Sh Rashid says Imran highlighted plight of Kashmiris at world forums

RAWALPINDI – Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Thursday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan highlighted plight of Kashmiris at all world forums including United Nations and presented the Kashmir issue in an exemplary manner.

While addressing a function organised in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day at Government Viqar-un-Nisa Girls College, the minister demanded action from the global community as Modi’s government was violating international laws and Indian forces are involved in gross human rights violations in the occupied territory. He said the Modi’s government is trying to make demographic changes in the valley. All Pakistanis are united over Kashmir issue, he added.

Interior Minister said Viqar-un-Nisa Girls College would be upgraded to the status of university this year and announced a grant of Rs50 million for Viqar-un-Nisa Girls College hostel. He said that he had started the public service journey by establishing schools, colleges, and universities particularly in middle-class areas in Rawalpindi.

“When we started to focus education field, the city was at 27th position in Punjab, but, now we are at first position in women education,” he added. He announced that efforts would be made for up-gradation of the Government Viqar un-Nisa Postgraduate College to the status of university.

MNA and Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Narcotics Control, Sheikh Rashid Shafique, Director Colleges Hafiz Fazal ur Rehman, and Principal Viqar-un-Nisa College Dr Zahida Pervaiz were also present on this occasion.

Later while talking to reporters, he said the dialogue process is real strength of democracy and second name of dialogue is democracy.

He said those who were threatening to resign should review their decisions as the resignations would not bring any ‘Qiyamat’ in the country but the step can spread only some nuisance in democracy and democratic system. 

To a question the minister said, “I have no contact with Peoples Party but, I congratulate Asif Ali Zardari on Bakhtawar’s marriage and pray for her.”

He said Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is ready to take political decisions but the government is going for new legislation. The government has presented a constitutional amendment bill that seeks open balloting in the Senate elections, he added.

He said the PTI and its coalition parties were the only parties that had made practical efforts to end the involvement of money in the senate elections by bringing a constitutional amendment. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan wants that the elections could not be sold again, the senate could not be sold again, the consciences could not be sold again and a vote market could not be set up again. “There is only one way and that is to have this amendment to the constitution,” he added.

He said the opposition parties should come up with a realistic approach and vote for this amendment for open balloting in the Senate elections.

Sheikh Rashid said that Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) had signed Charter of democracy (CoD) in 2006 but now their actions are against the CoD. He further said the Opposition was planning for Long March or no confidence move but the government would arrange Senate elections in second week of March. 

Maulana Fazlur Rehman should contest Senate election from any part of the country and he should do it as it would bring down his anger.

Interior Minister said, “Those who consider, the government can be toppled through protests, should recall that we along with Imran Khan held a sit-in for 126 days but could not succeed to bring the government down.”

He said the government is near to complete its three years’ tenure and has only one year’s period to give performance as from fourth year, election campaign starts.

[11:12 PM, 2/4/2021] Faiz: Indian illegal actions in IIOJK detrimental to regional peace: President Alvi

Draconian laws are in place in IIOJK provide complete impunity to occupation forces as they commit egregious violations of human rights

Urging international community to hold India accountable for all its misdeeds and crimes against humanity, President Dr Arif Alvi has said key to durable peace in South Asia is resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UNSC’s resolutions and wishes of Kashmiri people.

“India must rescind its unilateral and illegal actions and stop implementing the RSS-inspired ‘Hindutva’ agenda in IIOK that is detrimental to peace and security in the region”, said President Alvi on Kashmir Solidarity Day.  …