were still active and majority of them locals. Officials revealed to VMS, that some 100 odd youth picked up arms last year, leaving the alarm bells ringing.

Militants placed on the list of the Subsidiary Multi-Agency Centre (SMAC) — a nodal agency comprising officials for security and intelligence inputs — will be eligible for incentives, under the fine-tuned surrender policy. A militant who has surrendered will be referred to as a “renouncer”, the policy reveals.

He will surrender only before the designated authorities — divisional commissioners, district magistrates, top police officers and heads of operational units not below the rank of Commandant. Entitled to Rs 5 lakh-6 lakh as fixed deposit, the “renouncer” will be able to withdraw the money after the lock-in period of a minimum three years, subject to continued good behaviour as certified by the CID.

“The objective is to offer an opportunity to terrorists who eschew the path of violence… The policy is particularly aimed at economic rehabilitation, enabling them to lead a normal life and contribute towards society’s progress…” reads the draft policy prepared by the Home Department.

A police officer said that the new policy was more or less same as that of the one unveiled by the former chief minister Omar Abdullah in 2004. “Just a few changes have been made to make the policy attractive,” he said.(VMS)

Srinagar, January 28: In a significant development, Hurriyat Conference (M) spokesman Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam will likely be released on a custody parole for a week and possibly the parole will be extended.

Reliable sources said that the NIA court has granted custody parole of a week to Shahid who has been languishing in Tihar since past two years. “Shahid has been granted custody parole and will be released in midnight. The expenses of the security will be borne by the Shahid himself,” a source told KNO.

Shahid was arrested in the terror funding case and that his family-wife a two daughters have been demanding his release on humanitarian grounds.

Notably, Nuzhat Shah, the wife of jailed leader Shahid-ul-Islam had survived heart stroke on January 12 this year following which she was immediately rushed to hospital for immediate treatment.

Reports added Nuzhat Shah complained of heart ailment and her condition turned unstable minutes before reaching the hospital following which all her relations were panicked about her life.

However doctors attended her well at the hospital and she was under the close supervision of doctors. She was discharged from the hospital later.(KNO)

Final decision in a fortnight after mass consultations with police, political parties, secretary

Srinagar, January 28: The Election Commission of India (ECI’s) decision to defer its visit to Jammu and Kashmir has cast doubts over the early polls being held in the trouble-ravaged State through a review meet was held in New Delhi to assess the situation, reliable sources told KNO.

Final decision will be taken after a fortnight after thorough consultations with police, political parties, secretary education.

According to the sources, a team of ECI was planning to visit both Jammu and Kashmir divisions on January 27 and 28 for on spot assessment of the situation regarding the holding of assembly elections.

The team, headed by Chief Election Commissioner, Sunil Arora, was to take a final call on whether to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State or defer the Assembly elections by few months.

However, the sources confirmed the team has postponed its visit to the state due to unknown reasons.

A source, however, said that the crucial meeting was held in New Delhi by the ECI where in the situation was assessed threadbare and it has decided to put the decision as to whether the polls should be held on time or delayed.

“For a time being,, it was decided to put the decision on hold till wider consultations with various political parties, police and the intelligence grid are completed,” an official told KNO.“The final call whether JK should witness early polls will be taken in a fortnight.”

Though the entire mainstream camp, National Conference, Congress and the Peoples Conference besides independent candidates support early polls, PDP is the sole party that is not in the poll mode due to the mass rebellion party has faced of late.

The ECI, as per sources, have been told by the security agencies operating in Kashmir that there was no threat to the polls except some pockets in south Kashmir being sensitive “that could be taken care of by the security agencies as witnessed in recently held peaceful and successful ULB and Panchayat polls.”

“ECI has decided not to jump gun and instead widen the ambit of consultations before taking a final call,” a top security official disclosed.(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 28: The state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said that the party will show its power in the State on the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 03, saying that the party is fully prepared for the elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), BJP State General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Kaul said that the party is fully prepared for the elections in the State. “A meeting was recently held in Jammu on January 20, wherein the future course of action was drafted regarding elections,” Koul said.
About PM Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Koul said that party is mobilizing its each and every unity to make the event grand success. “BJP will show its power on that day and we are expecting a one lakh people will listen PM Modi who is scheduled to address public in Saroor area of Vijaypur constituency in Jammu on Feb 03,” he added.
Reacting to formal joining of Priyanka Gandhi in politics, Koul said that the vote of Congress is sinking in the State. “Earlier, the Congress claimed to emerge winner on 50 wards in recently held Municipal polls in Jammu but they bagged only 10-12 wards. Therefore, by making claims, Congress is trying to entertain its soul,” he added.
BJP leader further told KNS that Gandhi-Nehru families are trying to keep politics confined to their dynasty. (KNS)

‘They will act as a bridge between people and SMC’

Srinagar, Jan 28: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Deputy Mayor Sheikh Mohammed Imran on Monday appointed three advisors and one Personal Assistant.

Announcing the decision during the meeting, Imran said it will ease the decision-making process in the corporation.

According to order issued on Sunday, it reads Wajahat Hussain of corporator from ward no 6 has been appointed as administrative advisor, Muhammad Ashraf Palpori corporator from ward 5o has been political advisor, Muhammad Aqib Renzu Shah a corporator from ward no 3 as Political Secretary and Aijaz Nazir Bhat as Personal Assistant to Sheikh Mohammed Imran.

“They will work for the welfare of the people,” he said adding that he is sure that they will act as bridge between people and administration.

SRINAGAR, JAN 28: Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi has said Pakistan will continue to extend vigorous political and moral support to its Kashmiri brethren till realization of their principled demand of right to self-determination.

He was talking to members of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs headed by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, in Islamabad on Monday.

The Foreign Minister said the issue of Kashmir is such an issue on which there is complete national consensus.

He said reports of United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and All-Party Parliamentary Kashmir Group have unveiled Indian atrocities in the Kashmir.

He invited all the political parties of parliament and Kashmiri leadership to attend seminar organized at House of Commons on 4th of the next month and exhibition regarding Kashmir on 5th of the next month in London.

The Foreign Minister also extend invitation to the members of Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs to attend International Conference with regard to Kashmir in London. (PTK)