DNA

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 25 – The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Mushahid Hussain has said that there are no political differences and divergences on Kashmir cause; the entire political spectrum shares the same line and passion to address this issue and ensure protection of fundamental rights of people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir he made these remarks during the Senate foreign Affairs Committee meeting held at the parliament House which was briefed by the Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr. Shireen M Mazari and Mr. Omar Waraich, Head of Amnesty International for South Asia Senator Mushahid Hussain said that Pakistan has become the center point of strategic issues which is an important window of opportunity given the fact that our strategic move have compelled India to take defense position at various international fronts.

He acknowledged that support to the Kashmir cause by the United Nation Secretary General and United General Assembly President during their to visit to Pakistan and letter from 14 US Senators demanding sanctions on India are successful interventions steered by Pakistan.

Dr. Shireen M Mazari, briefed the Committee on Human Rights Diplomacy; Challenges and opportunities for Pakistan.  She highlighted that notion of diplomacy has been changed; war has been replaced by ‘hybrid warfare’. No State is sovereign per se as they have voluntarily chipped away their sovereignty by agreeing to international agreements to govern their interstate relations in a growing number of fields.

The Human Rights Diplomacy stresses the need to identify four main actors including States, Inter-Governmental Organizations (e.g. U.N., QAS, NATO, etc.) NGOs and   European Union (EU). Pakistan should utilize this evolving concept of Human Rights Diplomacy for highlighting the human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K); the interventions can include,- lobbying with the EU and its Member States for revocation of the India’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP)Standard Status, imposition of sanctions on India in line with EU’s Directorate General for External Policies’ guidelines, 2015. Pakistan has to move proactively on multiple international forums in a coordinated manner; advisory opinion of ICJ on the matter would be a viable way forward. Mr. Omar Warraich, Head of Amnesty International briefed the Committee on the role of Amnesty International in promoting Kashmir cause.

He informed that Amnesty international works in IOJ&K and in reviewing the human rights violations with grave concern. In this regard several reports have been issued highlighting the atrocities and human rights violations. Mr. Abdul Hameed Loan from All Parties Hurriyat Conference was also present in the briefing.

The Committee also examined the matter of amount contributed by Pakistan so far towards financing of South Asian University (SAU) established by SAARC countries, which was raised by  Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, life threats/ extortion demands received by Senator Hilal ur Rehman from banned TTM (Jamat ul Ahrar) operating from Afghanistan, issuance of Notice by FBR to the Ambassador of Palestine. With regard to the observance of quota in posting of non-career diplomats aborad, the Committee asked Senator Dr, Shahzad Waseem, Leader of the House to take up the matter with the Prime Minister to consider giving adequate representation to people from Balochistan in said postings especially in Europe.

The Committee also considered the Public Petition Mr. Abdullah regarding release of his mother from UAE jail. The Committee noted with satisfaction that Mrs. Gul Bahar Begum mother of Abdullah has already travelled to Pakistan on 24^th February 2020, which has also been confirmed via telephone by his son. Public petition by Mr. Zubair Khan for transfer to prison in Pakistan from Chian on medical grounds, the Ministry informed that transfer of sentenced persons between Pakistan and China was signed in November, 2018. Currently ratification of the treaty is under process.

Once ratification is completed by both sides, the implementation of Treaty will start. Regarding Repatriation of Pakistani Juvenile prisoner namely Naseeb Ullah, a juvenile  from India, it was informed that Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi is vigorously pursuing the matter of his release at the earliest. The High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi is making every effort for early release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners detained in Indian jails.

The meeting was attended by Senators Abdul Rehman Malik, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Atta Ur Rehman, Dr. Asif Kirmani, Dr. Shahzad Waseem, Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Nuzhat Sadiq, Seemee Ezdi, Sherry Rehman, Sitara Ayaz, Hilal ur Rehman, Dr. Shireen M Mazari, Minister for Human Rights, Omar Waraich, Head of Amnesty International for South Asia and senior officials from the Foreign Office.

DNA

PALLANDRI (AJK), Sept 25 – Sardar Masood Khan, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has said development and upgrading of primary healthcare facilities and other basic amenities is a priority of the state government.

He made these comments while addressing the inaugural ceremony of Three-Day Free Eye-Camp for Cataract Surgeries organized by Al-Mustafa Welfare Organization here on Friday. Dr Najeeb Naqi, AJK Minister for Health also addressed on the occasion, while Chairperson AJK Women’s Commission Begum Tahmian Sadiq, Commander (retd) Zafar Iqbal, Maj (retd) Sikandar, Sardar Rab Nawaz and officials of district administration were also present on the occasion.

Sardar Mohammad Hayat, an official of the UK Conservative Party was the host of the function and the eye camp. A team of eye specialists will examine about 1,000 patients during the eye camp, and will operate upon them besides providing free lenses and other optical equipment to the patients.

The AJK President lauded the contribution of charity organizations side by side with the government departments, to providing education and health facilities to the masses and said “Service to humanity is a great virtue, and to cure and restore the eyesight of the blind people is the greatest service to humanity,” he asserted.

The state President said that the government will continue to provide universal access to health facilities and will especially focus on providing quality health services to the people living in far-flung areas of Azad Kashmir.

Describing territory of Poonch as a land of ghazis and martyrs, President Khan paid great homage to the elders of Poonch and said that late Col (Retd) Khan Mohammad Khan had rendered great services for Azad Kashmir particularly for the people Poonch by playing a leading role in the Kashmir the liberation movement in 1947. Today, his grandson Dr. Mohammad Najib Naq is busy day and night in serving the people of Sadhnoti, he added.

President Masood also praised Sardar Muhammad Hayat Khan for his efforts in raising the Kashmir issue and said that he has effectively advocated the plight of the Kashmiris as a political leader in the UK Conservative Party. He said that people like him are an asset for not only Azad Kashmir but also Pakistan.

Earlier addressing a mammoth Friday congregation at the local Jamia Masjid and Darul- Aloom, the AJK president said that at present Occupied part of Kashmir is undergoing the darkest period of its history as the usurper India had unleashed unprecedented repression against the innocent and defenceless Kashmiri people.

He said that the youth of occupied Kashmir are being killed, detained and deprived of their land and employment, while women are being raped and dishonoured by occupying army. BJP-RSS regime headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is transforming demography of Kashmir to turn Muslim majority of the state to the minority.

He urged the people of the area to revive the spirit of their forefathers and play their role at this delicate juncture of the history to liberate our Kashmiri brethren from the Indian shackles. Later, the state president laid the foundation stone of Khan Mohammad Khan Housing Society.

Addressing the event, AJK Health Minister, Dr Najeeb Naqi praised the initiative of Sardar Hayat and Al Mustafa Welfare Trust for organising the free eye-camp in which the local population would be provided free of cost surgeries and consultation. DNA

==========

Ashfaq Mughal

DNA

Faisalabad: 25 Sept – The meeting of District Quality Control Board was held with Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali in the chair. The medical store inspection reports of Drug Inspectors were reviewed in the meeting. The total 28 cases against medical stores found involved in different violations of Drug Act were examined during the meeting and hearing of pleas of medical store owners were made in this regard.

After hearing, the meeting decided to refer the cases against 11 medical stores to the Drug Court for prosecution. Moreover owners of two medical stores were given warning on presenting solid pleas and proof  and 14 cases were adjourned till next meeting due to not appearing of medical stores owners and one extension was granted.

The Deputy Commissioner also reviewed the performance of the Drug Inspectors and directed them for accelerating the drive against sale and manufacturing of  spurious drugs. He said that stern action should be taken against the quacks who were playing with the health of patients. He urged upon sealing the medical stores immediately involved in sale of  spurious and intoxicating medicines.

The Deputy Commissioner gave clear and loud message to the functionaries of health departments that any kind of corruption would not be tolerated. He strictly warned that no complaint of sale of spurious drugs should be reported in the district and drive against drug mafia should be made result oriented. Among others, the meeting was also attended  by ADCG Mudassar Nawaz, DHO Dr.Adnan,Dr Cap Siddique,Ghulam Sabir, Secretary DQCB Sehrish Murtaza and Drug Inspectors.

Ashfaq Mughal

DNA

Faisalabad: 25 Sept –  The meeting to review the Anti Dengue  campaign was held at Commissioner  office which was presided by Divisional Commissioner Ishrat Ali. Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali, CEO DHA Dr.Mushtaq Sipra, DHO Dr.Bilal Ahmad, District Coordinator Epidemics Control Dr.Aurangzaib, Dr. Wadim Akram and other officers from different departments attended the meeting while Deputy Commissioners of Jhang, T.T.Singh and Chiniot joint the meeting with video link.

Divisional Commissioner  reviewed the performance of departments in connection with anti dengue and said daily activity could not stop to crub the chances of dengue. He said that the officers of concerned departments should be active in field to achieve the desire results of the anti dengue campaign.

He asked for submitting departmental performance reports regarding surveillance and prevention activities daily. He cleared that the carelessness and dereliction from duties should not be tolerated and stern action would be taken against the officials showing poor performance in this regard.Divisional Commissioner said that the strict monitoring of the anti dengue measures is being carried out by the Divisional Administration to make the preventive and precautionary measures a success on durable basis.

He asked the concerned departments to take the dengue issue very serious and dengue surveillance, clinical & medical services awareness campaign and other departmental measures should be implemented with full responsibility. During the meeting District Coordinator for Epidemics diseases Dr. Aurangzaib  gave detailed briefing on indoor and out door survillance.