Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Islamabad: Despite the passage of seven years since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, India’s narrative framing the move as a historic achievement of peace and integration is utterly unmasked by severe economic distress, rising unemployment, relentless political unrest, heavy militarization, and demographic engineering.

According to defence and foreign policy analysts, mere economic statistics or selective tourism figures cannot hide the real issues of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

They emphasised that sustainable peace and stability are only possible when civil and political rights are restored, human rights violations are held accountable, meaningful dialogue is initiated, and a solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is sought in accordance with international laws, UN resolutions, and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Evaluating India’s claims of progress ahead of Youm-e-Istehsal, annually observed on August 5, analysts highlighted that ground realities starkly contradict official claims of development. India projects tourist numbers as proof of normalcy, yet the sector remains volatile and security-dependent-further exposed by a sharp decline following the 2025 Pahalgam attack-leaving thousands in tourism and handicrafts without livelihoods.

Similarly, claims of GSDP growth fail to obscure severe economic distress, where youth and female unemployment remain elevated, and key sectors like horticulture, handicrafts, and MSMEs face heavy financial losses alongside controversial land policies and unfulfilled job promises.

In education, despite rising literacy and enrollment figures, continuous internet shutdowns, institutional closures, teacher shortages, and pervasive insecurity have deeply affected students and the youth.

Analysts underscored that IIOJK remains one of the world’s most militarized regions, where Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs), mass detentions, and surveillance are routine, alongside grave human rights concerns regarding custodial deaths, fake encounters, and arbitrary arrests under PSA, UAPA, and AFSPA.

Furthermore, unilateral alterations to land, domicile, and voting rights serve as a systematic effort to alter the Muslim-majority demographic structure, violating UN Security Council resolutions which mandate a free plebiscite.

Interferences in religious leadership, Islamic institutions, Auqaf affairs, and local culture further threaten Kashmir’s heritage.

Rather than suppressing resistance, these policies have unified mainstream parties, civil society, and religious leadership under the July 2026 movement for statehood restoration, proving that Kashmiri political aspirations remain unfulfilled and that true peace requires rights restoration, accountability, and meaningful dialogue under UN resolutions.

Islamabad: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to launch a Faceless Income Tax Refund System to enable the automated processing of eligible tax refunds and their direct electronic transfer into taxpayers’ bank accounts, saying the move would reduce delays and improve taxpayer facilitation.

The recommendation came while deciding a complaint filed by M/s Sprint Oil and Gas Services FZC, which sought the release of an income tax refund of Rs 42.86 million for tax year 2025. The company had submitted its online refund application on April 13, but alleged that the refund remained pending despite the expiry of the statutory 60-day processing period.

According to the complaint, the delay constituted maladministration under the Federal Tax Ombudsman Ordinance, 2000. The complainant also referred to an Islamabad High Court directive calling for the implementation of an automated refund mechanism under Section 170A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, to minimise taxpayer interaction with tax offices and speed up refund payments.

In its response, the Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue, Corporate Tax Office (CTO), Islamabad, stated that refund applications were being processed on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis under FBR instructions and that the taxpayer’s claim was still under verification after notices were issued seeking supporting documents.

After reviewing the record, the Tax Ombudsman Zafar Hijazi ruled that the refund application had remained pending beyond the statutory timeframe and that such delay amounted to maladministration due to departmental neglect and inattention. The FTO rejected the department’s reliance on the FIFO policy as a justification for prolonged delays, observing that administrative procedures could not override taxpayers’ legal rights.

The FTO directed FBR to instruct the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Refund Zone), CTO Islamabad, to decide the pending refund claim in accordance with the law after determining the nature of the taxes paid or deducted and submit a compliance report within 30 days.

In a significant policy recommendation, the Ombudsman advised FBR to operationalise a Faceless Income Tax Refund System under Section 170A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. The proposed system would allow refunds, verified through the Board’s computerised system, to be transferred electronically into taxpayers’ notified bank accounts without requiring formal refund applications, similar to the faceless customs clearance and assessment regimes already introduced by FBR.

The FTO said such a mechanism would enhance efficiency, reduce taxpayer hardship and promote a modern, technology-driven tax administration.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to further strengthening the brotherly ties with Azerbaijan, recalling the high-level exchanges between the two countries over the past two and a half years.

The prime minister, talking to Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov, who paid a farewell call on him, expressed confidence that the strong foundation laid during the envoy’s tenure would continue to guide the trajectory of bilateral ties in the years ahead.

The prime minister warmly acknowledged Ambassador Farhadov’s dedicated efforts to strengthen the deep-rooted, brotherly relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan during his tenure.

He commended the Ambassador’s contributions in expanding bilateral cooperation across political, trade, economic, defence, culture and people-to-people domains, including the launch of direct flights between the two countries.

Conveying his warm regards to President Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Shehbaz fondly recalled his numerous visits to Azerbaijan over the past two and a half years, as well as the visit of President Aliyev to Pakistan in July 2024.

He also wished Ambassador Farhadov continued success in his future assignments.

Ambassador Farhadov thanked the prime minister for the warmth, hospitality, and support extended to him by the Government and people of Pakistan throughout his diplomatic assignment, describing his tenure in Pakistan as a cherished chapter of his diplomatic career.

He reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s continued commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with Pakistan. He also presented the prime minister with a book based on his family’s experiences of living in Pakistan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch also attended the meeting.