87 civilians killed at Line of Control in five years

Most casualties believed to have happened during the past two years

ISLAMABAD:

A total of 87 Pakistani civilians lost their lives while another 407 were injured as a result of Indian troops firing at villages near the Line of Control (LoC) during the last five years.

The statistics were given by Minister of Foreign Affairs in written reply to a question in the Senate on Wednesday. The ministry compiled these figures from January 2010 till October 22 this year.



Most of these casualties are believed to have happened during the past two years, since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government took over in India. However, the ministry only submitted a consolidated figure without elaborating per-year data.

Hundreds of incidents of crossfire at LoC and working boundary, the border between parts of Pakistan Punjab and Indian held Kashmir, were reported during the past few months before a recent hiatus.

The minister said that the AJK government provides compensation to the martyrs and the injured under the Ceasefire Line Incidents Relief Act. Families of the martyrs are provided Rs300,000 each, permanently disabled are given Rs200,000 each and other injured Rs100,000.





Referring to the steps taken by the government to stop the violation at LoC, the minister said that DG Rangers held a meeting with DG Indian BSF in New Delhi in September to ensure peace along the Working Boundary. Both sides had agreed to increase interaction for containing incidents of ceasefire violations.

Kashmir dispute

The minister stated that Pakistan extends unflinching political, moral and diplomatic support to the just cause of the Kashmiri people for the achievement of their right to self-determination and shall continue to do so.

During the last three years, the government has taken steps for the resolution of the dispute in accordance with UN Resolutions on Kashmir.



Foreign Office

Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan told the Senate that the Foreign Office does not have any designation with the name of visa counsellor in their missions.

“In different missions, different officers are designated that responsibility and their tenures vary,” he said.

Senator Tahir Hussain Mashadi asked the Foreign Office did not have a visa officer with specific duties and qualifications for the Pakistanis sent on missions abroad.



In his reply, Khurram Dastagir quoted resource constraints, adding that funding for the post could be considered in the next budget session.

Law varsity

The establishment of National Law University in Islamabad was planned in 2006 and the Central Development Working Parking (CDWP) approved a cost of Rs415 million.

A total of 33 scholars were sent abroad, who have completed their studies and returned. A curriculum of five-year LLB degree has been developed in consultation with the Pakistan Bar Council and the Higher Education Commission.



Rented infrastructure with allied facilities and managerial staff at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad were equipped to initiate the activities of the university.

Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar said that the project was never brought to parliament and it was initiated without the approval of the charter, which is why the CDWP seized it and currently it is lying with the Cabinet Division.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2015.