Srinagar: After remaining suspended for a month over the arrest of a Pakistani driver, the cross-Loc trade between the two sides of Kashmir will start of Thursday.
Reports reaching GNS said that a high level meeting was conducted at the Kaman Post on the LoC on Tuesday afternoon between the officials of the two sides in which it was decided to resume the cross-LoC trade from Thursday. From the Pak side, the delegation was led by Trade Facilitation Officer Basharat Ahmad. Liaison Officer and Custodian Showkat Ahmad, and Avtar Singh led the delegation from this side. The meeting continued for over an hour.
“The meeting was held at Zero Point. It was decided that the trade will commence from Thursday,” Liaison Officer, Showkat Ahmad told GNS.
In the meeting, he said, it was also decided that the trucks will only be allowed to carry 8 ton of weight. He said he has taken up with the higher ups of installing full body scanners at the TFC for better scrutiny.
On January 17, the trade between the two sides was suspended after Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a Pak driver Mohammad Shafiq Awan on charges of smuggling drugs into the Valley. To demand the driver’s release, the Pak officials detained 27 Kashmiri drivers for over 26 days. However, on February 12, the officials of both the sides agreed to allow the stranded drivers to return to their respective destinations ending the standoff. (GNS)
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Indo-Pak officials agree to resume cross-LoC trade from Thursday
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UN Resolutions key to peace in Kashmir: Saudia Arabia
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia expressed its hope on Monday for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue on the basis of UN resolutions to reinforce peace and stability in the region.It also welcomed positive developments in Indo-Pak relations, according to a joint communiqué issued in Islamabad at the end of the visit of Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.The talks in Islamabad showed the desire of two sides to strengthen cooperation in various fields to support Islamic causes and promote global peace and stability, the communique said. The two countries wanted to expand cooperation in investment, trade, energy, infrastructure and agriculture.Saudi Arabia and Pakistan also wanted to expand defense cooperation and promote political consultations, the communiqué said. The two sides intend to sign new agreements in labor, work force, investment protection, sports, Islamic affairs and endowments.Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia signed on Monday two agreements worth $182 million to aid development projects in Pakistan. Crown Prince Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif witnessed the signing at the PM House in Islamabad.Yousef Al-Bassam, vice chairman and managing director of the Saudi Fund for Development, and Nargis Sethi, Pakistan’s secretary for economic affairs, signed the agreements. The first agreement will see Saudi Arabia provide a loan of $57.8 million for the construction of the 106 MW Golen Gol hydropower project on the River Mastuj in Chitral.The second was to finance the import of urea fertilizer worth $125 million from the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.Earlier, the crown prince held talks with Pakistani defense officials to explore areas of cooperation. He had separate meetings with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen. Rashad Mahmood and Army Chief Lt. Gen. Raheel Sharif in Islamabad.Prince Salman had second round of talks with Sharif on Monday. The Pakistan side included adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security Sartaj Aziz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister of Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid and Minister of Defense Production Rana Tanveer Hussain.The crown prince left Pakistan for Japan on Monday night. Visits to India and the Maldives also figure on his itinerary. -
Court grants judicial remand to Masrat Alam
Srinagar: A local court here Tuesday granted seven days judicial remand to incarcerated Muslim League Chairman Masrat Alam Bhat in connection with a case registered against him at police station Nowhatta.
Official sources told GNS that police produced Alam before the court in connection with FIR 50/2010 under sections 336, 151, 307 RPC registered at Nowhatta. Allowing the submission by police, court granted remand to Alam till 25 Feb.
Meanwhile, Alam has been shifted to sub-jail Baramulla.
While condemning the continued detention of his leader, ML General Secretary Abdul Ahad Parra said that it is blot on Indian democracy as the police had implicated him in dozens of false cases.
“After Supreme Court directions to State not to slap PSA on Masrat on similar grounds, the State is now framing him in false cases and illegally detaining him in different Police Station by ensuring that he does not receive bail in any cases framed against him,” Parra added. (GNS) -
Kashmiri girl wins bronze at Asian Taekwondo championship
SRINAGAR: Bringing laurels for Kashmir, a girl student of Srinagar won a bronze medal at 18th Asian Cities Gold Cup International Taekwondo championship held at Hong Kong from February 7 to 9. Rutbah Shah, a 13 year old girl, who is a seventh standard student of Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School in Srinagar, successfully made grabbed the bronze medal in female bantam weight category in which 300 players from eleven countries participated. The championship was organized by Hong Kong Taekwondo Federation under the supervision of world Taekwondo Federation. Rutbah is involved in Taekwondo from the age of eight years when she was introduced to the game. She has already competed in two international Vovinam tournaments at Dubai and Malaysia, bringing home silver and bronze in respective competitions.
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Tourism department conferred with National Tourism Award again
Dedication of whole department made its possible: Mir
Srinagar: For the second year running, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has valued and appreciated the working of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department by conferring it with the National Tourism Award for the year 2012-13 in the Category “Best State–Comprehensive Development of Tourism”.
Talking to KNS, G.A Mir, minister for tourism Jammu and Kashmir observed: “I congratulate the whole department of tourism that has worked hard and contributed its best which has resulted into this award.” Mir said that the department will put in efforts to connect with the outside world to attract the tourist flow to Kashmir. “In this regard we may visit different potential countries to make the people aware about our world famous tourist destinations,” he added.
According to a statement issued to KNS, the award was presented by ministry of tourism, government of India in New Delhi on 18th February, 2014. This has been possible as the department completed CFA schemes within the stipulated time and also had mechanisms in place to monitor the progress of projects.
The Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir implemented major projects like the Nagar Nagar Mega Heritage Tourist Circuit, Tourist City Centre at Srinagar and also introduced niche activities like Paragliding and Yachting to add new dimension to the adventure segment. Promotional activities were undertaken in new potential markets like South East Asia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, Russia and Central Asian Countries of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and others.
The Jammu Directorate earned laurels for developing Border Tourism and for revitalization of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex. Ladakh continues to attract tourists for its unparalleled landscape and unique culture. The Jammu & Kashmir Cable Car Corporation commissioned a new lift at Makhdoom Sahib Shrine, Srinagar besides installing Ski Chairlift at Kongdori–Gulmarg for promoting skiing in International Market.
“Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation made functional its new property at Yousmarg and also augmented facilities at its hutments elsewhere. SKICC, Srinagar hosted several International and National Conferences and earned praise from all quarters regarding immaculate conduct of these events,” the statement reads.
It added that a Golf Development and Management Authority was constituted and Royal Springs Golf Course easily held-on to its status as the most cherished course in the country. The Leh Golf Course, when ready, will be the most inimitable course in the world. The role of Tourism Development Authorities deserves special mention as they had a challenging task of creation of assets in regions that were new and ecologically fragile and thus required focused development strategy.
“State has successfully implemented Rural Tourism Projects in 33 villages to showcase the Rural Landscape and Tourism potential of the remote villages of the State and to ensure disposal of economic earnings to the hinterland as well. State has undertaken the challenging task of capacity building and service delivery improvements. About 5000 un-employed youths have been trained in Hospitality & Tourism services in various Tourism Institutes to serve the Tourism industry in more professional manner,” the statement reads further.
It added that the State has earned fame for developing Niche Tourism activities in Golf, Aero Sports, Water Sports and skiing/snow boarding. State has hosted national championships for white Water Kayaking, Rock climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, cycling, mountaineering, car rallies and many rural sports like Archery, Polo, Boat Racing and others.
“Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Minister for Tourism and Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, MoS, Tourism have provided visionary leadership to the officers of the Department who in turn have worked tirelessly for development and promotion of Tourism. Zaffar Ahmad, Secretary Tourism and Culture, Talat Parvez, Director Tourism, Kashmir and Soujanya Sharma, Director Tourism, Jammu, other officers of the Department and every single official deserve credit for the accolades that have been bestowed on this Department.” (KNS) -
Er Rashid protests Khan’s participation in Assembly proceeding
Jammu: Jammu & Kashmir Assembly witnessed today furious scenes when Awami Ittihaad Party President (AIP) and MLA Langate Engineer Rashid protested in strong manner against the entry of tainted Shabir Ahmad Khan, former MoS Health of Jammu and Kashmir, in the Assembly despite facing grave charges of sexual assault on a woman doctor.
According to a statement issued to KNS, “It is a great shame and matter of disgrace that a person facing such disgraceful charges is being allowed to take part in Assembly proceedings .All this tantamount to downplaying the honour and esteem of assembly and hurting its prestige. What would be a commoner thinking after all such negative developments about the assembly is a matter for all of us to ponder,” lamented Er Rashid.
Engineer Rashid also expressed shock over the criminal silence of National Conference, PDP BJP, Congress over this grave issue concerning the honour and esteem of women of Kashmir. As Engineer Rashid continued his vibrant and forceful protests against the participation of tainted former MOS Shabir Ahmad Khan he was marshaled out. Engineer Rashid has further stressed that such developments hit the very fundamental base of institutions and act as catalysts in people losing faith in democratic institutions. (KNS) -
Guru, Pathribal classic cases of discrimination: Mehbooba
Jammu: While welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision to commute death sentence of Rajiv Gandhi murder convicts to life imprisonment, opposition People Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said reprieve given Late Gandhi’s assassins is a display of double standards in case of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country.“They have sent a wrong signal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that you continue to be treated differently. This process was on at the time of hanging of Afzal Guru,” said Mehbooba while addressing a press conference in Jammu.
According to a KNS correspondent, the PDP president said: “The same reprieve should have been given in Afzal Guru’s case. Reprieve to Mohammad Afzal Guru would have made the situation different in Kashmir. But Guru was hanged in most atrocious manner by the government of India to which the National Conference is a partner.”
She said Guru was denied all judicial reliefs and it was ironic that death sentence was commuted in case of the killer of Rajiv Gandhi who also symbolized nationalism like the Parliament does. Mehbooba said that even the experts have termed whole investigations faulty the judicial process leading Guru to gallows partisan.
She said the evidence marshaled and the quality of investigations process had raised many a questions among the think tank, legal luminaries and the intellectuals of the country. Referring to Delhi rape and murder case in which one guilty was sent to juvenile home, Mehbooba said that these cases are classic examples of the discrimination Guru met at the hands of establishment.
Mehbooba said that besides Guru’s hanging, double standards were also adopted in case of Pathribal fake encounter where, she said the CBI proved the involvement of army personnel. She said that CBI had went upto the supreme court that unfortunately did not adjudicate the matter itself and instead handed over it to the army court which closed the matter in open.
“When I visited the spot in Pathribal people told me that one body was cut in pieces and thrown to dogs. Even we could see the bits of flesh scattered and people told that bodies were mutilated in order to conceal their identities. Is this our justice system of which we are proud,” Mehbooba questioned.
While appreciating the investigations into Gujrat fake encounter cases, the PDP president said that why the government of India remains incapacitated in case of similar encounters in Kashmir. (KNS) -
‘SC verdict on Rajiv Gandhi killers eye opener for Kashmiri people’: Geelani
‘Omar Abdullah claims peace by restricting our movement’
Srinagar: Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani Tuesday said that the verdict of the Supreme Court of India regarding the alleged killers of Rajiv Gandhi is an eye opener for all Kashmiri people and it has vindicated our stand that Kashmiri people can’t get justice under India’s occupation.“On the pretext of inordinate delay in disposal of their mercy petitions by the President, the SC not only commuted the death sentence of the three alleged killers of Rajiv Gandhi into life term but also gave a ray of hope for their release by saying that the State government could exercise its remission powers under Section 432 and 433 and following the due procedure in law. I am not against the verdict but my simple submission is that where was the conscience of the SC when it ordered the hanging of Muhammad Afzal Guroo. Was he (Afzal) implicated and executed just because he was a Kashmiri. Despite the fact that Afzal did not get fair trial, SC was quick to pronounce its verdict to satisfy the so called collective conscience of India,” Geelani told Srinagar based news gathering agency CNS adding that those people who expects justice from India are living in a fool’s paradise.
The octogenarian leader said that the institutions of India act as deaf and dumb when it comes to Kashmir. He said that it was not only Muhammad Afzal Guroo who was implicated in false case and executed mercilessly but countless Kashmiri people including Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, Dr Qasim Faktoo, Masrat Aalam and others have suffered at the hands of India.
Castigating Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his claim that people who are in jails are mostly criminals, Syed Ali Geelani told CNS that innocent Kashmiri people are languishing in jails and Omar Abdullah has no answer for this question.
“Can Omar Abdullah tell me why he is restricting the movement of pro-freedom leaders and why he is employing his State Machinery to place us under house arrest if he claims that the prevailing peaceful situation in the State is not deceptive and not by force. We don’t believe in disruption of peace but it the government which harasses youth and puts people of Kashmir behind the bars. Our movement is restricted by imposing restrictions and curfew and we are not allowed to express ourselves freely,” he said. (CNS) -
Shabir Khan granted Bail
SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir High Court Tuesday granted bail to the state’s former health minister, Shabir Khan in the molestation case. The minister is charged of allegedly molesting a lady doctor.The court observed that since Khan is complying with police probe, he can be granted bail.
Pertinently, MLA Rajouri, Shabir Khan had to resign from state health ministry after the case of molestation was registered against him in Police station Shahid Gunj Srinagar.
After the lady doctor filed a formal complaint with police, it lodged a case FIR no. 09 U/S 354, 509 RPC dated 06.02.2014 at police station Shaheed Gunj.
Khan was granted bail up to February 18 and the same was extended.
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Youth For Peace And Development seeks UNICEF’s help over “Female Feoticide”
Srinagar: “Youth For Peace And Development “Chairman Rasik Bhat underlined the need for focused attention by all towards eradicating the menace of female foeticide.Interacting with a United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) team in Srinagar , Rasik Bhat said the state government took various initiatives for the welfare and holistic development of children, particularly the girl child. He said Religious Leaders, Social Activists, Non-governmental organisations and public have to coordinate for addressing this issue and save the future of the state.
The Chairmain, “Youth For Peace And Development ” Rasik Bhat said UNICEF participation in Jammu And Kashmir creating educational environment and making schools seats of human resource development, moral and general education was welcome. He said the Everyone Should like to work with UNICEF to achieve the task of achieving comprehensive development of children, their protection and proper upkeep.
Rasik Bhat said capacity building in teaching community is imperative in this regard and UNICEF could extent favourable help to the state for this purpose. He said the state government and UNICEF should work together for the betterment . He said better educational environment in schools and proper care in homes are important in this regard.