“Pellet guns and other lethal weapons are deliberately being used to maim and terrorize the peaceful protestors whose only demand is the implementation of the UN Resolutions and their right to self-determination”
Islamabad: (Parliament Times) Prime Minister Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan called on President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan at the President Secretariat here in Islamabad.
The two leaders discussed the deteriorating human rights situation in IHK and expressed their resolve to intensify their efforts for the realization of the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris in the international realm. They also discussed matters related to governance and ongoing development projects in AJK.
President Masood Khan, while condemning the recent shelling by Indian forces of villages adjoining/astride the LOC in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, said that the Indian forces are consistently violating the ceasefire agreement and this year alone the number of violations has risen to 1150. “The Armed Forces of Pakistan have retaliated the shelling on the LOC. We will not allow the Indian forces to persecute our civilians”, said President AJK
The Prime Minister apprised the President of his recent visit to Line of Control at Abbaspur, Poonch District. The Prime Minister informed that the Government of AJK will provide all requisite facilities to the residents on the LOC. He added that due to the unprovoked firing on the LOC, the AJK Government has incurred losses of around Rs. 52 million. India is trying to force the population of 5 million Azad Kashmiris to relocate from the LOC, said Prime Minister AJK.
The leaders demanded an immediate halt to the atrocities taking place in Indian Occupied Kashmir. The President said that we are indebted to the support of the people of Pakistan, its Government and its Armed Forces who have always supported the Kashmir cause. He said, “India needs to be brought to justice over the atrocious human rights abuses which are in clear violation of international law.”
Sardar Masood Khan said that pellet guns and other lethal weapons are deliberately being used to maim and terrorize the peaceful protestors whose only demand is the implementation of the UN Resolutions and their right to self-determination, which is the basic right of every human being. This right cannot be taken away from the people of Kashmir by the Indian Occupation Forces through intimidation, he said. The President urged the international community to censure India over the indiscriminate use of pellet guns, murders, rapes and illegal imprisonments taking place in IOK.
The President and Prime Minster discussed the ongoing development projects in AJK, especially in the sectors of infrastructure, energy production, tourism and municipal services. The Prime Minister apprised the President that all infrastructure projects, especially roads linking various districts, had been started on schedule and work on them would be completed with speed. Other projects related to medical facilities, tourism and water were also being prioritized.
The President said that utmost importance must be given in upholding merit based appointments. In this context, the President applauded the efforts of the AJK Government in introducing the National Testing Service for public sector employment and admissions in universities.
PM calls on president, call for end to rights violations in IOK