Category: District

Mirpur (ajk): Veteran Human Rights Activist and Chairman of International Forum for Justice Human Rights J and K, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on Monday paid heartfelt tributes to the innocent Kashmiri victims of the Hundwara Massacre on the 35th anniversary of their gruesome killing by the Indian occupational forces in the occupied state, said a report received here on Monday from across the Line of Control (LoC).

In a statement, issued in occupied Srinagar, Untoo said that it was tragic that no word from the government of India on hearing pending in scores of the human rights violations cases in IIOJK was responded.

He demanded that international Human Rights institutions including UNHRC, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Criminal Court, European parliamentarians counsel, the European Union, British parliament members, the House of Commons House of Senators, Washington and other world powers to exert pressure on India to stop Human Rights violations in the strife-torn IIOJK, where Kashmiris had launched the struggle for their globally recognized right to self-determination under the spirit of the international norms and commitments.

Elaborating the prevailing agony inside the IIOJK, the Kashmiri human rights activist said "There is no word from the Indian Home Minister and Defence Minister offices in New Delhi besides the "authorities" in Jammu and Kashmir to resume hearing of over 500+ previous cases of Human Rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, lying pending before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) before it was closed after the revocation of Kashmir's semi-autonomous status".

Untoo continued that following the revocation of Article 370 on 5th August 2019, New Delhi closed the SHRC which was largely seen in line with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's, policy to deal toughly with the freedom-monger Kashmiris.

"Even as the Government Of India (GoI) has extended the reach of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the occupied Jammu Kashmir, Rights Activists Untoo said that the body did not hold 'regular hearings and the lack of bench in Kashmir was making it difficult for them to reach out to it.

Muhammad Ahsaan Untoo said that "NHRC routinely dismisses pleas.' People can't go to Delhi to follow up the cases,' he said.

He observed that the lack of Human Rights bodies in IIOJK had come at a time when the Indian government forces had been accused of human rights violations.

"A police inquiry revealed that three youths of Rajouri were killed in Kashmir by the Indian army personnel in a staged gun battle, after two days three students were killed at Lawaypora Srinagar, seven standard students, killed at Jral Gund, Hundwara", he revealed, according to the report.

Untoo said that besides closing down the SHRC, Modi's government had imposed a 'martial law-like situation.'

He remembered saying that at the peak of militancy in the 1990s, scores of people were killed in action by Indian occupational forces, but no action was initiated against personnel responsible of the genocide of the innocent Kashmiris.

The Kashmiri rights activist further said "On January 25, 1990, 34 people fell to bullets of the Indian paramilitary BSF men in Handwara area of Kupwara district. On the fateful day, it happened barely four days after the Gaw Kadal massacre in Srinagar where 52 unarmed civilians were shot dead by the paramilitary CRPF men. 22nd January Alamgir Bazar Massacre 10 Civilians were killed.

To this date the government of India Modi, Amit Shah, Susheel Kumar Shanday, Shiv Raj Patil, Mufti Muhammad Syed, Farooq Abdullah, Umer Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, rejected SHRC recommendations, have no answer to our queries as to what led to this massacre", he underlined and added that those killed were not militants but civilians who were protesting peacefully,' Untoo said.

'Since the Handwara massacre remains a blot on the face of Indian democracy, Indian Prime Minister Modi, his Government, Home Minister Amit Shah, I demand a transparent and fresh probe into the incident by the sitting High Court Judge,' Untoo added, the report concluded.

Rawalpindi: City Poilce Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi Syed Khalid Hamdani on Monday held a 'Khuli Kachehri' (open court) at the office of Deputy Superintendent of Police Gujar Khan.

The Senior Superintendent of Police-Operations, Chief Traffic Officer, Superintendent of Police (SP) Saddar, Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHO) Gujar Khan also attended the 'Kachehri'.

CPO Hamdani listened to the problems of citizens and issued orders on the spot to resolve them.

The CPO, in his remarks on the occasion, said that the people's problems should be resolved at the police station level as it was the basic unit of policing.

He directed the police officials to ensure the best service for the citizens in police stations, warning that no negligence or laxity in that regard would be tolerated.

The CPO said they were ensuring to provide justice to the citizens at their doorsteps without any delay as per the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

He directed the Chief Traffic Officer to work with the district administration to improve the traffic system.

CPO Hamdani also held a meeting with the media persons.

Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, on Monday underscored the importance of public cooperation and Ulemas in combating terrorism and called for engaging the public in anti-terrorism measures.

Highlighting the role of religious scholars, he said, "Ulema have a crucial role in eliminating sectarianism and fostering harmony."

He was addressing consultative meeting involving leaders from various political and religious parties held at the Chief Minister's House.

According to a statement issued by the provincial government, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the formulation of a comprehensive national policy to address terrorism, sectarianism, linguistic and provincial divides, and promote the rule of law in the country.

Speaking at the meeting, Gandapur expressed gratitude to all the leaders and representatives who participated in this session.

Their presence in such large numbers highlights the pressing need for national unity, he remarked.

The CM emphasized that past policy failures had brought the country to its current state, where issues such as terrorism, sectarianism, linguistic and ethnic divides, and lawlessness were rampant.

"We need to think critically about the kind of country we are leaving for future generations. If we are to leave behind a better nation, it is essential to devise and implement a robust policy against these challenges," he stated.

The CM recalled past efforts to address these issues but admitted that they had not yielded significant results.

Gandapur stressed the need for national unity to tackle the serious challenges facing the country.

He urged all political parties to rise above their affiliations and work together to end terrorism, sectarianism, and lawlessness, while ensuring the supremacy of law.

"Today, the need for the rule of law is greater than ever. Without it, people cannot receive their due rights, and no state can progress," he remarked.

The CM concluded by calling for collective efforts to uphold sovereignty, strengthen national stability, and adhere to Islamic values and the nation's ideology.

Faisalabad: A man and his daughter was gunned down by rivals at a village in Dijkot police limits on Monday.

According to spokesperson,the victim Abbas had quarreled with the accused on the last day over minor issues.

In a fit of grudge,the accused opened discriminate firing on Abbas and his daughter Rukhsana.

Police concerned and Rescue 1122 reached on the spot,shifted the bodies to the mortuary for autopsy.

Further investigation was underway.

Peshawar: Former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ex-Federal Minister Pervez Khattak is gearing up for a political comeback and announced to hold a political rally on February 22 in Manki Sharif.

According to his family sources on Monday, Pervez Khattak, along with his brother Liaquat Khattak, has started preparations for the event.

After a break from politics, Khattak and his family is now ready to reestablish their presence in the political arena, with plans to reconnect with the public soon.

Family sources revealed that Pervez Khattak will outline his future political strategy during the rally. Additionally, it has been reported that all differences between Pervez Khattak and his brother have been resolved.

The former defense minister has chosen the Nowshera district as the starting point for his political campaign and has begun re-engaging his old allies to mobilize support.

The upcoming rally in Manki Sharif is expected to mark the formal beginning of his renewed political journey.

Multan: Pakistan skipper Shan Masood on Monday said that it was a tough contest and Pakistan would overcome the mistakes to improve performance in the upcoming fixtures. Holding a press conference following his team's 120-run defeat to the West Indies in the second Test at Multan Cricket Stadium, bringing the two-match series to a 1-1 draw. He acknowledged the team's shortcomings and highlighted key lessons for the future. 'We did not get the result we wanted,' Masood admitted, 'Batting in the fourth innings on this pitch was extremely challenging and credit to the West Indies as they batted brilliantly in their second innings and took the game away from us.' Reflecting on Pakistan's batting collapse in the first innings, Masood pinpointed critical moments that swung the match. 'We were 119 for 4 and got bowled out for 154. That moment was decisive. On top of that, their lower-order partnership hurt us badly and widened the gap. He stressed the importance of collective responsibility for the def eat, rejecting the idea of blaming individuals.

'This was a team sport, whether we win or lose, it was on all of us. Everyone has a role to play and it was never about one player.' Masood also highlighted recurring issues that need immediate attention, such as struggling to dismiss the opposition's tailenders. He said that getting the tail out quickly has been a concern for us and we need to address this in upcoming games. Praising Babar Azam's second-innings effort, he said, Babar was in great form and his dismissal was unfortunate. In conditions like these, one delivery can change everything. If he had stayed longer, the result could have been different,' he maintained. The skipper emphasized the need for better preparation in similar conditions. He said that results come quickly on pitches like this and we need to capitalize on opportunities, adapt to challenging situations, and make better use of domestic cricket to prepare our batters for these conditions. The West Indies' victory marked their first Test win on Pakistani soil in 35 years , a historic feat that left Pakistan reflecting on missed opportunities. Despite the disappointment, Masood underlined the team's determination to learn and bounce back stronger. 'Playing in these conditions was tough for any batter, but we have learned valuable lessons. We will come back better as a team,' he concluded.