Govt told to highlight issue of Junagadh state

NA SAFRON committee directs to resolve network coverage issue in ex-FATA

ISLAMABAD:

The foreign office on Monday was asked to highlight the issue of the Junagadh state and other principalities along with the issue of the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

This was directed by the National Assembly Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) which met at the Parliament House on Monday with MNA Sajid Khan.

SAFRON Ministry’s Secretary Muhammad Aslam told the committee before the Partition, at least 14 states had decided to accede to Pakistan and had even signed instruments of accession with the government. However, two states, including Junagadh and Manavadar could not be merged due to forced occupation by India.

Aslam explained that before Partition, the princely states of Hyderabad and Junagadh had Hindu-majority populations but their rulers were Muslims. By contrast, Kashmir had a Muslim-majority population and non-Muslim rulers.

He added that India had orchestrated riots in the principality under a well-thought-out strategy and prevented Junagadh’s ascension to Pakistan.

Now, he said, Islamabad gives wonderful privileges to the Nawab of Junagadh.

The Foreign Affairs additional secretary also briefed the committee on the efforts made to highlight the forced occupation of Junagadh by India on international forums while Junagadh’s and Manavadar’s accession claim to Pakistan remains on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council through a resolution.

The foreign office officials further told the committee that Pakistan stands by its long-standing, principled position on the Kashmir issue while India has changed its position several times.

Noting that Pakistan has a clear and unequivocal stance on the Kashmir issue with a nation united on it, the United Nations has begun to take the Kashmir issue seriously.

Moreover, the official said that Pakistan has exposed India’s true face to the world by exposing New Delhi’s intentions on international forums, including the UN General Assembly.

The committee directed the foreign office to highlight the double standards of India on the Jammu and Kashmir and Junagadh accession issue on International forums.

Ex-Fata schemes

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Public Health Engineering Superintendant Engineer (SE) briefed the committee about the ongoing, completed and new drinking water supply schemes in the erstwhile federally administered tribal areas (Fata).

The committee directed the SE to start work on the two feasible schemes identified under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2018-19, as well as the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) without further delays.

The committee also directed to shift schemes, which were not feasible, to other feasible sites.

The 3G and 4G network issue in the tribal districts was also discussed and the committee directed the relevant quarters to resolve network issues in areas where no-objection certificates (NOCs) have already been issued.

The committee further directed that at least the 3G and 4G facility should be provided in the merged tribal district headquarters at the earliest and submit a report.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2020.