DNA

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 27 –  Pakistan categorically rejects the grant of domicile certificates of Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K) by the Indian authorities to reportedly 25,000 Indian nationals. The Kashmiris have also rejected the bogus domicile certificates.

The certificates issued to non-Kashmiris including, among others, the Indian government officials under “Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure), 2020” are illegal, void and in complete violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and International law including the 4^th Geneva Convention.

The latest action is a vindication of Pakistan’s consistent stance that the major intention behind the Indian Government’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 was to change the demographic structure of IOJ&K and turn Kashmiris into a minority in their own land. This has long been part of the RSS-BJP’s “Hindutva” agenda.

By changing the demographic structure of IOJ&K, the Indian Government intends to undermine the exercise by the Kashmiri people of their right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nation as per the relevant UNSC Resolutions.

Through these reprehensible actions, alongwith continuing restrictions, excruciating military crackdown, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary detentions and incarcerations, and unabated grave human rights violations, India seeks to further perpetuate its illegal occupation of IOJ&K. India should know that its suppression has not been able to break the will of the Kashmiri people in the past and it will not succeed in doing so in the future.

The United Nations and the international community must intervene to stop India from changing the demographic structure of IOJ&K by settling people from India in a territory that it has illegally occupied and the status of which remains disputed. India must be urged to immediately cancel all the domicile certificates of IOJ&K issued illegally, revoke unlawful rules aimed at further disempowering and disenfranchising the Kashmiris by effecting a demographic change, and comply with its international legal obligations through implementation of the relevant UNSC Resolutions.

The recipients of the domicile certificates must know that India has no legal authority to bring in and settle people from outside IOJ&K. The international law bars India from such illegal actions.

Half of the UK’s imported coronavirus cases were reported in travellers from Pakistan, The Telegraph reported on Friday, as the country seeks to impose stricter quarantine measures on foreigners.

The UK government’s Public Health England recorded a total of 30 COVID-19 cases in people who had arrived from Pakistan since June 4.

The kingdom itself has reported 309,360 cases and 43,414 deaths from the virus.

A quarantine expert from Exeter University, Bharat Pankhania, suggested the government concentrate its resources on thorough screening of individuals from “high risk” countries rather than a “light-touch” quarantine.

“As soon as a country reaches a set threshold, special screening and tests are done on all individual arrivals at the border. If they are staying in Bath, for example, then the local public health director is alerted and they are subject to on-the-door checks by his or her team,” he said.

“You also need to make it clear that this is a serious issue if you are coming from an at-risk country, and increase the penalties for breaches so that those who do [breach], go to prison and/or [are subject to a] £10,000 fine.”

Authorities say there are two flights on a daily basis from Pakistan and since March 1 the UK has recorded more than 65,000 travellers from the country after flight operations were restored.

Initially, flights were operating to repatriate British and Pakistani nationals, with up to a dozen trips per week. The Telegraphs says 25,000 British nationals were repatriated from Pakistan between April 4 and May 13.

Recently, the flying schedule has become more regular. Other countries and airlines are suspending flights from Pakistan as the country continues to export COVID-19 cases.

Emirates suspended flights from Pakistan after 30 passengers on a June 22 flight to Hong Kong tested positive. Etihad and Fly Dubai also suspended flights out of Pakistan.

South Korea’s government has temporarily banned people from Pakistan and Bangladesh from entering after a rise in imported coronavirus cases was reported.

Pakistan has reported almost 200,000 cases of the virus and nearly 4,000 deaths.

DNA

Islamabad: JUNE 27 – Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has said that Balochistan and its issues have always been the top priority of the present government. He said that the parliament and public representatives are the best option to put forth the solution of the socio-economic issues faced by the Balochistan and its People. He said that the incumbent government resolves that Pakistan development and its progress is attached with peace and progress of the Balochistan Province. He expressed these view while chairing the maiden meeting of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan here in the parliament house today.

The Speaker said that the CPEC emanates from Gilgit-Baltistan and culminates in Balochistan increasing its significance, therefore, ensuring transfer of the real benefits of CPEC to the local people needs to be looked into by this Parliamentary Committee.  He said that issuance of Executive Order regarding immediate implementation of 6% employment quota in all Federal Departments express  the seriousness of the Prime Minister Imran Khan for addressing the issues of Balochistan. He said that parliamentary committees in the Parliamentary system across the world have recommendatory role to play and this Committee will make its all-out efforts to recommend best possible solution of the issues faced by Balochistan.

In order to develop comprehensive Terms of Reference (ToRs), encompassing all the issues relating to Balochistan, the Speaker appointed a four members Sub-Committee under the Convenership Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination. It was also decided that Representative from Balochistan National Party and Minister for Defence, Prevaiz Khattak would be specially invited to assist the Sub-Committee while developing ToRs.

While expressing his point of view, the Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri appreciated the initiative of the Speaker to constitute this special committee to resolve the issues. He mentioned that the government was seriously looking into the resolution of issues confronting peace and development in the Province.

Minster for Inter-provincial Coordination Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that Balochistan and resolution of its issues have always been the top priority of the Parliamentarians across the country. She pointed out that comprehensive TORs are essential to make this committee more effective. Minister for Defence Pervaiz Khattak mentioned that government had taken various steps for mitigating the grievances of the people of Balochistan and assured continuation of that resolve in future too.

Representing the Balochistan National Party Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, MNA Agha Hassan Baloch contended that the Balochistan issues have been getting intense since 2006 which needed to be addressed forthwith. He suggested for examining the recommendations formulated by Parliamentary Committee headed by Ch. Shujjat Hussain after meeting late Nawab Akbar Khan Bughti. He also suggested to look into the issue of missing persons besides meeting with the families to hear their grievances especially in Baloch dominating districts. He also said that BNP also demands to make public the CPEC related project detail in Balochistan.

Other Members of the Special Committee on Balochistan Nawab Aslam Bhootani, Engineer Sabir Hussian Kaim khani  and Ehsan Ullah Reiki, Members of the Special Committee on Balochistan stressed that parliament should play its  role in resolution of the genuine issues of the province rotting since decades. They said that CPEC was undoubtedly a game changer for Pakistan and the province of Balochistan, thus government should ensure deliverance of their right to the people. They expressed their confidence that this Committee under the stewardship of Speaker Asad Qaiser would take the lead.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, Federal Ministers, Dr. Fehmida Mirza and Pervaiz Khattak and MNAs Engr. Sabir Hussain Kaim Khani, Mr. Ehsanullah Reki, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Bhootani and Agha Hassan Baloch, Malik Aamir Dogar, attended the meeting as special invitees.