ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP): Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) Marvi Memon says five point three million families benefited from the programme during the last financial  year.

Talking to Radio Pakistan, she said the budget of the
programme has been increased from 102 billion rupees to 115 billion rupees for the socio-economic uplift of the women.

Marvi Memon said one point three million deserving children
from thirty-two districts have been enrolled in schools under
BISP’s Waseela-e Taleem program, and are receiving monthly scholarship of two-hundred and fifty rupees.

“Strict monitoring will be ensured to make the survey
reliable and free from any mistake and teams would use the latest electronic equipment to avoid any error or omission”, she  added.

Complaints about fraudulent messages regarding BISP can be registered at 03351058050-51, she concluded.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP): Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Friday said that in these times of democracy and accountability, the international community, led by the United Nations, could not remain passive to the callous behaviour and grave violations of human rights by India in the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir over the last many decades.

Sartaj Aziz addressed letters to the UN Secretary-General, the President of the UN Security Council, the Secretary-General of the OIC, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to express Pakistan’s serious concern on the alarming situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOK).

Through these letters, the Adviser drew attention to the
brutal killings of innocent civilians and grave violations of the
fundamental human rights of the Kashmiris by the occupying Indian security forces.

The letters recalled that the United Nations has a special and
permanent responsibility with regard to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which remains on the agenda of the UN Security Council and is yet to be resolved in accordance with its relevant resolutions.

He said the current situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and
Kashmir was in fact the result of the continued denial by India of the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people through a free and fair plebiscite under the UN auspices that was assured by the United Nations in its multiple resolutions.

The Adviser noted that non-resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was a constant source of tension and instability in the region, and a threat to international peace and security.

“Lack of progress in finding a durable solution to the Kashmir
question in accordance with the UN resolutions, and the continuing violations of human rights in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and lack of accountability thereof, have led to feeling of frustration and resentment especially among the new generation of Kashmiris who are increasingly adding their voice to the decades long Kashmiri indigenous movement for self-determination,” he commented.

India could no longer be in denial of these facts by terming
the situation as its internal matter, a position that has no
standing whatsoever, in view of the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir as also reflected in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the letters noted.

The Adviser urged that India should be called upon to stop
killing of innocent civilians and to cease its repressive policies
and human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Adviser underlined that as a concerned party, Pakistan
remained committed to peacefully resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.

“Pakistan will continue to extend its moral and diplomatic
support for realization of the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has also always welcomed the role and initiatives of the UN Secretary-General to facilitate the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir question and we will continue to
support such efforts in future,” the letters said.

In his letter to the OIC Secretary-General, the Adviser
recalled that OIC has always taken a strong position on the Jammu and Kashmir issue and shown solidarity with the Kashmiris.

Pakistan hoped for continued support of the OIC towards the
just struggle of the Kashmiris for their right of self-
determination, and lauded the initiatives taken in furthering
cooperation among the members of the OIC especially for the OIC’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people, Sartaj Aziz said.

He said the OIC has condemned, in strongest terms, the killing of Kashmiri, leader Burhan Wani, by the Indian security forces and killing of innocent Kashmiris, who were peacefully demonstrating Burhan’s killing.

The OIC Secretary General, Iyad Ameen Madani, expressed sorrow on the killings of Kashmiris in IoK and deplored use of force by the Indian security forces on the peaceful protesters, the Adviser added.

The OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) also expressed serious concern over the incident of human
right violation in IoK by Indian military and para-military forces
in which dozens of innocent Kashmiris were killed and scores were
injured.
The IPHRC deplored the extrajudicial killings and violation of
the Kashmiris’ right to live, right to freedom of expression and
opinion, right to peaceful protest and assembly and other
fundamental human rights.
In his letter to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the
Adviser noted that the Indian security forces were trampling the
fundamental freedoms of the Kashmiri people with complete impunity.
Jammu and Kashmir was witnessing yet another brutal bloodbath at the
hands of the Indian occupation forces.
The Foreign Adviser said the use of excessive force against
innocent civilians protesting peacefully over extrajudicial 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 absolute absence of accountability and justice to address
the abuses committed by the Indian security forces has invoked a
sharp reaction from all segments of the Kashmiri society, he said.
The Adviser requested the High Commissioner and the mechanisms
of the Human Rights Council to look into the grave violations of
human rights and fundamental freedoms being committed against the
Kashmiri people by the Indian security forces, and intervene to end
these terrible atrocities.
It called for protecting the right to life of the Kashmiri
people; ending impunity of Indian occupation forces; a fair,
transparent and independent inquiry to bring to justice those
responsible for the extra-judicial execution of Burhan Muzaffar Wani
and the opening of fire on peaceful protestors.
He called for bringing an end to India’s oppressive measures
against the Kashmiri people and urging India to fulfill its human
rights obligations and its commitment under UNSC resolutions.

ISLAMABAD, July 15 (APP): The Federal Cabinet on Friday
decided for convening a joint session of Parliament on Kashmir situation and announced to mark July 19 as ‘black day’ against killing of innocent Kashmiris by security forces in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK).

A declaration, issued after the meeting held at Lahore’s
Governor’s House, said Pakistan would continue to provide moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris in their just struggle for self-determination.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in his remarks while
chairing the meeting urged upon the United Nations to fulfill
its “incomplete agenda” on Kashmir and ensure provision of
right of self-determination to Kashmiris.

“I and entire Pakistan nation steadfastly stand by Kashmiris against Indian oppression,” he said, according to details of the meeting as given here by the PM’s Office.

Nawaz Sharif said the Kashmiris were fighting for their
freedom and emphasized that Indian hostilities would further
strengthen their resolve. He stressed that calling the freedom movement as terrorism, was a sheer dishonest on part of India.

“The baseless propaganda neither can demoralize the
Kashmiris’ movement, nor can misguide the international
community,” he added.

He said the 0.7 million Indian security forces could
not repress the Kashmiris’ movement.

“If Indian forces continue with the horrendous practice
of killing innocent, it will be a bad omen for the peace
of the region,” he added.

The Cabinet mentioned that the Kashmiri youth for the
last three years, instead of picking up arms, had taken to
the platform of social media to campaign for their message.
It was the golden opportunity for the Indian government
to engage the Kashmiri youth in dialogue and accept their
just demands, the Cabinet stressed.

The declaration said it was regretful that India once
again tried to suppress the voice of Kashmiris, considering
them as slaves and martyred the representative of new
generation Burhan Wani.

India has to understand that hearts cannot be won
with the use of force.

The Cabinet said Pakistan would play its role in
‘awakening the conscience’ of international community. All
institutions of Pakistan would highlight the tyranny of
Indian security forces, being meted to innocent Kashmiris.
Pakistan and Kashmir are linked with a relationship
of history and tradition, and the people of Pakistan consider
the pains and pleasures of the Kashmiris of their own, it
said.

The Federal Cabinet asked India to hold dialogue with
Pakistan on Kashmir issue and also include Kashmiri leaders
in it.

The Federal Cabinet directed the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to highlight through their envoys abroad the plight
of Kashmiris at the hands of Indian security forces.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry briefed the
Cabinet about the situation in Indian-Held Kashmir.

The meeting condemned the terrorist attacks in Saudi
Arabia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and France and expressed grief over the loss of precious lives.

The Cabinet also offered Fateha for late social worker
Abdul Sattar Edhi, Qawwal Amjad Sabri and the Kashmiri martyrs.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain
Friday appreciated the efforts of National Commission for
Human Development (NCHD) for improving access to basic
education and healthcare in country’s poorest communities.

Talking to Chairperson National Commission for Human
Development (NCHD) Razina Alam Khan here at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President emphasized on taking effective measures for enhancing literacy ratio in the country.

The President said inclusion of women in national
mainstream was imperative.

The President said lower literacy retards national
progress and development and called for sustained efforts to
promote education in the country.

Emphasizing on the training of teachers, the President
stressed the need for establishing institutions so that
teachers could impart quality education to children.

The President appreciated NCHD for supporting
government’s efforts in ensuring provision of social services
to the less privileged segment of society.

Chairperson National Commission for Human Development
(NCHD) Razina Alam Khan apprised the President about the
programs and activities of her organization.

ISLAMABAD, July 15 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will make Pakistan as per vision of the Quaid-e-Azam where there will be no discrimination on the basis of religion, sect, language and region.

He was addressing a function held on the occasion of signing
an agreement between PML-N and Shia Ulema Council, Azad Jammu and Kashmir for supporting the PML-N in July 21 Legislative Assembly elections.

The minister said that “we are all Muslims and following
the same religion.”

He said he opposed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for allocation of Rs 300 million for a religious seminary and Imran Khan threatened to sue him.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Dr
Asif Kirmani, Shia Ulema Council Allama Zahid Naqvi, Hafiz Kifayat Naqvi, PML-N leader Pir Ali Raza Bukhari, deputy mayor Islamabad Riffat Javed, Zeeshan Naqvi, Arshad Ghazi were also present on the occasion.

The MOU signed on the occasion called for making AJK base
camp for resolution of Kashmir dispute under the light of United Nations Resolutions, formation of Kashmir policy after consultations with Kashmiri leadership, including AJK in China-Pak Economic Corridor, payment of royalty to AJK on power projects and giving it exemption from load-shedding.

The information minister while thanking the Shia Ulema
Council, said that the PML-N wants a Pakistan where there
was no discrimination on the basis of religion, sect, language,
colour, and region as all residents were Pakistani.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had named his two
sons ‘Hassan’ and ‘Hussein’ due to special affection for the
family of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

He said that discrimination on the basis of religion
and sect was against the teachings of Quaid-e-Azam and
Allama Iqbal.

He said “all should strive for revival of Quaid-e-Azam’s
Pakistan so that we could share happiness , griefs and
religious festivals.”

“All Pakistanis have equal rights, and we want Pakistan
where all posts are available on merit and eligibility”,he
added.

Dr Asif Kirmani said that during Gilgit-Baltistan
elections, the PML-N did not form any alliance with any
party but after the elections, gave representation to all
schools of thought as this was the vision of the Quaid-e-Azam and this was the vision of Nawaz Sharif.

Speaking on the occasion, Allama Zahid Naqvi said
that Pakistan was created on the basis of an ideology and
his party has always worked for sectarian harmony.

He said that PML-N has played important role in
development of the country and expressed the hope that
AJK leadership will follow the footsteps of Nawaz Sharif
in this regard and set an example of good governance and
merit.

Allama Zahid said his party has special affection for Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif like their elders. His party will always support Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s party.