India cannot crush Kashmiris through violence: CM

Shahbaz urges lawmakers, party workers to fully participate in Black Day activities


Our Correspondent July 17, 2016
“Public service is the real objective of the government. We have been elected for serving the people. It is our duty to utilise all resources for people’s welfare,” he said. PHOTO: NNI

LAHORE: India cannot deprive Kashmiris of their right to self-determination through oppression, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday. He was addressing party MNAs and MPAs. The chief minister urged them to actively participate in activities held to mark the black day to be observed on July 20 to condemn Indian aggression in IHK.

“The black day against Indian cruelties in occupied Jammu and Kashmir will be observed actively. We salute the struggle for independence by Kashmiris. The Indian government should realise that it cannot crush the spirit of freedom through violence,” the CM said.

The chief minister said that the atrocities of Indian government had served only to increase the desire for freedom in the hearts of Kashmiri people. “Freedom is a basic right of Kashmiris. India cannot deprive them of the right to self-determination through state-terrorism,” he said. Shahbaz Sharif said that he saluted the brave Kashmiris whose sons and daughters had been murdered by Indian soldiers. “There is no moral justification for silence for the world community regarding the bloodshed of innocent Kashmiris. The international community should pressure India to stop the bloodshed in Kashmir. Murder of unarmed Kashmiris is an open violation of human rights. The world community should take immediate practical steps for checking Indian cruelties against Kashmiris,” he said.

He said that Pakistan would continue its diplomatic and moral support for Kashmiris. Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq, MNAs Pervaiz Malik, Mehar Ishtiaq Ahmad, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, MPAs Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Zaeem Hussain Qadri and Manshaullah Butt were also present.

Local representatives

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday that local government institutions were important for a democratic system. He was addressing chairmen and vice-chairmen of union councils at Model Town. “Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz won a significant victory in local bodies’ elections and the people expressed their full confidence in its leadership. The country is moving speedily towards the goal of progress, prosperity and peace,” the CM said.

He said that the government had maintained quality standards and transparency in all development projects. “The government is free from corruption. Even its opponents cannot raise a finger at it. Billions of rupees have been saved by ensuring high standards and transparency in development projects. This is unprecedented in the history of the country,” he said. He said that efforts were being made for improving all sectors. “Public service is the real objective of the government. We have been elected for serving the people. It is our duty to utilise all resources for people’s welfare,” he said.

Spurious drugs

The chief minister on Sunday constituted a task force to eliminate spurious drugs. Parliamentary Secretary on Health Khawaja Imran Nazir will be the convener of the task force. The additional chief secretary, MPAs, police officers, the specialised healthcare and medical education secretary, the primary and secondary healthcare secretary, the Prosecution Department secretary, the Special Branch additional IG, the chief drug inspector, the health services director general, the divisional commissioners, the RPOs, the DCOs and the the CCPO will be its members.

Nazir said that the task force would review overall situation in the province and check expired drugs in markets and stores of government hospitals. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2016.

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