Senate panel condemns Indian allegations, threats
Any misadventure by New Delhi will be considered act of war, says resolution
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan has unanimously passed a resolution, strongly condemning India’s threatening statements against Pakistan and warmongering in the wake of February 14 militant attack at Pulwama in Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK).
As the committee, chaired by Senator Sajid Mir, met on Tuesday at the Parliament House, Senator Rehman Malik proposed a resolution against Indian threats and accusations. The committee later passed the resolution unanimously.
"The Senate Standing Committee … feels concerned for the Pulwama incident in which human lives were lost. However, the committee strongly condemns Indian government’s threatening statements against Pakistan and warmongering even before an initial inquiry was conducted.
“The committee strongly recommended implementation of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights report dated June, 2018 regarding Indian atrocities being committed in Indian Held Kashmir.
“An International fact finding mission as recommended in the report should immediately be sent to IOK to find out the plight of Kashmiris, demanding implementation of the UN resolutions on rights to self-determination,” the resolution said.
It also called for abolishing Armed Forces Special Power Act as recommended in the report. It said the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) should be permitted to visit sites of incidents to investigate human rights violations committed on the Indian side of the Line of Control.
The Senate committee said atrocities being committed in the IOK and elsewhere in India after the Pulwama incident must stop forthwith. "The Amnesty International should be allowed access to the affected areas in the valley to find out the facts on ground."
The committee also warned India against taking any venture across the Line of Control, which will be taken as an act of war with serious consequences for which Indian government will be held responsible.
Officials of Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan briefed the committee on decrease in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Annual Development Budget for the year 2018-19 and its implications.
The committee was also briefed regarding educational scholarships being provided to the students of the AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan and future projects in the areas.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said number of scholarships would be doubled. He said a number of tourism development and roads projects would be initiated in the AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The meeting was attended by Raja Zafarul Haq, Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qayyum, Lt Gen (Retd) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Anwar Lal Dean, Nighat Mirza, Rehman Malik and Dr Shahzad Waseem as well as secretary Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, and senior officials of Gilgit-Baltistan and the AJK governments.
The Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan has unanimously passed a resolution, strongly condemning India’s threatening statements against Pakistan and warmongering in the wake of February 14 militant attack at Pulwama in Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK).
As the committee, chaired by Senator Sajid Mir, met on Tuesday at the Parliament House, Senator Rehman Malik proposed a resolution against Indian threats and accusations. The committee later passed the resolution unanimously.
"The Senate Standing Committee … feels concerned for the Pulwama incident in which human lives were lost. However, the committee strongly condemns Indian government’s threatening statements against Pakistan and warmongering even before an initial inquiry was conducted.
“The committee strongly recommended implementation of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights report dated June, 2018 regarding Indian atrocities being committed in Indian Held Kashmir.
“An International fact finding mission as recommended in the report should immediately be sent to IOK to find out the plight of Kashmiris, demanding implementation of the UN resolutions on rights to self-determination,” the resolution said.
It also called for abolishing Armed Forces Special Power Act as recommended in the report. It said the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) should be permitted to visit sites of incidents to investigate human rights violations committed on the Indian side of the Line of Control.
The Senate committee said atrocities being committed in the IOK and elsewhere in India after the Pulwama incident must stop forthwith. "The Amnesty International should be allowed access to the affected areas in the valley to find out the facts on ground."
The committee also warned India against taking any venture across the Line of Control, which will be taken as an act of war with serious consequences for which Indian government will be held responsible.
Officials of Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan briefed the committee on decrease in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Annual Development Budget for the year 2018-19 and its implications.
The committee was also briefed regarding educational scholarships being provided to the students of the AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan and future projects in the areas.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said number of scholarships would be doubled. He said a number of tourism development and roads projects would be initiated in the AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The meeting was attended by Raja Zafarul Haq, Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qayyum, Lt Gen (Retd) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Anwar Lal Dean, Nighat Mirza, Rehman Malik and Dr Shahzad Waseem as well as secretary Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, and senior officials of Gilgit-Baltistan and the AJK governments.