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Srinagar, Jan 01: APHC spokesman has said that the phone call of Ms Mehbooba Mufti to its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemning the Jamia incident which she is broadcasting in media for obvious reasons , is quiet ironical as it was during her tenure as CM that the mosque was most barred to people for offering of Friday prayers. In 2016 it was locked down for three months , in 2017 for the first time even Juma tul Vida congregation during Ramadan was not allowed and in 2018 for 16 Friday’s prayers were barred in the mosque! On all these days Mirwaiz was either put under house arrest or in jail as in 2016 . Spokesman said if Ms Mufti during her tenure as CM had the same feelings towards Jamia Masjid which she calls “ the landmark and most important religious and social institution of Kashmir “ at whose desecration she is “outraged” today, and had showed the courage to stand up for the religious rights of the Muslims of valley instead of presiding over the bans and bars on Jamia Masjid then her “outrage “would at least have been sincere.

LAHORE – A prominent Pakistani religious scholar, preacher and public speaker Tariq Jameel has suffered a heart attack, and has been shifted to a private hospital in Lahore.

The eloguent speaker has promoted peace, harmony and tolerance in the society, and urged the general public to respect each other s contradictory views on religion.

SRINAGAR: The cold wave continued in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region on Tuesday as the weather office forecast light rain and snow during the next 24 hours.

The Met department officials said there is a likelihood of light rain and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir which would break the cycle of the ongoing cold wave.

Srinagar recorded minus 4.2 degree Celsius, Pahalgam minus 4.9 degree Celsius and Gulmarg minus 4.2 degree Celsius as the minimum temperature on Tuesday.

Leh recorded minus 14.6 degree Celsius and it was minus 17.3 degree Celsius in Kargil.

The night’s lowest temperature in Jammu city was 5.5 degrees Celsius.

Besides, Katra recorded 7.2 degrees Celsius, Batote 2.1 degrees Celsius, Bannihal 1.7 degrees Celsius and Bhaderwah 1.2 degrees Celsius as the night’s lowest temperatures. (IANS)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee said that the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar was shut 16 times in 2018 and muslims were barred from offering congregational Friday prayers at the grand mosque.

The AAC said that the Hurriyat Conference (M) chairperson and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house detention for more than 120 days.

“This year Muslims were barred 16 times from offering Friday congregation prayers at #JamaMasjid Srinagar by shameless rulling regime while as APHC Chairman @MirwaizKashmir spent together more than 120 days of house detention. (SIC),” tweeted AAC.

Srinagar: Condemning the Jamia Masjid pulpit incident, a traders’ body in Kashmir on Tuesday called for a “collective strategy to foil such nefarious designs”.

In a statement, the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) condemned the attempts of several masked youth to desecrate the historic mosque in Nowhatta area of Downtown Srinagar.

Yasin Khan, who heads the KEA and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), said Jamia Masjid is the pride of Ummah in general and Kashmir in particular and that its desecration wouldn’t be tolerated.

He appealed to the political leadership and the civil society to rise to the occasion. “There’s a need to come up with a collective strategy to foil such nefarious designs that are aimed at maligning the just cause,” Khan said, in the statement.

A group of masked young men stormed into the mosque with IS flags and created a ruckus on Friday, provoking condemnation from the mosque’s management committee as well as political leaders.

The incident occurred after the congregational prayers, when the mosque was nearly empty. The men were chased away by the devotees present. A video of the incident went viral on the social media the next day.

Says families of militants won’t be harassed; IGP to probe Jammu incident

Supporting militants has become a political compulsion for Mehbooba Mufti ahead of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the governor Satya Pal Malik said on Monday, day after the Peoples Democratic Party president warned the administration over alleged harassment of families of militants by the police.

After her visit to the restive Pulwama district on Sunday, Mehbooba took to twitter and wrote: “Visited PatiporaPulwama where Rubina (whose brother happens to be a militant) was along with her husband and brother beaten mercilessly in police custody. The severe nature of her injuries has left her bedridden”.

“I want to ask the governor that if you have a fight with a militant, why are his relatives, especially his sister, beaten? We will not allow this. I want to tell the governor and warn the police as well that if there is another such incident, then there will be dangerous consequences,” she had said.

Replying to a media query about Mehbooba’s remarks, the governor said: “Since I am the governor, she will attack me. But I don’t feel bad about what she said a day earlier because she is the daughter of my friend (late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed)”.

“Now that elections are coming nearer, it is her (Mehbooba’s) political compulsion to support militants to regain the lost base in the Valley,” Malik said on the sidelines of a function here.

“We have strictly directed our forces to ensure that no injustice is done with any militant’s family. We don’t have any issue with their families. But at the same time, I want to assure her (Mehbooba) that if any family member of a militant, as she has claimed, has been harassed unnecessarily, it will be probed by a high-level committee,” the governor said.

Asked how he sees the year gone by for Jammu and Kashmir, the governor said: “I believe that 2018 was very successful in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. During this year, democracy flourished in the state; the panchayat and municipal polls were conducted without even a single casualty. We also executed all the pending projects and we’re receiving massive support of the people who have now understood that if there is peace, there is a great scope of progress and development”.

On reports of foiling of Pakistani BAT attack by Indian soldiers along the Line of Control on Monday and two casualties of the Pakistani soldiers, he said: “Our forces are working in close coordination and checking all attempts of intrusion. We will not allow anybody to enter our territory and disturb the peaceful atmosphere here. Whosoever intrudes will be killed. And, I also want to share with you (media) that now we’re getting massive support from the public in such anti-militant operations”.

‘IG POLICE TO PROBE JAMMU INCIDENT’

Meanwhile, the governor said in a statement on Monday evening: “It has been widely reported in media that three close relatives of a militant were allegedly arrested and harassed by the J&K police. It has also been alleged that the clothes of lady, who was one of the persons arrested, were also torn”.

“It is clarified that there are standing general and specific instructions that have been issued to all police officers and staff on not harassing families of militants. This is being followed meticulously in most circumstances. However, there could be a situation where a few relatives of a militant are questioned by the police under due process of law to obtain details of a militant’s whereabouts. This is done very rarely and only on the basis of specific information,” the statement read.

“In this particular incident, which relates to residents of Patipora in Pulwama district, it is clarified that none of the persons were questioned in Pulwama. They were questioned in Jammu district based on very specific intelligence inputs. I have been informed that there has been no tearing up of a lady’s clothes or her being harassed by the police. I once again reiterate that all police officers and staff will be directed not to harass ladies who happen to be relatives of militants or treat them in any unbecoming manner. Any questioning should be done as per normal practice only in the presence of a lady constable”.

The governor also said he requests all political parties to “understand the fragile security situation in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and not to upset this through motivated statements and false allegations. This will only demoralise a hard-working police force”.

“I will also direct IG of police, Kashmir range, to look into this incident to see whether the lady has been harassed or her clothes have been torn as is being alleged. If necessary, action will be taken against any police staff found acting wrongly,” the statement read.

Govt hopeful of path-breaking tourist inflow in 2019

Srinagar, December 31 : Asserting that Gulmarg, a world-famed tourist destination—is offering wide-range of facilities, Advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai on Monday urged tourists to visit the State—having diverse tourism products and unmatched beauty.

While kickstarting series of winter sports activities at Gulmarg— including national snow-skating championship, Ganai, said that this winter, Gulmarg is humming with life under a thick blanket of snow as hundreds of tourists have made it their destination for skiing, snow skating, snow-biking, sledge riding, snowboarding, heli-skiing, among other activities.

Ganai, who was flanked by Secretary Tourism, J&K Govt, RigzianSampheal, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani, CEO, Gulmarg Development Authority, Muhammad HaniefBalki among other officers, said besides Gulmarg the tourists also have option to visit other beautiful places too.

He said that the number of domestic tourists has also gone up and authorities were looking forward to a path-breaking tourist inflow this winter. He said that over eight lakh domestic and 50,000 foreign tourists have visited Kashmir this year so far and the hotel occupancy at Gulmarg is almost 100 per cent for the New Year eve.

He said that tourism and hospitality sector is upbeat as we are targeting to cross over 13 lakh tourist inflow in Kashmir.

“I would like to send across a strong message to the people across the world that they shouldn’t mind the harsh weather, they shouldn’t mind the cold as Kashmir is calling and waiting for their arrival,” Ganai said. “The tourist arrivals have picked up and more tourists are comings, which is heart-warming for all the tourist stakeholders and service providers.”

He said bookings have also picked up which can be gauged from the fact that the Gulmarg is fully packed for New Year.

On Gulmarg Gondola, Ganai said that the world’s highest cable car is proving to be a boon for tourism. He said that the slopes of Gulmarg offer steep and soft snow, adding that the powder snow and other features of this resort were breathtaking for the adventure tourism and they shouldn’t miss any chance to visit Kashmir region.

Ganai urged hoteliers and tourism stakeholders to slash down hotel tariffs—which often go high during peak seasons in Kashmir.

Ganai said that the government would provide all possible assistance to the tourism stakeholders in their efforts to project Kashmir as the world’s top tourism destination.

He urged the service providers and stakeholders to work towards placing famed Kashmir among the world top tourism destinations by the year 2020. Ganai suggested for introducing effective tourist friendly measures to make the stay of the tourists longer in Kashmir. He also stressed on the need to introduce various attractions such as evening cultural shows among other festivals for extending the nightlife.

Ganai on his visit to government-run ski-shop at Gulmarg, reviewed the facilities and directed the officials to provide all possible assistance to the tourists and ski-lovers.

Later, Ganai inaugurated the cultural programme and ‘New Year celebrations, at Gulmarg Golf Club. He said that Gulmarg is not only USP of the State tourism but of the entire country.

In his welcome address, Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani said that that the department is making all the facilities in place for the hassle-free travel of the tourists.

“We are developing Gulmarg into a world class skiing destination where intentional competitions will be held for the adventure travelers,” Wani said. On the occasion, artists including ShafiSopori, Imran Latief enthralled the audience with their performances.

The Advisor was accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Imtiyaz Hussain, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Farooq Ahmad Baba, Deputy Director, Tourism (Publicity) Riyaz Ahmad Shah, Deputy Director, Tourism (Recreation) Sarfaraz Muhammad.

Srinagar: Amid growing resentment over waving of flags on pulpit of historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar, police on Monday rounded up some youths in connection with the incident.

A police officer told GNS that they have taken cognizance of the waving of ISIS flags on the pulpit of the grand mosque and started investigations to identify those involved.

“As so far no one came before the police station Nowhatta for the registration of the case, the police on the basis of video and other evidences available picked up several youths for questioning,” he said.

The investigations are underway to identify the youths involved in the waving of the Islamic State flags in the grand mosque, he said.

On Friday, some youths waved the ISIS flags on the pulpit of the historic mosque which sent shock waves among all with condemnations pouring in from almost all the pro-freedom, militant organisations and other political parties of the state. (GNS)

Anantnag: There is an endearing tenderness in the love of a mother to a son that transcends all other affections of the heart. A dream of every parent to see their children grow up into healthy and capable individuals. Parents often sacrifice their entire life raising their children in the hope that their children will provide them a shoulder of support in their old age. But not everyone is as lucky. Sometimes for a parent this blessing comes with certain hardships.

According to KNO correspondent, For 70-year-old Khatija Banoo, parenthood means looking after 15-year-old blind son. Sitting on the verandah of her humble abode in Hardu kitchru Ashmuqam, a village which lies at a distance of 12 kilometers from the main town of Anantnag, Khatija Banoo seems like any other ordinary woman. But after talking to her, one begins to see her in a different light.

Khatija Banoo recalls being beyond ecstatic on learning about her pregnancy. “The joy I felt the first time I held my child in my arms was unlike anything I had ever known before.” But this joy couldn’t last long because his first son after getting married in 2017 live separate from mother.

“When I learned that I was pregnant the second time, my husband and I prayed day and night that our second born be healthy and sincere. When my second son was born, we were so relieved. We felt it was the end to our sufferings and he would take care us in our old age. But our miseries were far from over. Within a few years, we learnt that our second son is partially blind,” she said.

15-year-old Nazir Munan wants to become a teacher but unfortunately Nazir left school in 4th class after school teachers advised his mother to left the schooling. My husband, having always been courageous, resolved to work day and night and earn enough for our blind sons treatment. But the anxiety took its toll on him. He died due to brief illness when my son was quite young.

Having left with no source of income, I tried approaching the authorities for help but everyone I went, I was met with closed doors and hearts. Nobody helped me. I did my best to raise my kids. I started doing odd jobs just to be able to put food on my kid’ plates. I faced a lot of hardships but I bore them all for my blind son.

Khatija living with 15 year old blind son in a mud house at Hadukichru village of Ashmuqam area getting monthly one thousand money widow pension from social welfare department.

After consult several times to doctors in District Hospital Anantnag the doctors advised there to her to refer her 15 year old blind son Nazir Munan to SMHS Srinagar hospital for further treatment and assured her his light will come back after spent more money on him for his treatment.

In 2017 after khatijja’s elder son Fareed Khan married with a local girl he start to live separate from Mother and blind brother, he vend his whole land of Khatija left Khatija in trouble. Khatija request general public for help and from authorities to lend them a helping hand so that they can treatment to his blind son.”(KNO)