ISLAMABAD, Jul 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Chaudhary Barjees Tahir Wednesday said occupied Kashmir was a disputed territory and it was admitted by the Indian leadership in United Nations (UN).

Talking to a private TV channel, he said Burhan Wani was martyred in age of 22 and more than five lakh people attended his funeral prayer and India wanted to registered the case against all of them.

He said Indian forces had killed one lakh people and made widows more than thirty thousand women and one lakh children orphan but it could not stop the movement of Kashmiri people.

The minister said that Indian leadership actions are showing
that they have lost their mental order, adding that India could not stop Kashmiri people movement through its all of brutalities.

He said July 20 was considered as Black day for Kashmiris, adding that all political parties of Pakistan were united on Kashmir issue.

Pakistani from every segment of life organized rallies in
favor of Kashmiri people and prayed for them and their independence from Indian occupation, he said.

Barjees said Pakistan always supported the Kashmir movement by political, diplomatic and morale grounds.

International community should play its role for giving
Right of self determination to people of Occupied Kashmir, he
added.

Replying to a question about Azad Jammu and Kashmir
elections, he said government and opposition should sit together regarding AJK election reforms.

Replying to another query, he said if PML-N come in to power in AJK then we would bring the amendments in Act of 1974, adding that PML-N was first time contesting the elections in AJK.

He said after winning the elections in AJK, vision of Prime
Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would be promoted throughout the region.

Barjees said allegations of rigging in Gilgit-Baltistan
elections were baseless.

We had the option to move no confidence motion against AJK Prime Minister but PML-N given chance to PPP government to complete its term, he added.

QUETTA, July 20 (APP): Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri appreciated and paid tributes to Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on his political and moral support to people of Indian-held Kashmir on their struggle against India.

In his statement issued in connection with observing black day in protest against Indian atrocities on people of Indian-held Kashmir, the Chief Minister said: “Hundred of thousands of people of Indian-held Kashmir including men, women and children had lost their lives while fighting for their rights”. He said that Pakistan had adopted a principal stand on issue of Kashmir.

“The political and moral support of Premier Nawaz to people of Kashmir has proved that Pakistan would not withdraw its support to people of Kashmir,” he said.

He said that Indian government should come on dialogue table to resolve Kashmir issue as saying several issues of the world had been resolved through dialogues.

LAHORE, July 20 (APP): Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Wednesday strongly condemned continuous violation of human rights in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) and stressed the need for forcefully raising the issue at all international fora.

Talking to the media here on the black day, being observed across Pakistan, LCCI President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad, Senior Vice President Almas Hyder and Vice President Nasir Saeed said that international community should not play the role of a silent spectator on the issue as violation of human rights in held Kashmir was creating unrest in the
region.

They said that Indian forces were adding new chapters of brutality that was not tolerable at all. They said that the issue of Kasmir should be resolved according to the wishes of Kashmiri people.

While expressing concern over the role of International community, LCCI office-bearers said that United Nations should take notice of the Indian aggression and intervene in the matter as any irresponsibility by the Indian side could give birth to a historic human tragedy.

They said that business community had serious concern on the alarming situation in Held Kashmir, asserting that brutal killing of innocent people in occupied Kashmir was not acceptable for the business community of Pakistan and it was standing shoulder to shoulder with Kashmiri
brothers.

They said that use of force against innocent civilians protesting peacefully over extra-judicial killings was a blatant violation of the right to life, right to freedom of expression and opinion, right to peaceful protest, right to peaceful assembly and other rights.

The LCCI office-bearers said that irresponsible act of Indian
government ringing alarm bells for prospects of peace and tranquility in otherwise volatile region. The growing tension, caused by Indian provocative policy, was not a good sign as confrontation between two nuclear powers could lead mass destruction, they observed.

They said that occupied Kashmir was a longstanding dispute that had not only created tension and instability in the region but also a big threat to international peace.

The LCCI office-bearers said that India could no longer be in denial of these facts by terming the situation as its internal matter, a position that had no standing whatsoever, in view of the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. They said that Indian security forces were trampling the fundamental freedoms of the Kashmiri people
with complete impunity.

Pakistani business community would continue to extend its moral support for realization of the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, they resolved.

Lahore Chamber office-bearers said that business community unanimous condemned the Indian aggression and demanded the international community to take notice of this blantant violation of the international norms.

The LCCI office-bearers lauded the government and people of Pakistan for taking a strong stand against Indian aggression in Occupied Kashmir.

ISLAMABAD July 20 (APP): Minister for Commerce Khurram
Dastgir Khan on Wednesday said the government was all cooperative with the opposition to resolve the Panama papers issue but opposition parties instead of agreeing on Terms of Reference filed references in Election Commission.

“Panama papers are not incriminating evidence. We cannot
forejudge anybody as corrupt on basis on certain revelations till the matter is investigated. Now, as the matter is with the
Election Commission, let us wait for its decision,” he said in a
private news channel program.

The minister said the government side in the ToR committee
tried to facilitate the opposition parties but they were stuck to an unjustified demand to target Prime Minister. “Therefore, we argued that let us do crime hunting instead of target hunting.”

Answering a question, he said, the government will welcome
any bill by opposition in the Parliament on Panama papers. “The government side had shown flexibility soon after the Prime Minister advised the committee members to resolve the ToR issue.”

He said the government is in contact with the opposition on
nomination of ECP members and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had held number of meetings with the Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah.

The minister said, protest is right of the opposition but it
should not result in interference of non-democratic forces.

“Let their agitation not affect the routine life of masses. Let it be peaceful.”

He said previously the sit-in politics of the opposition
made the economy suffer and incurred loss of billions of dollars.

“Independence of opinion does not mean anarchy. However, peaceful protest is their right.”

The minister said that Sit-in politics affected foreign
policy and economy and now again when economy is stable,
investment is increasing, load-shedding is declining and terrorism is being curbed, they are once again taking to streets.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 20 (APP): Ministries of Defence (MOD) and
Defence Production (MODP) on Wednesday observed ‘Black day’ to express solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

The day also marked protest against grave violations of humanrights by Indian government against the innocent people IOK.

All officers and staff of both the ministries wore ‘Black
Ribbon’ on their arms in the office during working hours, a press release here stated.

They were of the vioew that violence against people of Jammu and Kashmir was open violation of human rights. They urged that all human rights organizations of the world must play their role to end these atrocities.

They said innocent youth of occupied Kashmir were being killed by Indian security forces just for raising voice for freedom and open choice of self determination as conserved by United Nations Organization’ resolution.

Special prayers were also offered for the martyrs of Kashmir
in both ministries. Secretary MoDP Lt. Gen ® Syed M. Owais was also present during the prayer.

ISLAMABAD, July 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain Wednesday said the construction of National Science School building and allied facilities would start soon as the Punjab Government had offered land in Lahore free of cost.

He said this while addressing the launching ceremony of Orientation Session of National Talent Farming Scheme (STFS) here, a press release said.

Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Fazal Abbass Maken, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman PSF and STFS Project Manager Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi were also present on the occasion.

The Ceremony was attended by first batch of STFS 300 students, STFS Management, and Heads of S&T organizations.

The Minister said that most important aspect of STFS was establishment of the “National Science School” that would be a boarding school having facilities on the pattern of Cadet Colleges for the continuous support and grooming of the capable students having aptitude towards science education.
After the establishment of the “National Science School” the
selection of the students will be made on regular basis from 8th Class which presently is being done after Matric.

Ahsan Iqbal said the scheme was part of Pakistan Vision 2025.

He said the dream of knowledge based economy could only be achieved when the human resource of a country was developed on scientific lines and there was an abundant skilled manpower in the country.

The skilled manpower and productive human resource could be produced through a purposeful science education both at secondary and tertiary levels, he maintained.

Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology Fazal Abbass Maken said this scheme was an endeavor to popularize science among the young generation.

He said this initiative of the government as part of Vision 2025 was also in consonance with the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (ST&I) 2012 which presents a roadmap of aims and objectives under the areas of socio-economic development, human resource development, R&D infrastructure, and promotion of ST&I in the society.

PSF Chairman Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf in a presentation gave an introduction of STFS, rational behind this scheme.

He said that number of researchers in Pakistan as compared to other countries was very low, which was main reason that the country was lagging behind in the field of Science and Technology as compared to other countries.

He also presented a survey report about science labs of schools in the country.

ISLAMABAD July 20 (APP): Minister of State for Capital
Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Wednesday said operation in Karachi is only against the criminal regardless to their political affiliation.

“This operation is only against the criminals and Rangers will raid every place where they will have information about presence of criminals. If political parties have criminals in their ranks, they should disown them,” he said in a private news channel program.

He said the political parties instead of sheer politicking and blame game should improve performance in respective provinces of their parties’ government.

“Unless, the political parties alleviate masses problems, they cannot be popular among people. Let us deliver over there and then go to people in 2018 for accountability.”

He said the political parties poised to agitation for mobilizing people against the government are destined to fail and they will get nothing other than wastage of time and national resources.

The minister said the government’s view point on ToR is very
clear that it will not accept any tailor made document.

Answering a question regarding any reservations by the Chinese government on implementation of the CPEC, he said, this project is a pact between states and people of Pakistan and China and not between any two governments.

However, he said, in some areas of execution of CPEC there are security issues and for the purpose Pakistan Army is performing its duties as an organ of the government.

SIALKOT, July 20 (APP): The people from all walks of life on
Wednesday observed Black Day in the district to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir against the atrocities of Indian army.

The people in Sialkot, Uggoki, Sambrial, Daska, Bajwat, Badiana, Chawinda and Pasrur tehsils staged protest rallies to express complete solidarity with the innocent and oppressed people of Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

They also expressed grave concern over the human rights’
violations, custodial killings and genocide of the innocent Kashmiri people by the Indian Army in the Held Valley. They said that these nasty practices were enough to shake the conscience of the international community

The officials of all the government departments including DCO Dr. Asif Tufail, ADCG Dr. Umer Sher Chatta, DPO Dr. Abid Khan and EDO (Health) Dr. Javaid Warraich wore the black armbands while performing their duties.

Addressing the peaceful agitational meetings at Sialkot, Uggoki, Sambrial, Daska, Bajwat, Badiana, Chawinda Pasrur and surrounding areas, the local Kashmiri leaders including Dr. Zahid Ghani Dar (Convener Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Movement) said the sacrifices of the innocent Kashmiri martyrs would become fruitful, as the sun of
freedom of the Held valley from Indian yoke will rise soon.

They said that the Kashmiri people in Pakistan were united for the Kashmir cause, saying that the India had unleashed worst brutalities to continue its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. They said that the Kashmiri reject India’s illegal occupation of their motherland.

Dr. Zahid Ghani Dar added the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people would soon become fruitful in shape of freedom of Kashmir from Indian yoke, as the Kashmir issue has reached near its peaceful amicable solution as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

He revealed that the freedom was the basic right of the people of Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and none could deny this fact.

He said that the peace could never be promoted in South Asia without solving the prolonged delayed burning issue of Held Kashmir.

LAHORE, July 20 (APP): President, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab, MNA Pervaiz Malik Wednesday called upon the world community to take stock of gross human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir and exert pressure on India to eschew its oppressive tactics in Kashmir.

“Pakistan will continue its political, moral and diplomatic support for Kashmiri people,” he added.

Talking to APP, he said that Indian armed forces had bent upon crushing Kashmiris’ struggle for independence.

He said, “Freedom is a basic right of Kashmiris and
India can’t deprive them of their right to self-determination
through state-terrorism,” he added.

He said that Kashmiris’ struggle was about to borne fruit and
it had entered the decisive phase. He said Pakistan government and the entire nation had observed the ‘black day’ to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. “Our government’s stand on Kashmir is very much clear and they will continue their struggle till liberation of Kashmir from Indian clutches,” he added.

The PML-N leader observed that there was no moral justification for silence of the world community over the killing of Kashmiris.

FAISALABAD, July 20 (APP): Associated Press of Pakistan,
Faisalabad Bureau, on Wednesday observed Black Day to express solidarity with the people of Indian Held Kashmir.

Bureau Chief Anjum Aala Rehman led the rally which was
staged at Canal Road.

The APP staff wearing black armbands were carrying posters
inscribed with different slogans in support of Kashmiri people.

Later, special ‘Dua’ was offered for Kashmiri martyrs.

KOTLI, MUZAFFARABAD, July 20 (APP): Thousands of Kashmiris living in Pakistan’s various cities arrived in Kotli, Muzaffarabad and other districts of the State in the last couple of days to cast their votes in Thursday’s elections for Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

A huge rush of people was witnessed at the bus terminals and wagon stands during the last two days as hundreds of families arrived from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Karachi
and other cities of Pakistan where a huge number of Kashmiris are settled for business, jobs or other purposes.

People also moved to native towns in large number in their own vehicles to exercise their right to vote and support their favourite parties and candidates in the elections.

“I’ve been here for the last 30 years but I have never seen
such crowds of people flocking to their villages and towns to cast their votes,” Pino Khan, who runs a fruit and vegetable shop near Kotli city’s bus terminal told APP.

Hanif Sabir, a retired Pakistan Air Force officer, who along
with his family members had arrived from Islamabad in Kotli city on Wednesday, told this news agency that he had never cast his vote in the past but this time he decided to use this right.

“Yes, I’m here to vote for my favourite party. I think we
should support the people who can serve our people and area in a better way,” he said without divulging the details to whom he was going to vote on the polling day.

Nazir Ahmed, a student of MSC Mass Communication, who had arrived at Muzaffarabad bus terminal from Lahore while expressing the similar sentiments remarked: “People are becoming more and more aware about their rights now. I’m sure the turn out in these elections will be exemplary.”

He said his several friends were also arriving from Karachi and other cities of Pakistan to use their voting right. Similar reports of arrival of voters were also received from the main bus terminals of other districts of AJK.

Meanwhile, a huge number of overseas Kashmiris also arrived during the past days in their hometowns to poll votes and elect their representatives for the next term.

ISLAMABAD, July 20 (APP): A delegation of the Executive Committee of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) headed by its President, Syed Ali Zafar and comprising other office bearers called on Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Chief Justice of Pakistan welcomed the delegation and discussed different issues relating to administrative and judicial matters of mutual interest in order to ensure effective dispensation of justice and smooth
functioning of the institution.

According to a statement issued here on Wednesday, the CJP and the SCBA also discussed different ways and means to provide quick relief to litigant parties.

The Bar showed satisfaction over the current case management system of Supreme Court and requested to devise policy for fixation of cases of early
hearing.

The Chief Justice apprised the members that applications of early hearing carrying genuine reasons are fixed on merit, as during the current month 70 out of 75 early hearing applications have been accepted.

The Chief Justice acknowledged the role of Bar in administration of justice and added that its role is very crucial, and without its cooperation, the goal of administration of justice cannot be fulfilled.

The delegation of the Supreme Court Bar Association thanked the Chief Justice of Pakistan for sparing time and providing opportunity to discuss these matters.

HYDERABAD, July 20 (APP): Kashmiri people have the fundamental and acknowledged right in determining their fate at their own which had been usurped by Indian forces for decades.

The international community, particularly United Nations,
should play proactive role in implementation of its own resolution on Kashmir.

This was was resolved at a special reference, to express
solidarity with people of Kashmir for observing the “Black Day” against Indian atrocities, held here on Wednesday.

Fatiha was also offered for eternal peace of martyred Kashmiris who lost their lives in the Indian Held Kashmir(IHK).

Speaking at the occasion Javed Channa, Shahid Shiekh, Imran Patoli and others said Kashmir was unfinished agenda of partition of Suncontinent and Security Council of United Nations had acknowledged and resolved for right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir.

SIALKOT, July 20 (APP): The government organisations and people on Wednesday observed the black day to express solidarity with the people of Indian-held Kashmir.

At the PML-N House here, party workers, led by MPA Chuadhry Muhammad Akraam, wore black armbands as a mark to protest and offered prayers for the Kashmiri martyrs.

Addressing the workers, Akraam condemned killing of Kashmiris and called upon the international community to restrain India from committing atrocities in held Kashmir.

LAHORE, July 20 (APP): Black Day was observed here at
Aiwan-i-Karkunan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan against the Indian atrocities in the held Kashmir.

Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust Chairman Muhammad Rafique Tarar led the protest while Chief justice (R) Mian Mahboob Ahmad, Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad, Mian Farooq Altaf, Dr Parveen Khan, Begum Safia Ishaq, Nazaria-i- Pakistan Trust Secretary Shahid Rasheed and a large number of people from different walks of life also participated.

The demonstrators were holding placards inscribed with various slogans including: “Kashmir will accede to Pakistan”, “Burhan Wani Shaheed, we salute your greatness”, “Excessive barbarity is destined to be annihilated”, “We vehemently condemn the Indian atrocities against the unarmed Kashmiris” and “The blood of the Kashmiri martyrs will surely attain its purpose”.