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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>JAAC responds to Bilawal’s letter, shows willingness to join truth commission talks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621552/jaac-responds-to-bilawals-letter-shows-willingness-to-join-truth-commission-talks</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621552/jaac-responds-to-bilawals-letter-shows-willingness-to-join-truth-commission-talks#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 26 17:54:31 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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				<![CDATA[Bilawal says he will study JAAC’s proposal and consult AJK government and stakeholders to build consensus]]>
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				<![CDATA[The protesting Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee on Saturday expressed its willingness to engage with the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission as it responded to a letter written by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on the initiative.

The development came after the JAAC wrote a letter to Bilawal on July 14, to which the PPP chairman responded by reiterating his proposal to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the consent of all stakeholders.

In response to the letter, the JAAC conveyed its willingness to consider the proposed commission as a possible way forward to address the recent violence and political crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

&ldquo;I have received JKJAAC&rsquo;s response to my letter proposing the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, together with their accompanying proposal,&rdquo; Bilawal said in a post on X.



I have received JKJAAC&rsquo;s response to my letter proposing the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, together with their accompanying proposal.

Every loss of life is a national tragedy. My immediate priority is to help end the present crisis, bring relief and&hellip;
&mdash; Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) August 1, 2026


Describing every loss of life as a national tragedy, the PPP chairman said his immediate priority was to help end the crisis, provide relief and restore normal life for the people of AJK as quickly as possible.

&ldquo;I welcome their willingness to engage with the proposed commission as a possible institutional path forward, one now endorsed by the AJK Legislative Assembly, and will study their proposal carefully,&rdquo; he added.

Bilawal said he would also consult the AJK prime minister, who would approach the federal government and other relevant stakeholders to seek their initial views and assess whether sufficient common ground existed to move forward with a consensus proposal.

Read: Bilawal pitches truth and reconciliation commissions for AJK

Last month, while addressing PPP office-bearers and election candidates in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal had proposed the establishment of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help resolve the ongoing political crisis in the region.

He had suggested that the commission should have a broad mandate to examine the prevailing situation, establish facts, consider grievances and positions of all sides, review outstanding political, legal and administrative issues, and recommend a fair and lasting way forward.

He had warned that maintaining the status quo in AJK could harm both the Kashmir cause and Pakistan&rsquo;s international reputation, urging all stakeholders to seek a political solution.

Earlier this week, the AJK Legislative Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of an independent truth commission to investigate the recent unrest, examine deaths, injuries and property losses, and recommend relief measures and reforms.

The resolution followed clashes between law enforcement personnel and JAAC protesters in Rawalakot, with reports of deaths and injuries. Both security forces and the JAAC claimed casualties during the unrest.

The assembly resolution urged peaceful protesters, political workers, traders and young people to distance themselves from &ldquo;armed, violent, subversive and law-breaking elements&rdquo;.

Also Read: AJK assembly passes resolution seeking truth commission into recent unrest

The unrest drew condemnation from political parties and rights groups following reports of casualties during the protests.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan&nbsp;expressed concern over the reports, stressing that maintaining public order should not come at the expense of the right to life or the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression. It called for a prompt, impartial and independent investigation into the reported deaths and injuries.

Opposition parties also criticised the violence. The PTI called for an immediate, independent, transparent and impartial judicial investigation, describing the reported deaths and injuries as an attack on human rights, democratic values and civil liberties.

The Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-AJK Pakistan&nbsp;condemned what it described as the use of excessive force against protesters. At the same time, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed the firing on civilians as &ldquo;open terrorism&rdquo;.

The recent unrest follows a period of political tensions in AJK, where the JAAC had previously led protests over demands for constitutional and governance reforms. The committee&rsquo;s charter of demands included ending privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, abolishing 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees in the AJK Legislative Assembly and ending the quota system.

Following earlier unrest, the government and JAAC had reached an agreement covering 12 core and 13 additional points. Under the accord, both sides agreed to establish a high-level committee to examine the issue of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

The issue remains unresolved, with the JAAC calling for the abolition of the reserved seats while the government has rejected the demand.]]>
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			<title>Over 1 million voters to cast ballots in second phase of AJK polls</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621547/over-1-million-voters-to-cast-ballots-in-second-phase-of-ajk-polls</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621547/over-1-million-voters-to-cast-ballots-in-second-phase-of-ajk-polls#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 26 16:43:34 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[M A Mir]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[AJK election body says polling arrangements are complete for peaceful voting in 21 constituencies]]>
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				<![CDATA[More than a million voters will head to polling stations on Sunday as Azad Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s electoral battle enters its crucial second phase, with voting scheduled for nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad Division and 12 seats reserved for refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) settled in Pakistan.

The AJK Election Commission said that all arrangements had been completed to ensure peaceful, transparent and fair polling, with election material delivered to all polling stations in the 12 refugee and nine Muzaffarabad, Neelum and Jhelum Valley constituencies.

Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said polling material was being delivered to the nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad Division in the final stage while polling staff had been dispatched to their respective stations under tight security.

Read More: JUI-F chief urges government to recognise gravity of AJK protests, pursue reconciliation

The CEC urged voters to turn out in large numbers and exercise their right to vote, describing the ballot as a trust that should be placed in the hands of honest and competent candidates.

The second phase assumes particular political significance following the PML-N&rsquo;s dominant performance in the first phase in Mirpur Division, where it secured nine of the 13 seats while the PPP won only four.

Today&rsquo;s polling in Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee constituencies will therefore provide a crucial test of whether the PML-N can extend its first-phase advantage or whether the PPP can regain momentum in the electoral contest.

The CEC appealed to voters to participate actively in the democratic process, saying all necessary arrangements had been made for peaceful, transparent and impartial elections.]]>
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			<title>Rana Sanaullah questions President Zardari’s election as PML-N hits back at PPP over 2024 polls</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621546/rana-sanaullah-questions-president-zardaris-election-as-pml-n-hits-back-at-ppp-over-2024-polls</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621546/rana-sanaullah-questions-president-zardaris-election-as-pml-n-hits-back-at-ppp-over-2024-polls#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 26 16:17:18 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Questions how Zardari secures votes if the same process is being challenged for the prime minister’s election]]>
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				<![CDATA[Coalition partners in the federal government, the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on Saturday continued their war of words, which began during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir election campaign, with leaders from both sides escalating their rhetoric by targeting each other&#39;s leadership and past governments.

The two parties, allies in the federal coalition government, have been exchanging accusations since the PML-N emerged victorious in the elections in AJK&#39;s Mirpur division. The PPP has alleged that the PML-N rigged the polls in Mirpur and has demanded fresh voting in the constituency.

With the second phase of the AJK elections set to be held on Sunday in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division, political temperatures rose further as senior PML-N leaders responded to the PPP&#39;s allegations of electoral manipulation, rejecting claims of rigging not only in the AJK polls but also in the 2024 general elections. The latest exchanges marked a further deterioration in relations between the two coalition partners, with the campaign increasingly dominated by personal attacks and competing claims over their respective records in government rather than local electoral issues.

Read: Bilawal warns rigged polls will hasten PML-N downfall

Taking a swipe at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari over his allegations regarding the 2024 general elections, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah questioned the legitimacy of President Asif Ali Zardari&#39;s election.

&quot;If you describe the votes secured by the prime minister as &#39;Form-47 votes&#39;, then on what forms did the president receive his votes? You should answer that as well. If the president was elected through the same electoral process, then he is accepted as the president of Pakistan, but at the same time you say you do not recognise the prime minister,&quot; Sanaullah said while addressing a gathering in Jhelum Valley alongside Kashmir Affairs Minister Amir Muqam.

He also criticised PPP leaders for targeting PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, saying that if they questioned Nawaz&#39;s first election as prime minister, similar questions would arise about the election of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.



آپ جلسہ میں آکر کہیں کہ وزیراعظم تو فارم 47 کا ہے۔ اگر وزیراعظم کے لیے گئے ووٹ فارم 47 کے ہیں تو پھر صدر صاحب نے جو ووٹ لیے ہیں وہ کس فارم کے تھے؟ ذرا اس کا بھی جواب دیتے جائیں۔ pic.twitter.com/xecu8yzWqo
&mdash; PMLN (@pmln_org) August 1, 2026


&quot;If you claim that Mian Nawaz Sharif became prime minister for the first time &mdash; or every time &mdash; through rigging, then you should also remember that people say someone once became prime minister after the country had already been split,&quot; he said.

Sanaullah added that people also remembered that &quot;someone first became a civilian chief martial law administrator before becoming prime minister&quot;, adding that some people were now saying the political journey of 30 years should be compressed into just three and a half years.

He also took a jibe at Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for criticising the current political system, questioning how he had risen to the office of interior minister in just three and a half years through the same system.



زرداری صاحب کے ایک برخوردار کل یہ فرمارہے تھے کہ سسٹم ختم ہو چکا ہے اور آگے چلنے کے قابل نہیں رہا لیکن دوسری طرف اسی سسٹم کے ذریعے 30 سال کا سفر صرف ساڑھے تین سال میں طے کر لیا۔ عجیب بات ہے کہ اقتدار کا مزہ لینے کے بعد اب اچانک یہ سسٹم خراب لگنے لگا ہے pic.twitter.com/kXP3K56csM
&mdash; PMLN (@pmln_org) August 1, 2026


&quot;One of Zardari&#39;s sons said yesterday that the system had collapsed and was no longer capable of functioning. Yet, through the same system, he completed what would ordinarily have taken 30 years in just three and a half years. It is rather strange that, after enjoying the benefits of power, he has suddenly begun to see the system as flawed,&quot; he said.

Sanaullah said Pakistan&#39;s parliamentary democratic system had been envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and was the outcome of the political struggle of the country&#39;s people.

&quot;Everyone should know that the people of this country secured Pakistan through a political struggle. Under this very system, the country will not only move forward but will also attain the place in the world that our forefathers envisioned while struggling alongside Quaid-e-Azam,&quot; he said.

Also Read: PPP alliance with PML-N in Centre not endangered by AJK polls criticism, Bilawal says

Responding to criticism from political opponents, Sanaullah said the PML-N should not be threatened by those he described as &quot;cockroaches&quot;.

&quot;Do not threaten us by saying these cockroaches will gather together and cannot be managed with laptops or stipends. We have dealt with them before,&quot; he said, adding that the PML-N had always served the country and that &quot;cockroaches can never pose a threat to those serving Pakistan.&quot;

Meanwhile, addressing an election rally in Lahore, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticised the PPP without naming it over its governance and development record.

He challenged rival parties campaigning for the elections in AJK&nbsp;to identify 10 or 12 major development projects they had completed either in Kashmir or in the areas they represented.

He said political parties had every right to present their manifestos before the public, but questioned whether any of them had a programme capable of matching the PML-N&#39;s record of development.



وفاقی وزیر اطلاعات و نشریات عطاء اللہ تارڑ کا تقریب سے خطاب @TararAttaullah pic.twitter.com/YhqrHHyxzh
&mdash; PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) August 1, 2026


&quot;The answer is no. Politics is not about rhetoric or speeches alone. Parties have to demonstrate public service in practical terms, as Mian Nawaz Sharif did and as Mian Shehbaz Sharif is doing,&quot; Tarar said.

The minister said the PML-N had consistently advocated the Kashmir cause. He added that when PM Shehbaz&nbsp;addressed the United Nations, he spoke about Burhan Wani and the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, who, he said, &quot;even today wish to be buried wrapped in the Pakistani flag&quot;.]]>
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			<title>Bilawal extends olive branch to PTI, calls for united fight against AJK rigging</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621142/bilawal-extends-olive-branch-to-pti-calls-for-united-fight-against-ajk-rigging</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621142/bilawal-extends-olive-branch-to-pti-calls-for-united-fight-against-ajk-rigging#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 26 14:13:11 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Urges PTI to abandon politics of boycott, warns PML-N against 'stealing' PPP mandate in AJK]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday made a rare call for political unity, extending an olive branch to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and urging its leaders and workers to join hands with his party, abandon the politics of boycott and participate in the electoral process against alleged rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir polls.

Addressing an election rally in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal criticised the PTI for boycotting elections, saying, &quot;If you want to boycott, then stay at home&quot; and urged the party to fight for its rights by taking part in elections and engaging in politics.

He also invited PTI leaders and workers to join hands with the PPP.



&ldquo;2 تاریخ کو آپ کا امتحان ہے، انتخابات کا بائیکاٹ کرنے والوں کو سمجھائیں، دلچسپی نہ رکھنے والوں کو سمجھائیں کہ ایک طریقہ ہے دھاندلی روکنے کا کہ اتنی تعداد میں باہر نکلیں کہ ان کے جعلی ووٹ سے آپ کے حقیقی ووٹ اتنے زیادہ ہوں کہ حکومت آپ کی بنے، میں مظفرآباد کے عوام، نوجوانوں اور&hellip; pic.twitter.com/SUNHbUpVZZ
&mdash; PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 30, 2026


&quot;Today, I extend my hand to PTI workers. Today, I extend my hand to the sincere politicians of PTI. Every political party that is tired of rigging, every political worker who wants to make their own decision &mdash; come, take my hand,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;together, we can also bring reforms through Parliament.&quot;

Bilawal said Pakistan and AJK should have free and fair elections, adding that if the agenda was limited to ensuring transparent polls, he was ready to work with all political parties to achieve that objective.

The PPP chairman also launched a fresh attack on the ruling PML-N, claiming it feared another electoral defeat in AJK after losing Gilgit-Baltistan because it could weaken its position in the federal government.

Alleging that the PML-N was stealing the PPP&#39;s mandate, Bilawal warned that such actions would have political consequences.

Read: AJK Assembly passes resolution seeking Truth Commission into recent unrest

&quot;If you keep stealing our mandate, your federal government will fall and I will come to unseat you,&quot; he said.

He vowed to defend the PPP&rsquo;s mandate, recalling the party&rsquo;s confrontation with military rulers from Gen Zia-ul-Haq to Gen Pervez Musharraf.

&ldquo;We know how to protect our mandate, and we will do so,&rdquo; Bilawal declared. &ldquo;Our jiyalas are experts at hunting the lion.&rdquo;

Bilawal also accused the PML-N of benefiting from electoral rigging, alleging that the AJK Election Commission had ignored video evidence submitted by the PPP regarding alleged irregularities in Mirpur.

Questioning the commission&#39;s decision to issue the election notification despite the complaints, he demanded that all complaints relating to the first phase of polling be resolved before Aug 2.

&ldquo;A notification cannot turn a wrong into a right, nor can it conceal the robbery of votes,&rdquo; he said.

He also called for election records and voter rolls to be made public, saying transparency was essential to restoring confidence in the electoral process.

Read More: AJK polls&#39; first phase results notified

Bilawal framed the August 2 vote as a choice over Kashmir&rsquo;s political future, urging voters to support the PPP&rsquo;s arrow symbol for what he described as the &ldquo;right to governance, right to ownership and right to employment&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Election results should be decided by the ballot, not the bullet,&rdquo; he said, demanding that polling agents should not be removed and alleged vote theft should not be concealed behind official notifications.

He questioned whether the PML-N&#39;s political interests had become more important than Pakistan&#39;s national interest and said the PPP would not accept what he described as a stolen mandate, vowing to protect his party&#39;s electoral rights.

Turning to his party&#39;s manifesto for AJK, Bilawal said the PPP had historically advanced the Kashmir cause, claiming that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had secured observer status for Kashmir at the United Nations.

He pledged that, if elected, the PPP would include AJK in the National Finance Commission Award, grant it representation in the Senate and ensure the people of Kashmir received property rights, employment opportunities for young people and the right to govern themselves.

He also called for the rights of Kashmiri migrants living in Pakistan to be recognised and proposed proportional representation for Kashmiri migrants in all provincial assemblies.



&ldquo;حقِ حاکمیت کی بات ووٹ کی حفاظت کے بغیر مکمل نہیں ہوسکتی، آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے الیکشن کمیشن کے سامنے میرپور الیکشن کے حوالے سے دھاندلی کے ہم نے ثبوت بھی پیش کیے ہیں۔ مگر افسوس انھوں نے نوٹیفکشن جاری کردیا، میں پوچھنا چاہتا ہوں الیکشن کمشنر سے کہ آپ ن لیگ کے ایکشن کمیشنر ہو یا&hellip; pic.twitter.com/Y50riFV7AY
&mdash; PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 30, 2026


Bilawal pledged that communities affected by development projects would receive their due share of revenues.

Referring to the Neelum-Jhelum project, he said that since it generated electricity for Pakistan, the people of Muzaffarabad deserved clean drinking water, electricity, employment opportunities for local youth and a fair share of the project&#39;s revenues.

He said the PPP would ensure that the proceeds of all development projects were shared with the people of Kashmir and that every penny would be accounted for.

Bilawal also said the issues of Kashmiris residing in Sialkot who did not own land would be raised in the Punjab Assembly.

Calling employment a basic right, he said jobs created through development projects in AJK should first be offered to local youth.

He said internet services had been restored in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, adding that his party would work to provide high-speed internet so young people could remain connected with the rest of the world.

Welcoming development initiatives in AJK, Bilawal said he appreciated every bus and hospital provided to the people of Kashmir, but added that such services should remain operational.

Also Read: Bilawal seeks to shield coalition from AJK poll rift

Criticising the PML-N government, he questioned why infrastructure projects had remained incomplete despite the passage of several years and claimed that the PPP had established all three medical colleges in AJK.

He said Muzaffarabad needed roads, justice, employment opportunities, hospitals and the right to self-determination.

&quot;I do not want to make Kashmir Punjab or Sindh; I want to make Kashmir strong and independent,&quot; he said.

Referring to recent unrest in AJK, Bilawal said the people had endured difficult times as roads remained blocked and businesses had suffered disruptions. He said public suffering should be alleviated, banking services restored and essential services resumed.

He said the truth commission was no longer merely his proposal, claiming that the AJK Legislative Assembly had already passed the relevant resolution. He urged the federal government to implement it and appealed to protesters to end their sit-in and accept the commission.

&quot;If you want peace in Kashmir, then vote for the Arrow and the PPP,&quot; he said.

Bilawal called on voters to come out with their families on Aug 2 and vote for the PPP&#39;s arrow election symbol.

He also thanked supporters for attending the rally despite the rain, saying their presence reflected the people&#39;s support for the PPP and Benazir&#39;s legacy.]]>
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			<title>AJK assembly passes resolution seeking truth commission into recent unrest</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621115/ajk-assembly-passes-resolution-seeking-truth-commission-into-recent-unrest</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621115/ajk-assembly-passes-resolution-seeking-truth-commission-into-recent-unrest#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 26 11:20:08 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Azad Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Resolution calls for independent inquiry into recent violence, relief for victims and reforms to prevent future unrest]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution calling for the establishment of an independent truth commission to investigate the recent unrest, examine all deaths, injuries and property losses, and recommend relief and reforms.

The resolution comes after clashes were reported between law enforcement personnel and the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) protesters in Rawalakot, with reports of multiple deaths and injuries circulating on social media. Both security forces and the JAAC claimed the loss of lives.

Announcing the development on X, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the resolution sought to &quot;end the ongoing crisis and provide immediate relief to the people of Kashmir&quot;.

&quot;It is unfortunate that on such an important occasion the only PML-N MLA in attendance not only did not vote for the resolution but instead attempted to disrupt its passage through protests and calling quorum,&quot; he added.



The AJK Assembly today passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a truth commission to end the ongoing crisis and provide immediate relief to the people of Kashmir. 1/2 🧵 pic.twitter.com/JKaBfuJePF
&mdash; Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 30, 2026


The resolution was centred around the proposal to establish an &quot;independent, impartial and suitably empowered&quot; truth commission as an institutional mechanism for the peaceful and lasting resolution of the present crisis.

Under the proposal, the federal government and representatives of the protest leadership would jointly endorse the commission&#39;s composition, terms of reference, scope, and procedure in writing. Following this, the AJK government would establish the commission without delay under the applicable law.

The resolution said the commission would investigate the causes and consequences of the recent unrest, including all deaths, injuries, property losses and allegations relating to violence or the use of weapons, &quot;without any predetermined conclusion&quot;. It added that every affected family and every relevant party would be given a fair opportunity to present their account and evidence.

According to the resolution, the commission would be granted access to all relevant official records, including government documents, FIRs, videos, forensic evidence, weapons, communications and witness testimony. It also stated that sensitive material concerning national security, privacy or witness protection could be examined through confidential or in-camera proceedings where necessary.

The resolution made clear that the commission would not determine criminal guilt or innocence, nor impose punishment. Where its findings warranted further legal action, it could refer matters to the competent investigative, prosecutorial or judicial authorities. Before making any adverse finding against an individual or institution, the commission would be required to provide notice and a fair opportunity to respond.

It further proposed that the commission submit interim and final reports within agreed timelines. Subject to lawful protections relating to national security, privacy and witness safety, its final report would be made public. The commission could also recommend humanitarian relief, compensation, institutional reforms, legal proceedings and measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

The assembly proposed that the joint endorsement of the commission should be accompanied by an immediate end to protests and simultaneous de-escalation. It said the AJK government should restore roads, emergency and medical access, essential supplies, communications, mobile and internet services, and normal civic and economic activity without delay.

It also proposed that protesting parties commit not to resume demonstrations until the commission completed its work, while the governments of AJK and Pakistan would pause further action related to the crisis during the inquiry, except where lawful action was required to address a specific and imminent threat to life or public safety.

Read: Bilawal calls on govt, protesters to form truth commission over AJK unrest

The resolution reaffirmed that the AJK Legislative Assembly represented state stability, the protection of life and property, democratic values and the supremacy of the Constitution and law. It said the prevailing circumstances required &quot;restraint, prudence, responsibility and national unity&quot; from state institutions, elected representatives, political leaders and the public.

It paid tribute to members of the security forces, police and law enforcement agencies who lost their lives while performing their duties, while also acknowledging the suffering of civilians affected by the unrest. The house expressed grief over the deaths and injuries of civilians, security personnel and police officials and stated that every affected family should have an equal opportunity to present evidence, seek truth and justice, and receive humanitarian assistance and relief without any presumption of legal responsibility.

The assembly reiterated that peaceful protest, freedom of expression and the presentation of legitimate political, economic, administrative and social demands were constitutional and democratic rights that &quot;the state shall fully respect&quot;. At the same time, it stressed that &quot;arms, violence, vandalism, threats, incitement and violations of law cannot be regarded as acceptable means of any political or democratic struggle.&quot;

The resolution appealed to peaceful protesters, political workers, traders and young people to completely distance themselves from &quot;armed, violent, subversive and law-breaking elements.&quot;

It further emphasised, &quot;A clear distinction shall be maintained between peaceful protesters and persons shown by verifiable evidence to have engaged in armed violence or violations of law. Responsibility shall be determined individually, on the basis of evidence and through lawful process.&quot;

It also urged the public to discourage any individual or group found, based on verifiable evidence, to be promoting violence, incitement, vandalism or disorder, while calling on the government and law enforcement agencies to restore peace and order without discrimination and strictly in accordance with the Constitution and law.

The house further said, &quot;The purpose of the state is not vengeance but the enforcement of law, protection of the people, restoration of peace, and re-establishment of the writ of the state.&quot;

The resolution reiterated that no individual, political party, organisation or group should be allowed to challenge the writ of the State through force, arms, threats or violence, nor should anyone take the law into their own hands.

The assembly demanded that all arrested persons, accused individuals and those under investigation be dealt with in accordance with constitutional guarantees, transparent investigations, fair trial standards and judicial requirements.

The house reaffirmed that the future of AJK was linked to peace, democracy, constitutional governance, transparent elections and the power of the vote. It said legitimate political, economic, administrative and social demands should be addressed through dialogue, mutual consultation and constitutional procedures.

Read More: Mushtaq Ahmad released after alleged detention while travelling to AJK

The resolution further declared that the &quot;success of any political movement or public struggle lies only through constitutional methods, transparent elections, public confidence and democratic processes. It appeals to the government, the opposition, elected representatives, civil society, the business community, the youth and the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to unite for the stability of the State, the protection of its citizens, and the supremacy of the Constitution and the law&quot;.

It also assured the people that &quot;their legitimate demands will not be ignored and that the doors to negotiation will remain open,&quot; while making clear that there could be no compromise on the protection of citizens&#39; lives and property, public and private assets, or state institutions.

In conclusion, the assembly reaffirmed its commitment to protecting peace, democracy, the Constitution, the rule of law and public rights, while condemning every act involving armed violence, disorder or violations of law.

It clarified that nothing contained in the resolution should be construed as a finding of fact or legal responsibility against any individual, group or institution, with such matters to be determined only through the proposed truth commission and the competent judicial authorities.

The idea of a truth commission was first put forward by Bilawal on July 16, when he described the situation in AJK as &quot;a national tragedy&quot; and proposed an independent body to examine the unrest, establish the facts, hear the grievances of all stakeholders and recommend a lasting political solution.

He argued that every reported death should be investigated &quot;diligently, impartially and according to due process&quot;, warning that continued confrontation would only lead to further bloodshed and deepen the crisis. He urged both the government and protesters to suspend confrontation if the commission was established, saying the issue could only be resolved through dialogue rather than force.

Bilawal revived the proposal following the first phase of the AJK elections on July 27, insisting that the commission remained the only viable path to restoring public confidence and preventing further violence.

He maintained that an independent inquiry could have averted the recent loss of life, urged authorities not to punish protesters indiscriminately, and argued that responsibility should be determined through an impartial investigation. &quot;This issue cannot be resolved on the street,&quot; he said, adding that both the state and the protesters needed to accept the commission&#39;s findings if lasting peace was to be achieved.

Clashes in AJK 

The clashes in AJK have drawn widespread condemnation from political parties and rights groups following reports of deaths and injuries during protests.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan&nbsp;stated that it was &quot;deeply alarmed&quot; by the reports, emphasising&nbsp;that maintaining public order &quot;must never come at the expense of the right to life or the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression&quot;. It called for a &quot;prompt, impartial and independent investigation&quot; into the reported deaths and injuries.

Opposition parties also condemned the violence. PTI demanded an &quot;immediate, independent, transparent and impartial judicial investigation&quot;, describing the reported deaths and injuries as an attack on &quot;human rights, democratic values and civil liberties.&quot;

TTAP denounced what it called the use of &quot;excessive force&quot; against protesters, while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman described the firing on civilians as &quot;open terrorism&quot;.

AJK&#39;s 53-member legislative assembly includes 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees &mdash; people who fled Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in 1947 and 1965 and are now scattered across Pakistan. Six seats represent refugees from the Jammu division (~434,000 people) and six from the Kashmir Valley (~30,000 people) &mdash; an already lopsided arrangement that many see as unfair.

The region witnessed one of its most turbulent periods in October last year when protests led by the JAAC erupted over demands for constitutional and governance reforms. At least nine people, including three policemen, were killed during the unrest.

The JAAC, which organised the protests and strike, had presented a wide-ranging charter of demands, including an end to the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees, and the scrapping of the quota system.

Two days after the violence, the government and the JAAC reached an agreement covering 12 core and 13 additional points. Under the accord, both sides agreed to constitute a high-level committee to examine the issue of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

The matter is at a deadlock at the moment, with the JAAC calling for the abolition of the seats while the government rejects the demand.]]>
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			<title>Viral Kashmir visuals. One media blackout: what an investigation found</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621364/viral-kashmir-visuals-one-media-blackout-what-an-investigatio-found</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2621364/viral-kashmir-visuals-one-media-blackout-what-an-investigatio-found#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 26 16:37:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Fact Check By iVerify]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2621364</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[As Azad Kashmir votes amid a communications shutdown, iVerify Pakistan traces what can be verified, and when it can’t]]>
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				<![CDATA[The situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir created an environment ripe for mis- and disinformation to spread freely from all sides, with old or doctored visuals or allegations against each other. Conditions such as the suspension of connectivity and curbs on reporting access created significant challenges for fact-checking efforts at times when it was most urgently needed to dispel falsehood and misleading information.

iVerify Pakistan investigated two narratives about visuals from the recent violence and found that the truth is not always what everyone is saying it to be, yet conclusively determining it is not always possible. An image said to be AI-generated was found to be apparently real, while a video being used as evidence of a &ldquo;staged&rdquo; stunt does not appear to be the case.

On July 28, just a few hours after polling in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) kicked off, a video began doing the rounds on social media, particularly X. The clip shows bloodied bodies lying in the middle of a road in the Mirpur district. &ldquo;Exposed,&rdquo; read the caption of the post, shared by an X user whose account features pro-state content. &ldquo;They were just lying down with red liquids thrown over them for a photo session. When the police neared and kicked, they got up. Fraud unveiled,&rdquo; it added.



The video quickly crossed 100,000 views, with shares multiplying by the thousands every hour. Several fact-checking accounts that are considered to be aligned with the state&rsquo;s narrative also shared the clip with similar captions. Most of them alleged the clip was staged. At the same time, an image, said to be showing the same incident, also began circulating on X, with the claim that the visual was AI-generated. The accounts sharing it alleged that the image was being spread to portray a false picture of the situation in AJK.

When iVerify Pakistan was alerted to the video and the image, both were already being contested from multiple directions, accused of being staged, AI-generated, or both, largely by accounts aligned with the state&rsquo;s narrative. Untangling that took two separate lines of inquiry.

On the image, the trail led backwards. Several fact-checking accounts had pointed to visual distortions &mdash; blurred objects, odd number plates &mdash; as proof the photo was AI-generated. But a search turned up an earlier, blurrier version of the same image, circulating nearly half an hour before the viral one, shared by several users, including PTI&rsquo;s official account and its chapters such as PTI Faisalabad, PTI Mardan and PTI West Punjab.



Running that older image through a set of AI-detection tools returned no indication it was synthetic, and a check for Google&rsquo;s SynthID watermark came back clean. When iVerify ran the older image through an AI enhancement tool, the output matched the sharper, more &ldquo;suspicious&rdquo; version that had gone viral &mdash; down to the same distorted details fact-checkers had cited as proof of fabrication. In other words, the image wasn&rsquo;t AI-generated evidence of a staged protest; it was a real photo that had likely been run through an enhancement tool, which introduced its own artefacts along the way.





The video, meanwhile, took a different route. A keyword search surfaced the same clip published by BBC Urdu on July 29, described as clashes in Rawalakot and Mirpur amid &ldquo;conflicting claims regarding casualties&rdquo;.





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A reverse image search then turned up a clearer version of the same moment, along with footage of the same incident from other angles. None of it showed what the &ldquo;fraud unveiled&rdquo; caption described: no one stood up and ran off when police approached. Instead, officers could be seen dragging two people toward a police vehicle, both visibly limping and unable to walk unassisted.





Other angles picked up the sound of gunshots and people fleeing in panic, with one clip showing a police vehicle positioned in the direction the crowd was running from. Taken together, the visual evidence points away from the &ldquo;staged&rdquo; narrative that crossed 100,000 views.



میرپور نہتی عوام پر سیدھی گولیاں pic.twitter.com/Xx8MsHvMgj
&mdash; The Power Of PTI (@ThePowerOfPTI) July 28, 2026




میرپور میں پرامن مارچ پر فورسز کا کریک ڈاؤن
کشمیریوں کی لاشیں اور جھنڈے سڑکوں پر پڑے ہوئے ہیں 😭 pic.twitter.com/Ib2o0EW9om
&mdash; AtharIshtiaq (@AtharSb12) July 28, 2026




آزاد کشمیر میں پاکستان سے آئے ہوئے پنجابی دہشت گردوں نے آج پھر قتلِ عام کیا۔ میرپور میں سڑکوں پر درجنوں لاشیں بکھری پڑی ہوئی ہیں۔

کشمیر کا پاکستان کے ساتھ رشتہ اب ہمیشہ کے لیے ختم ہو گیا ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/stuh5DdmWw
&mdash; Pakistan Walli (@pakistanwalli) July 28, 2026


None of this amounts to a full account of what happened in Mirpur that day because restablishing whether the visuals actually show what was claimed requires something forensics alone can&rsquo;t provide: confirmation from someone who was there. At iVerify, a key element of the investigation that goes into any and every fact-check involves confirmations, testimonies, and on-the-ground reportage, especially in times of conflict. This time, though, the team was unable to reach a single source inside Mirpur to confirm the authenticity of the video and the claim. Two days later, we are still struggling to get hold of any information at all.



This footage shows armed men in civilian clothing moving alongside security forces.
The presence of armed civilians operating alongside security personnel raises serious questions about their identity, role, and the circumstances surrounding their deployment.
We call on the&hellip; pic.twitter.com/BMiIt95izb
&mdash; JKJAAC (@JKJAAC_) July 29, 2026






For over a month, it has been challenging to reach locals or correspondents in the region; WhatsApp messages to correspondents are on a single tick, and calls are barely getting through. As it votes in its most &ldquo;contested&rdquo; election in years, AJK has also been cut off from the outside world &mdash; a combination that has turned fact-checking from a routine editorial task into something closer to a rescue mission.

The government has not addressed the allegations or reports of casualties at substantive length as well, while it accuses the JAAC of instigating the violence and harming security personnel.

The Mirpur video is one of several claims iVerify Pakistan has been unable to verify since polling began &mdash; each testing the limits of what fact-checking can do when a region goes dark.

Another example is videos appearing to show civilians in AJK opening fire on police. Some claimed they showed members of the now-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee &mdash; a socio-political coalition at odds with the government since before the elections. Meanwhile, others alleged the men opening fire were security personnel dressed to look like ordinary citizens.



بلیک میل ایکشن کمیٹی کے دہشت گرد دیکھ لیں جو پولیس پر فائرنگ کر رہے ہیں اسکے جواب میں پولیس فائرنگ نا کرے تو کیا انکا پھولوں کے ہار پہنائے ؟ pic.twitter.com/8ELxIi45n1
&mdash; Muzamil (@muzamil_45) July 29, 2026




کشمیر کی یہ وڈیو دیکھیں ان سول کپڑوں میں لوگوں کو پولیس والے بندوقیں ہتھیار دیتے ہیں عوام میں شامل کر کے پھر میڈیا والوں کو وڈیوز بھجتے ہیں کہ دیکھو یہ شرپسند عوامی ایکشن کمیٹی والے ہیں یہی انہوں نے نو مئی کو پی ٹی آئی کے ساتھ کیا تھا اب کشمیر میں یہی گندہ کھیل کھیل رہے ہیں pic.twitter.com/M2ULmT0xHu
&mdash; Erum Jaffri (@ErumJavaid) July 29, 2026


Both claims rest entirely on interpreting the same footage, and neither can be tested without someone on the ground to say who the men in the videos actually were. The claim remains unverified, not because iVerify hasn&rsquo;t tried, but because the tools of open-source verification run out exactly where testimony would need to begin.

Fortunately, not every claim iVerify has encountered since polling began has run into the same wall. Some have been resolvable without a single call to the ground, serving as a reminder that the blackout, as severe as it is, hasn&rsquo;t stopped fact-checking entirely; rather, it has just narrowed what kind of fact-checking is still possible.

An image circulating widely on X claimed to show a large number of bullet casings recovered after security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters in Rawalakot. We did not require a source in the district to take it apart.



A closer inspection of the clip revealed that several of the people in the frame had anatomically implausible hands &mdash; missing or extra fingers, unnatural shapes &mdash; and one face appeared partially melted, a distortion common in AI-generated crowd scenes. The bullet casings themselves were oddly oversized and inconsistent in scale relative to the people around them, more like props than spent shells from small-arms fire.



Taken together, the artefacts were consistent enough with AI generation that the image could be assessed on forensic grounds alone, without anyone on the ground to vouch for it.



Similarly, a video claiming to show Punjab Police firing on citizens in Kashmir followed a similar pattern, though by a different route. It wasn&rsquo;t new: iVerify&nbsp;had already fact-checked the same clip once before, tracing it back to a police clash with protesters near the US consulate in Karachi in March 2026. Its reappearance now, recontextualised as footage from Rawalakot, showed that old material can be recirculated to fit a new crisis, and that a claim debunked once doesn&rsquo;t stay debunked in the timeline.

Given the nature of the unrest, this information isn&rsquo;t just circulating &mdash; it&rsquo;s actively feeding a divisive narrative on either side of an already polarised online discourse. In such a climate, there is no shortage of actors with a reason to keep the information war going, and every unresolved claim becomes fuel for both.

Verification, in this environment, isn&rsquo;t a formality; it&rsquo;s the only thing standing between a claim and its unchecked spread. But as these cases show, it is also becoming harder to do at exactly the moment it matters most, with the ground truth cut off by a blackout. Until that access is restored, the responsibility shifts to the people encountering this content before anyone else does. If a claim&rsquo;s authentication is dubious &mdash; if it cannot be traced, confirmed, or corroborated &mdash; it should not be shared.

This explainer was&nbsp;originally published&nbsp;by iVerify Pakistan &mdash; a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.

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			<title>Fact check: Viral video does not show firing on protesters in AJK's Rawalakot; it's from protest outside US Consulate Karachi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2612244/fact-check-viral-video-does-not-show-firing-on-protesters-in-ajks-rawalakot</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2612244/fact-check-viral-video-does-not-show-firing-on-protesters-in-ajks-rawalakot#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 26 12:52:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Fact Check By iVerify]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2612244</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Video dates to March 26, showing clashes outside US Consulate after assassination of Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Multiple pro-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)&nbsp;and anti-state accounts on social media platform X were sharing a video since Monday, claiming it shows Pakistani security forces firing directly on unarmed protesters in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. However, the footage is from Karachi, where police clashed with protesters near the US Consulate in March.

On Sunday, four policemen were killed and at least two protesters died in violent clashes outside the Combined Military Hospital Rawalakot, after police moved against supporters of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The unrest was triggered by the death of a trader allegedly shot during a confrontation with law enforcement on Saturday, with protesters demanding the withdrawal of JAAC&rsquo;s proscription.

The unrest in the territory continues amid an internet and communications blackout, due to which there are numerous unsubstantiated reports of exchange of gunfire between protesters and security forces, leading to deaths and injuries.

How it started

On Monday, a user who appears to be pro-PTI, based on their past posts, posted a video online that shows a clash between policemen and protesters. The caption read: &ldquo;In Rawalakot, the police have been firing directly at the protesters. As you can clearly see in the video, police thugs are beating a Kashmiri with batons.&rdquo;

The post accumulated 69,000 views.

A second pro-PTI account, based on their past posts, shared the same video on Monday, with a caption claiming (translated from Urdu): &ldquo;The number of martyrs in Rawalakot has crossed 200, including children, the elderly and the young.&rdquo;

The post received 44,000 views.

An anti-state account posted the same video on Monday, with the caption: &ldquo;The Republic of Balochistan condemns the direct firing on and killing of unarmed Kashmiri protesters in Rawalakot and other areas of PoK by the invading forces of Pakistan in strongest possible terms.&rdquo;

It received more than 19,000 views.

Another pro-PTI user, based on their past posts, shared the same video on Monday with the following caption: &ldquo;Police have opened fire directly on unarmed civilians in Rawalakot.&rdquo;

The post received more than 7,000 views.

An X user, claiming to be a journalist from New Delhi, India, also shared the same video with the following caption: &ldquo;Pakistani forces are firing indiscriminately on civilians in Pak-occupied Kashmir for demanding basic rights and dignity.&rdquo;

The post gathered 4,294 views

An anti-state account posted the same video on Monday with the caption: &ldquo;Violent clashes between security forces and protesters from the JAAC resulting in significant casualties.&rdquo;

That post received 4,000 views.

The video was subsequently shared by several other accounts, as can be seen here, here, here, and here.

Methodology

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in the unrest in AJK.

It was observed that some comments noted that the video was not from AJK but an old one from Karachi.

A reverse-image search yielded a YouTube video, dated March 3, uploaded by Samar Abbas, identified in his profile as the Karachi bureau chief for Public News.

The video, titled &ldquo;After US Consulate Karachi attack, SSP Keamari Amjad Sheikh and officers were removed for negligence,&rdquo; contains the same footage in higher resolution. A road signboard clearly visible in the clip reads &ldquo;Karachi Port&rdquo;, &ldquo;Kemari&rdquo; and &ldquo;Shershah&rdquo;, confirming the location as Moulvi Tamizuddin Khan Road (MT Khan Road), Karachi.





A keyword search was subsequently conducted for news reports around the same date and yielded a March 1 story published by English media outlet Dawn.

The report documented violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement outside the US Consulate in Karachi following the assassination of former Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As per the article, protesters attempted to storm the consulate, causing security forces to fire tear gas in an attempt to disperse them.

Fact-check status: False

The claim that a viral video shows security forces firing at protesters in AJK&rsquo;s Rawalakot is false.

The video is old and shows clashes between the police and protesters in Karachi in March after Khamenei&rsquo;s assassination.

This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan &mdash; a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.]]>
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			<title>AJK SC rules refugee seats constitutionally protected, cannot be altered</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611876/ajk-sc-rules-refugee-seats-constitutionally-protected-cannot-be-altered</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611876/ajk-sc-rules-refugee-seats-constitutionally-protected-cannot-be-altered#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 26 07:55:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Azad Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611876</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court says constitutional amendments must follow Article 33 and rejects changes through protests or pressure]]>
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				<![CDATA[&nbsp;

The Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Sunday ruled that the 12 seats reserved for refugees in the Legislative Assembly are constitutionally protected and cannot be altered through administrative measures, political agreements, or public pressure, according to a detailed advisory opinion issued on a presidential reference.

The 53-member AJK Legislative Assembly includes 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees who migrated from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir during the conflicts of 1947 and 1965 and are now settled across Pakistan.

Six seats represent refugees from the Jammu division, estimated at around 434,000 people, while six represent refugees from the Kashmir Valley, whose population is estimated at about 30,000.

The issue of refugee representation has long been a key demand of the now-banned&nbsp;Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which led a series of protests last year that turned violent and resulted in several deaths.

In its opinion, the court reaffirmed that the refugee seats are guaranteed under Article 22 of the AJK Constitution and are rooted in a long legislative history dating back to electoral arrangements introduced in 1960 and subsequent constitutional reforms in 1964 and 1970.

The court described the seats as a &ldquo;constitutional expression of a profound historical and juridical truth&rdquo; arising from the displacement of Kashmiris following the 1947 partition and subsequent conflict. It noted that the arrangement was further strengthened through successive legal instruments before being explicitly incorporated into the Constitution through the 13th Amendment.

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Emphasising constitutional supremacy, the court held that any change to the composition of the Assembly can only be made through the amendment procedure laid down in Article 33.

&ldquo;The provisions of the Constitution may be amended in accordance with Article 33,&rdquo; the opinion stated, adding that the amendment process is &ldquo;exhaustive and exclusive&rdquo; and that no authority other than the legislature can lawfully alter constitutional provisions.

The court said executive orders, political agreements, and public agitation have no legal effect in changing the Constitution, stressing that constitutional change must occur through &ldquo;public mandate, parliamentary debate and constitutional procedure&rdquo;.

A significant portion of the opinion addressed the use of protests and blockades to press political demands. While affirming that peaceful assembly is a fundamental right, the court said the right is &ldquo;neither absolute nor unrestricted&rdquo; and must be exercised in a manner consistent with public order and the rights of others.

The court warned that road blockades, forced business closures and disruptions to supply routes fall outside constitutional protection. &ldquo;The exercise of one Fundamental Right cannot be permitted in a manner that substantially impairs or destroys the Fundamental Rights guaranteed to others,&rdquo; it said.

It further observed that attempts to secure constitutional change through coercive means are &ldquo;legally unenforceable&rdquo; and incompatible with the rule of law. &ldquo;The Constitution protects peaceful dissent; it does not protect conduct that undermines public order,&rdquo; the opinion added.

The court also underscored the constitutional requirement to hold timely elections, referring to Article 22(4), which mandates that general elections be conducted within the prescribed period.

Describing the obligation as mandatory and non-negotiable, the court said constitutional timelines &ldquo;admit of no exception&rdquo; and cannot be delayed due to political uncertainty or public agitation.

It directed the Election Commission and relevant executive authorities to ensure that free, fair and transparent elections are conducted within the constitutionally mandated timeframe, while maintaining conditions necessary for polling.

Tracing the historical evolution of refugee representation, the court noted that refugee seats have existed in various forms since 1960 and have been consistently retained through successive constitutional and legal frameworks.

It described the arrangement as a &ldquo;continuously affirmed constitutional principle&rdquo; reflecting the political status of displaced Kashmiris and said its uninterrupted continuation demonstrates that refugee representation is a &ldquo;deep-rooted constitutional commitment&rdquo; rather than a temporary administrative measure.

The court reiterated that its opinion is advisory in nature and does not create enforceable orders between parties. It said the purpose of the reference was to assist constitutional authorities rather than adjudicate a dispute in the conventional sense.

The ruling comes two days after the AJK government declared&nbsp;JAAC a proscribed organisation, accusing it of involvement in terrorism, promoting hatred and creating anarchy ahead of the group&#39;s planned protest on June 9.

&nbsp;

The move also came hours after the AJK Election Commission announced that general elections for the Legislative Assembly will be held on July 27. The commission said preparations were under way to ensure transparent, orderly and impartial elections under judicial supervision.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) criticised the government&#39;s decision to ban JAAC.

&ldquo;If JAAC was truly a terrorist organisation, why did the government spend months negotiating with it, signing agreements with it, implementing its demands, holding meetings with its leadership and treating it as a legitimate stakeholder until yesterday?&rdquo; the party said in a statement.

The 12 seats

The issue of refugee representation has long been a key demand of the JAAC, which led a series of protests last year that turned violent and resulted in the deaths of several people.

The region witnessed one of its most turbulent periods in October of 2025 when protests led by the JAAC erupted over demands for constitutional and governance reforms. At least nine people, including three policemen, were killed during the unrest.

The JAAC, which organised the protests and strike, had presented a wide-ranging charter of demands, including an end to the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees, and the scrapping of the quota system.

Two days after the violence, the government and the JAAC reached an agreement covering 12 core and 13 additional points. Under the accord, both sides agreed to constitute a high-level committee to examine the issue of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

The unrest also triggered political upheaval in the region. The Pakistan Peoples Party subsequently moved a no-confidence resolution against then prime minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz&nbsp;joining the effort. Haq, who had been elected in April 2023 with 48 votes, chose to face the vote rather than resign.

On Nov 17, Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore secured 36 votes in the election and became the 16th prime minister of AJK.

With elections now approaching and the refugee seat issue still unresolved, the AJK government convened an All Parties Conference (APC) in Muzaffarabad to build consensus. Almost every major party attended &mdash; except PTI and the JAAC, who boycotted it.

The JAAC&#39;s position is that the government had already rejected its written proposals submitted on May 30, so attending would be futile. It had proposed either keeping symbolic refugee representation until the Kashmir dispute is permanently resolved, or replacing the 12 assembly seats with 4 seats in the AJK Council &mdash; a body chaired by the prime minister, which it argued would better preserve the political dimension of the Kashmir cause.

The APC rejected any changes outside the constitutional and legislative framework, saying only the elected assembly could alter refugee seat arrangements. The JAAC called the resolution &quot;a page and a half of utterly trivial lines&quot; and accused participants of gathering to serve their own interests rather than the public&#39;s.]]>
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			<title>NDMA warns of nationwide rain, thunderstorms over next 24 hours</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2599229/ndma-warns-of-nationwide-rain-thunderstorms-over-next-24-hours</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2599229/ndma-warns-of-nationwide-rain-thunderstorms-over-next-24-hours#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 26 13:52:42 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Says various parts of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to see rain with thunderstorms]]>
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				<![CDATA[The National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday warned of nationwide thunderstorms and rainfall over the next 12 to 24 hours.

According to an advisory issued by the authority, a system of western winds entering from the southwestern belt of Balochistan is likely to affect most regions, bringing rain accompanied by strong winds and gusty storms.

The NDMA cautioned that ongoing rainfall may lead to urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock and Chakwal. Residents in vulnerable localities have been advised to remain alert and take precautionary measures to minimise potential damage.

Rain with thunderstorms and strong winds is expected in Islamabad and several cities of Punjab, including Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore, Mianwali and Mandi Bahauddin over the next 12 to 24 hours. Rainfall is also likely in Khushab, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Faisalabad, Kasur, Okara, Narowal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.

Read: Govt proposes optional multi-tariff system for industries

The advisory stated that various parts of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) are expected to experience rain accompanied by thunderstorms, dust storms and strong winds, with chances of hailstorms at isolated locations.

In view of the anticipated downpour, the NDMA has issued an alert for possible flooding in several districts of K-P and Balochistan. Flash floods are forecast in Balochistan, particularly in Turbat, Kech, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Zhob and Lasbela.

In K-P, flood-like conditions are expected in Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Parachinar, Peshawar, Mardan and Swabi. Authorities have advised precautionary measures in vulnerable areas.

Snowfall is also expected in the upper and mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and K-P during the next 12 to 24 hours.

Rain with thunderstorms and strong winds is likely in several districts of K-P, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur. Dust storms, strong winds and rain are also expected in Swabi, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Kohat, Karak, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan.

NDMA also forecast rainfall in parts of G-B and Azad Kashmir, including Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Astore, Diamer, Ghizer, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot, Haveli and Neelum Valley.

In Balochistan, rain is expected in Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Kalat, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Barkhan, Sibi, Dera Bugti, Khuzdar, Awaran, Washuk, Panjgur, Turbat, Gwadar and Lasbela during the same period.

Also Read: Doha flights resume as Pakistan restores Middle East air links after 25-day disruption

Rain with thunderstorms is also expected in Sindh cities including Kashmore, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Shahdadkot, Khairpur and Larkana.

The NDMA warned that strong winds, lightning and hailstorms may damage weak structures, trees and power lines. Rainfall could make roads slippery and disrupt traffic flow, while snowfall in mountainous areas is likely to affect travel.

Continuous rainfall in hilly regions may heighten the risk of landslides. Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, drive cautiously and follow official weather advisories. During strong winds and storms, the public has been urged to stay away from trees, fragile structures and installations.

The authority also advised tourists and travellers heading to northern areas to be cautious and check weather and road conditions in advance, while encouraging citizens to obtain timely updates through its official mobile application, &ldquo;Pak NDMA Disaster Alert.&rdquo;

Meanwhile, the NDMA has directed all provincial and district administrations to remain on high alert and take necessary measures to cope with the expected weather situation.]]>
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			<title>AJK President Sultan Mahmood laid to rest with state, military honours</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2590270/ajk-president-sultan-mahmood-laid-to-rest-with-state-military-honours</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2590270/ajk-president-sultan-mahmood-laid-to-rest-with-state-military-honours#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 26 18:15:09 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[M A Mir]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Funeral prayer was offered at Quaid-e-Azam Cricket Stadium in Mirpur]]>
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				<![CDATA[Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry was laid to rest on Sunday at his ancestral graveyard in his native village of Chechian with full state and military honours. Prior to the burial, his funeral prayer was offered at the Quaid-e-Azam Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, where thousands of people gathered to pay their last respects.

The funeral prayer was attended by AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, Pakistan Peoples Party AJK President Chaudhry Yasin, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, Supreme Court Chief Justice Raja Akram Saeed, senior officers of the Pakistan Army and bureaucracy, former presidents and prime ministers, lawmakers, as well as a large number of social, religious, and political figures representing various schools of thought.

Following the funeral prayers, he was laid to rest in the ancestral graveyard of Chechian.&nbsp;After the burial, the national flag was presented to his son and Physical Planning and Housing Minister Yasir Sultan Chaudhry.

Chaudhry became the first leader from AJK to be buried with a gun carriage &mdash; a distinguished honour that has been conferred on only five personalities in Pakistan&rsquo;s history. Previously, the distinction was accorded to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, General Muhammad Ziaul Haq, Abdul Sattar Edhi, and Dr&nbsp;Ruth Pfau.

A guard of honour was also presented to the late leader during the funeral ceremony. The atmosphere was sombre, and mourners were visibly in tears. Special prayers were offered for the departed soul, and tributes were paid to his decades-long political and diplomatic services for the Kashmiri cause.

Chaudhry passed away&nbsp;at the age of 71 after a prolonged illness on Saturday. He had also served as the prime minister of AJK from 1996 to 2001. In addition, he was the president of the Pakistan Peoples Party in AJK from 1991 to 2001.]]>
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			<title>Kashmir resolution vital for stability</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2557503/kashmir-resolution-vital-for-stability</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2557503/kashmir-resolution-vital-for-stability#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 25 20:41:04 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[NEWS DESK.]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter leader Altaf Ahmad Bhat has said that resolving the Kashmir dispute is vital for establishing lasting peace.

According to the Kashmir Media Service, Bhat made the remarks during a meeting in Islamabad with Babar Foundation Chairman Sardar Babar Abbasi and Sardar Lal Khan Abbasi. He urged the United Nations to implement its resolutions on Kashmir and grant the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination.]]>
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			<title>PMD issues flood, landslide warning as heavy rains expected in northern parts from Sept 26 to Oct 1</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2497969/pmd-issues-flood-landslide-warning-as-heavy-rains-expected-in-northern-parts-from-sept-26-to-oct-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2497969/pmd-issues-flood-landslide-warning-as-heavy-rains-expected-in-northern-parts-from-sept-26-to-oct-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 22 Sep 24 19:48:40 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Meanwhile, hot and dry weather is predicted for Balochistan and Sindh during this period]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued a warning on Sunday about the potential for heavy rains from September 26 to October 1, which could lead to flooding and landslides, particularly in the low-lying and northern regions of the country.&nbsp;

The Met Office indicated that moist currents from the Bay of Bengal are expected to enter the upper parts of the country starting September 25, alongside a westerly wave that will approach from September 26.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Heavy rains may increase flow in local nullas/streams in Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Kohistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Nowshera, Swabi, Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Northeast Punjab during the forecast period,&rdquo; the statement read.

Urban flooding is anticipated in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Sialkot, while landslides could disrupt road access in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan throughout the forecast period.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, rain and thunderstorms are expected in regions including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Kurram, Orakzai, and Kohat from September 26 to October 1.&nbsp;

Heavy rainfall is anticipated from September 27 to October 1 in Hangu, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, and Dera Ismail Khan, with occasional breaks in precipitation.

In Punjab, the Met Office forecasts rain with thundershowers in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Tala Gang, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Hafizabad, Wazirabad from September 26 to October 1.&nbsp;

Heavy rains accompanied by thundershowers are expected in Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Okara, Pakpattan, Kasur, and Bhakkar from September 27 to October 1.

In Azad Kashmir, rain with thundershowers is projected in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur from September 26 to October 2.

The northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan is also expected to experience rain and thunderstorms from September 26 to October 2, particularly in Diamir, Astore, Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza, Ghanche, and Shigar.

Meanwhile, hot and dry weather is predicted for Balochistan and Sindh during this period. However, isolated rain, wind, and thunderstorms are expected in Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Umerkot, and surrounding areas from September 26 to 28.

The Met Office cautioned that windstorms and lightning could damage fragile structures, including mud houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Outcry as India books Kashmiri father seeking son’s body under anti-terror laws</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2283247/outcry-as-india-books-kashmiri-father-seeking-sons-body-under-anti-terror-laws</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2283247/outcry-as-india-books-kashmiri-father-seeking-sons-body-under-anti-terror-laws#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 21 09:52:08 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[APP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Mushtaq Ahmed and six others, including his two brothers, were charged under India's harsh laws last week]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Indian police have charged a Kashmiri man seeking the body of his teenage son, who was martyred by the occupation forces in a fake encounter during the last week of December 2020, under the anti-terror law.

&ldquo;Police said Mushtaq Ahmed and six others, including his two brothers, were charged last week under India&rsquo;s harsh anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,&rdquo; the Associated Press (AP) reported.

The victim, Athar Mushtaq Wani, along with two others was killed by Indian troops during a fake encounter in the Lawaypora&nbsp;area of Srinagar on December 30, 2020.

The Indian authorities had buried them in a remote graveyard about 115 kilometers (70 miles) from their ancestral villages.

&ldquo;Under a policy started in April 2020, Indian authorities have buried over 150 alleged Kashmiri rebels in unmarked graves, denying their families proper funerals. The policy has added to widespread anti-India anger in the region,&rdquo; the&nbsp;AP reported.

The young men&rsquo;s families have protested repeatedly seeking their bodies while insisting they were not militants and were killed in cold blood.

The killings and remote burial drew widespread public mourning. Videos on social media in which Ahmed sought his son&rsquo;s body triggered an outburst of emotions as thousands rallied behind a &ldquo;return the bodies&rdquo; campaign, it added.

&ldquo;Last month, Ahmed dug a grave for his son at his village, demanding that his body be exhumed and returned for burial at his ancestral graveyard. The grave remains empty,&rdquo; AP added.

Meanwhile, India is being vehemently criticised, both at home and abroad, for registering a case under draconian laws against a father of one of the three Srinagar fake encounter victims for demanding the body of his martyred son, Kashmir Media Servive (KMS) reported.

Following strong criticism by Hurriyat forum, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and former IIOJK Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, India is being grilled globally for booking the father for demanding his son&rsquo;s body.

Saudi Arabia based English Daily, Arab News, while quoting a Kashmiri human rights lawyer, Habeel Iqbal, said it had been a cruel decision to book the family under anti-terror laws.

&ldquo;A father demanding the dead body of his son is being booked under the anti-terror legislation is an instance where the law is being used as an instrument of oppression to create a sense of fear among citizens, an attempt to create a reign of terror in the minds of ordinary citizens,&rdquo; he added.

He pointed out that the policy of not returning the dead bodies of the youth was a &ldquo;violation of international armed conflict law and humanitarian law&quot;.

Describing the move as &ldquo;absurd,&rdquo; Delhi-based Kashmiri activist, Nasir Khuehami, told Arab News that: &ldquo;Since they couldn&rsquo;t silence Mushtaq, they booked him. If the intimidation doesn&rsquo;t work, they&rsquo;ll jail him with more fake cases.

This is the new Kashmir, where demanding the return of a son&rsquo;s dead body is an unlawful activity. &ldquo;Things are going from bad to worse. If the government believes that it can Indianise Kashmir by such acts, then it is living in a fool&rsquo;s world,&rdquo; he added.

Anuradha Bhasin, Jammu-based senior journalist and editor of the English newspaper Kashmir Times, said: &ldquo;This creates more alienations. If you close all space to seeking legal recourse to justice, if you close down all democratic spaces, if you shoot down messengers and those seeking justice then you are creating more alienation and lack of faith in the government.&rdquo;

Mushtaq Wani told Arab News: &ldquo;I demanded from the authorities whether they have any proof, any footage, or any camera evidence about my son&rsquo;s nefarious activities. I asked them to show that my son was a militant.&rdquo;

The newspaper wrote that despite protests by family members pleading the teenager&rsquo;s innocence, the local administration buried the three bodies in a remote graveyard more than 100 kilometers away from their native Pulwama district in south Kashmir, KMS added.]]>
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			<title>First NGMS spectrum auction for AJK, G-B held in Islamabad</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2322484/first-ngms-spectrum-auction-for-ajk-g-b-held-in-islamabad</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2322484/first-ngms-spectrum-auction-for-ajk-g-b-held-in-islamabad#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Sep 21 06:36:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Total revenue generated from spectrum auction process stands at over $30 million]]>
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				<![CDATA[The first cellular spectrum auction for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) in Azad Jammu &amp; Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) was successfully held on Wednesday at the&nbsp;Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)&#39;s headquarters in Islamabad.

According to a press release issued by the authority, the electronic auction was participated in by two operators, CMPak (Zong)&nbsp;and PMCL (Jazz) for the 1,800 MHz band.

The electronic auction went up to 18 rounds and was concluded by declaring Zong as the winner of 10 MHz (2 blocks of 5 MHz) in 1,800 MHz band against the price of $14.398 million.

The communique further added that the spectrum sold in the 1,800 MHz band was 85 per cent of the total offered spectrum in the said band for AJK and G-B.

Furthermore, Telenor, Ufone and Zong have also won 1.2 MHz in 1,800 MHz band.

Telenor Pakistan was declared a winner in the 2,100 MHz band for a spectrum of 15 MHz against the set base price, the press release added. The spectrum sold in 2100 MHz band is 50 pc of the total offered spectrum in the said band, it said.

Read&nbsp;High-speed internet to boost work from home

The total revenue generated from this spectrum auction process for AJK &amp; GB stood at over $30 million.

&ldquo;PTA completed the auction process with the assistance of internationally reputed consultant JV Telconet / Frontier Economics who was on-board since April 2021, and conducted thorough consultation with cellular industry and other stakeholders,&rdquo; the press release stated, adding that the federal government constituted an Auction Advisory Committee in October 2020 under the chairmanship of (then) finance minister.

The Policy Directive was issued on August&nbsp;11, 2021 under which the PTA initiated the process for fair and transparent spectrum auction process ensuring consumer interests, the communique stated.

It concluded that the addition of the spectrum would help Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) to provide better data and voice services in the two regions currently being focused on the promotion of tourism.]]>
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			<title>India’s illegal actions in IIOJK pave way for international intervention: PM’s aide</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2283024/indias-illegal-actions-in-iiojk-pave-way-for-international-intervention-pms-aide</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2283024/indias-illegal-actions-in-iiojk-pave-way-for-international-intervention-pms-aide#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Feb 21 13:34:08 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[India is behaving like a rogue state and playing a role of spoiler in Afghan peace process, says Moeed Yusuf]]>
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				<![CDATA[New Delhi&rsquo;s unilateral actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have paved the way for the international community to intervene and resolve the longstanding dispute, Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security Moeed yusuf has said.

In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, Yusuf reiterated&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s commitment to peace, including with India, but called on the world to compel India to implement international law vis-a-vis Kashmir, i e, UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions that call for a plebiscite in the Muslim-majority region.

Expressing willingness to take things forward, the PM&rsquo;s aide said: &quot;Pakistan will take two steps if India takes one.&quot;

The Kashmir issue, he said, is a tragedy of human suffering and Pakistan has always stood and will continue to stand by the Kashmiris till their right to self-determination is exercised.

&ldquo;Yes, it&#39;s a territorial issue. But first and foremost, it is the human suffering Pakistan wants to stop.&rdquo;

He said the solidarity day was observed to prove that every Pakistani stands for the Kashmir cause. &ldquo;We may have our differences; we may have political ramblings and debates. But when it comes to standing for the Kashmiris, all are one.&rdquo;

Yusuf&nbsp;also said that the situation is not entirely hopeless as India is being censured every day in the Western media.

&ldquo;People are writing about human rights violations. It&#39;s not only Pakistan; the UN secretary-general has given two major statements, the OIC foreign ministers recently made a clear resolution, the UNSC held three discussions since August 5, 2019.&rdquo;

On August 5 last year, the Modi-led government removed the legal fig leaf from IIOJK&nbsp;when it abrogated Article 370 of its constitution, which accorded ostensible &ldquo;autonomy&rdquo; to the state, and bifurcated it into two &ldquo;Union Territories&rdquo; of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

He said Indian is behaving a like a rogue actor in the region and it is engaged in a conflict with not just Pakistan but with China and Nepal as well.

&ldquo;Not just Pakistan, there has been a conflict with China. Nepal has gotten up and passed parliamentary resolutions with a new map and taken on India. Bangladesh has raised its voice. Its relations are not good with Sri Lanka.

&ldquo;We even pointed out that India is being a spoiler in Afghanistan, undermining Pakistani sovereignty and stability. That&#39;s the adversity you&#39;re dealing with.&rdquo;

The PM&#39;s aide said IIOJK is under occupation and occupation forces have turned it into an open jail. &ldquo;Humans are not being treated like humans; that reality has to change for things to move forward.&rdquo;

Civil-military relations

Yusuf&nbsp;said Prime Minister Imran Khan&nbsp; is fully empowered to make all decisions and it is his right to call upon military for anything and everything that is constitutional.

&ldquo;Today, civilians are empowered to decide on everything, and both civil and military leaderships are on the same page,&rdquo; he added.

&ldquo;If our detractors or adversaries want to keep talking about the old narrative to project a negative perception of Pakistan, good luck to them. I am just telling you that a person with my background would not be sitting in this office if what you say had been true.

Dealing with international and domestic challenges

Yusuf also said the real genius of policymaking is manoeuvrings to your advantage in a constrained environment.

&ldquo;And yes, we are in a constrained environment.&rdquo;

He said there are challenges, but also the opportunities are vast. &ldquo;We are dealing with a country with one of the largest youth bulges in the world. It is incumbent upon us to turn this youth bulge into a real dividend. That&#39;s what we are working towards.&rdquo;]]>
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			<title>OIC panel reaffirms unwavering support to Kashmiris’ just struggle</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282930/oic-panel-reaffirms-unwavering-support-to-kashmiris-just-struggle</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282930/oic-panel-reaffirms-unwavering-support-to-kashmiris-just-struggle#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 21 17:25:17 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[APP]]>
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				<![CDATA[Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir holds virtual meeting in NY]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation&rsquo;s Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, which held a virtual meeting in New York on Friday, reaffirmed its &ldquo;unwavering&rdquo; support to their &ldquo;just&rdquo; struggle for the exercise of their right to self-determination under the United Nations resolutions.

The meeting, in which permanent representatives of Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Niger and Azerbaijan took part, was organised to commemorate Kashmir Solidarity Day.

The OIC Secretary-General was represented by the Permanent Representative of the OIC Observer Mission to the UN in New York, Ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev.

A statement issued by the Contact Group in New York expressed &quot;deep concern&quot; at the continued violations by India of the fundamental human rights in IIOJ&amp;K.

The Contact Group called on the UN Secretary-General, the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council to urge India to halt the human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, rescind the unilateral and illegal measures taken on and after August 5, 2019, and to implement the Security Council resolutions calling for a plebiscite to enable the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination.

At the outset, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi addressed the ambassadorial-level from Islamabad, apprising the members about the grave situation in IIOJ&amp;K, saying that the over 550 days of the New Delhi&#39;s siege had exacerbated the already dire humanitarian conditions for the people.

Qureshi said a unified political message to India from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) would be critical to help rescind Indian unilateral actions, end human rights abuses and seek a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

The minister said the steadfast and resolute support of the organisation was a source of great strength to the Kashmiri people in their just and legitimate struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination.

&quot;We should forcefully demand India to rescind its illegal and unilateral actions in IIOJK; halt its egregious human rights violations; provide access to human rights organisations, including the UN fact-finding mission and the OIC IPHRC,&quot; he said.

The foreign minister also sought the OIC&rsquo;s role to seek a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council&rsquo;s resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

He hoped that the Contact Group meeting would help identify action-oriented and practical steps to this end.

He said during its 47th session in Niamey last November, the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) mandated the Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir to meet regularly and to continue highlighting the Kashmir issue, including at the United Nations.

&quot;It is gratifying that the New York Chapter of the Contact Group is playing a prominent role in this collective effort,&quot; he said and lauded Azerbaijan, Niger, Saudi Arabia and Turkey for showing solidarity with the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The leadership of the OIC Secretary General has been equally instrumental, he added.]]>
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			<title>PDM will praise me if offered NRO: PM</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282934/pdm-will-praise-me-if-offered-nro-pm</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282934/pdm-will-praise-me-if-offered-nro-pm#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 21 18:09:35 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Imran Khan says India tried to get Pakistan blacklisted by FATF but failed]]>
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				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the opposition parties that are part of an 11-party anti-government alliance &ndash; the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) &ndash; will declare him the best person on earth if he offers them an NRO &ndash; a reprieve from corruption cases.

&ldquo;They [opposition] will say that I am a gem of a person who has properly highlighted the issue of Kashmir, if they get an NRO,&rdquo; the premier said while talking to a private news channel in Kotli district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The premier was apparently referring to the PDM&rsquo;s leader&rsquo;s Friday speeches at their Muzaffarabad rally to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day. At the rally, the opposition leaders criticized the premier over his &ldquo;failure&rdquo; to stop India from illegally annexing Kashmir in August 2019.

The PM, while addressing a mammoth gathering in Kotli on Friday also lambasted the PDM and said: &quot;I&#39;m ready for any sort of agreement, but I will never offer an NRO to the looters. I will help the opposition out with organizing their long march anywhere they want, but will not give them the NRO&quot;.

Leaders of the opposition parties on Thursday geared up for a decisive battle against the PTI led government as they announced that the PDM would stage a long march to Islamabad on March 26.

Talking with reference to the long march, Imran on Saturday said the PDM may as well try a long march.

&ldquo;No matter what they do, I won&rsquo;t give them an NRO. They [PDM] must bear in mind that people don&rsquo;t support looters. People around the world have come out on the streets to protest against corruption. Has anyone ever come out on the streets to support corruption of political leaders,&rdquo; the premier said.

Criticizing the PML-N supreme leader, he said Nawaz Sharif is hiding abroad along with his children.

&ldquo;The families of his brother as well as their munshi [former finance minister Ishaq Dar] are also hiding abroad. They see people as fools but those who treat people as fools are the greatest fool themselves,&rdquo; the premier said.

India&rsquo;s failed attempts

Imran said India has failed in getting Pakistan placed in the blacklist of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body that makes policies to curb money laundering and terror financing.

&ldquo;India is delusional if it thinks it can suppress Pakistan. New Delhi could never isolate Islamabad from the rest of the world. We have asked India to resolve the Kashmir conflict through dialogue,&quot; he said, adding that the issue of Kashmir has once again come into the limelight internationally.

In his speech at Kotli on Friday, Prime Minister Imran said the entire Pakistan stands united for the cause of Kashmir as it wants to bring an end to the atrocities and barbarities being committed by India.

&ldquo;Plebiscite in light of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions is the only solution to the Kashmir dispute. India could never win over the resolute Kashmiri people by using force.

&quot;World history tells that no army could ever win over a population. When a nation stood united, it defeated even the powerful armies. The United States, a super power, could not win in Vietnam... No super power could win in Afghanistan... France could not win over population in Algeria,&rdquo; he said.

Reiterating his commitment to raise the Kashmiris&#39; voice across the world as &quot;Ambassador of Kashmir&quot;, the prime minister said instead of suppressing the Kashmiri people, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s &ldquo;Hindutva ideology&rdquo; would destroy the Indian society.

&quot;The issue of Kashmir has been lingering since 1948. It could be resolved the way other international disputes like that of East Timor were resolved. [However] Kashmiris should be given the right to decide their fate,&quot; he said.

According to the premier, he invited Indian PM Narendra Modi several times to come to the negotiating table to resolve the crisis as dialogue is the only viable solution.

&quot;I realized following [February 2019] Pulwama incident that they [Indians] don&#39;t want peace or friendly ties [with Pakistan], and intend to use the issue for political gains. [But] I&#39;m still asking Modi to resolve the Kashmir issue through talks,&rdquo; the premier said.

Imran clarified that this invitation for dialogue should not be seen as a sign of weakness or fear.&quot;

&quot;Pakistan is the country of people who don&#39;t fear anyone but Allah; never have and never will,&quot; he maintained. &quot;Those who bow before Allah don&#39;t bow before anyone else.&quot; PM observed that today, no one who has the support of the Indian government could win elections from occupied Kashmir.]]>
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			<title>India misleading world on human rights violations in IIOJK: AJK president</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282790/india-misleading-world-on-human-rights-violations-in-iiojk-ajk-president</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282790/india-misleading-world-on-human-rights-violations-in-iiojk-ajk-president#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Feb 21 13:14:44 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Sardar Masood says occupation forces is crushing defenceless, weak and unarmed Kashmiri people]]>
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				<![CDATA[Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has said that India is misguiding the European governments and the US administration as well as other international institutions that it&rsquo;s fighting against &ldquo;terrorists&rdquo; in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

&quot;The reality is somewhat different and India in fact is crushing defenceless, weak and unarmed Kashmiri people, and depriving them of their homeland, businesses and livelihood and engaged in the genocide of the inhabitants of the disputed territory,&quot; he added.

The AJK president made these remarks on Friday while addressing Kashmir Solidarity Conference organised by Tehreek-e-Kashmir United Kingdom (TeK UK) President Faheem Kayani through video link, which was also participated and addressed by more than 40 UK members of parliament and leaders of the Kashmiri community living in Britain.

The UK MPs, who spoke on occasion and expressed solidarity with the people of IIOJK, were included, Robbie Moore, Gill Furniss, Tony Lloyd, Steve Baker, Nadia Whittome, Yasmin Qureshi, Richard Burgon, Stephen Timms, Sarah Owen, Rachel Hopkins, Paul Bristow, James Daly, Kate Hollern, Andrew Gwynne, Sara Britcliffe, Afzal Khan, Alison Thewliss, Rebecca Longbailey, Imran Hussain, John Spellar, Shabana Mahmood, Tahir Ali, Sam Tarry, Lillian Greenwood, Liam Byrne, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Lord Wajid Khan, Debbie Abraham, Hilary Benn, Paul Blomfield, Cheryl Gillan, and former member of European parliament Phil Bennion.




There is one voice missing from the Kashmir conflict &amp; that is of the Kashmiri themselves

On this #KashmirSolidarityDay I reaffirm my commitment to providing a voice for the voiceless

I promise to keep the plight of Kashmiris alive in Parliament (3/4) pic.twitter.com/MqgYVo6EIE
&mdash; Afzal Khan MP 💙 (@Afzal4Gorton) February 5, 2021



&nbsp;

President Masood urged them to use their influence, and convey to the governments of the western countries that if they failed to block the Indian military adventurism, the rule of law and the world order would no longer be in place in the world.

India, he said, is committing the crimes against humanity, and at the same time, it wants that the world not to speak about its inhuman actions.

The AJK president expressed gratitude to the UK and the European parliaments, media and the civil society for supporting the Kashmir cause but he also complained that the powerful governments of these countries are silent over the Indian repression and the worst violations of human rights as well as the genocide of Kashmiri people at the hands of the Indian army, and are thus showing negligence towards their international obligations. &quot;Their silence is encouraging India to trample human rights in Kashmir.&quot;

He asserted that the UK MPs must not support the Kashmiri people mere to seek votes from the Kashmiri community in their constituencies but they should support the Kashmiri people because they are being deprived of their civil liberties and rights.

Sardar Masood suggested that economic sanctions should be imposed on India for committing crimes against humanity in the Himalayan disputed territory, and the western countries should avoid making an investment in India until and unless it is ready to grant the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people.

He prevailed upon the UN Security Council, the UN secretary-general and the UN Human Rights Commission to immediately take notice of the situation prevailing in IIOJK it is posing a serious threat to peace and security of not only the region but the entire world.

He reminded that both Pakistan and India are nuclear states, and the Indian brutalities are bringing both the countries close to a nuclear clash.]]>
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			<title>PDM leaders blame Imran for 'losing' Kashmir to India</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282784/pdm-leaders-blame-imran-for-losing-kashmir-to-india</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282784/pdm-leaders-blame-imran-for-losing-kashmir-to-india#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Feb 21 12:05:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[This government will ruin Kashmir, says Fazl]]>
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				<![CDATA[Leaders of opposition parties, under the umbrella of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), blamed the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan for the revocation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s (IIOJK) special status by the right-wing Indian government of Narendra Modi.

Speaking at a public rally in Muzzafarabad on Friday, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz said: &quot;Imran Khan had lost the case for Kashmir&quot;.

&quot;I want to ask you [Imran] what message do you bring for the people of Kashmir? Do you bring the message of handing over Kashmir to Modi, or, do you bring the message that you have lost the case of the Kashmiris?&quot;

Maryam, continuing her criticism of the premier, said whenever Kashmir will be mentioned or discussed, &quot;Imran Khan would be seen as the criminal&quot;.

&quot;It is the responsibility of the incumbent government to safeguard national interests, even if that government has been selected and is a fraud,&quot; the PML-N leader said as she continued to heap criticism on the PTI-led government. She added that the black spot of losing Kasmir to India will be forever present on PTI&#39;s record.

&quot;Their foreign policy was two-minutes of silence after Modi took over Kashmir, that is what Imran did.&quot;

She also criticised statements made earlier by the prime minister after his maiden trip to Washington and the meeting with then-president Donald Trump.

Referring to the upcoming Senate elections, Maryam alleged that &#39;show of hands&#39; is being pushed by the prime minister as &quot;he sees his members slipping away&quot;.

&quot;Always remember, a government is not accountable to the people if it steals their mandate.&quot;

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, addressing the rally, urged the people of Kashmir to &ldquo;reject&rdquo; the PTI government in the upcoming AJK elections.

&ldquo;Today, I want to say something to you. Listen to it intently. We rejected the 2018 elections. This is a rigged government. We will not accept the rigging in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections&hellip; and now they [this government] are preparing to rig the upcoming AJK elections,&rdquo; he said.

The JUI-F further called upon the participants to be wary of candidates who switch loyalties from their parties to the PTI before the AJK elections. &ldquo;Those who join the PTI for the elections will be considered the traitors of Kashmir, and will not be given votes,&rdquo; Fazl asserted.

Speaking of India&rsquo;s annexation of occupied Kashmir in August 2019, the PDM president observed that not only will India&rsquo;s unilateral action be rejected but, &ldquo;we will, hopefully, also wage a war to have the action reversed&rdquo;.

&ldquo;What has this government given to Pakistan that it will give to Kashmir?&rdquo; Fazl asked, warning the rally&rsquo;s participants of election the PTI government in the upcoming elections.

&ldquo;This government will ruin Kashmir,&rdquo; he added.

Fazl concluded his speech expressing hope that Kashmir will win freedom and will become a part of Pakistan.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, taking the podium after the JUI-F chief, said &quot;we will fight a 1,000 years for the freedom of Kashmir&quot;.

&ldquo;It is unfortunate that a country that saw a prime minister like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the first woman prime minister of the Muslim world, Benazir Bhutto, is being run by a &lsquo;puppet prime minister&rsquo;,&rdquo; the party chairman stated.

Bilawal blamed Prime Minister Imran Khan of being helpless following the Indian annexation of Kashmir. &ldquo;Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly following the annexation, all this prime minister had to say was &lsquo;What can I do?&rsquo;&rdquo; Bilawal said.

&ldquo;Where past Pakistani prime ministers are remembered for their historic speeches given over the Kashmir issue, this reply is what the history will remember the incumbent prime minister for,&rdquo; he added.

The PPP chairman went on to say that if Pakistan is to respond to Modi&rsquo;s fascism, it will have to do through a powerful prime minister and not a &ldquo;puppet prime minister&rdquo;.

&ldquo;If we have to defeat Modi, we will need a democratic government, not a &lsquo;selected&rsquo; government&rdquo;, he went on to add.

Referring to the presidential ordinance regarding providing consular access and reviewing and reconsidering the case of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jahav, Bilawal accused PM Imran of trying to play representative to Indian spy instead of being the ambassador of Kashmir.

Bilawal said the PPP continues to stand with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto&rsquo;s slogan of referendum [in Kashmir], while blaming the incumbent government of following the governance example set by Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Furthermore, encouraging people to reach Islamabad next month, Bilawal said that, &ldquo;It has been decided in Islamabad that a long march will be held on March 26. And you will also reach Islamabad from Kashmir.&rdquo;

Further riling up the audience against PM Imran, the PPP chairman said that, &ldquo;This puppet government that keeps repeating the mantra of &lsquo;same page&rsquo;, is basically on the same page with Modi&rdquo;.

&ldquo;We also compete with each other as political parties in this country, but we also keep in mind the country&rsquo;s cultural ethos,&rdquo; he said while slamming the PTI government for arresting Maryam Nawaz and his aunt, Faryal Talpur &ndash; in separate incidents.

&ldquo;We will never stoop as low as this government, who is doing exactly what Modi does to his opponents,&rdquo; Bilawal added.
Concluding his speech, the PPP chairman stated that despite the circumstances, &ldquo;we will fight together to rid this country of this government. And we will win!&rdquo;]]>
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