Associated Press of Pakistan
News Summary
10- 06-2002
Gen. Musharraf starts visit of UAE, Saudi Arabia from Monday
ISLAMABAD, June 10 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf leaves here Monday to start his three-day (June 10-12) visit of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. The visit will serve to further strengthen Pakistan's relations with these brotherly countries. On arrival in Abu Dhabi Monday, the President will hold a meeting with President of the UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al- Nahyan, and hold official talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. Later in the evening, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan will host a banquet in honour of President General Pervez Musharraf. On June 11, the President will give interviews to a number of worldwide print and electronic media networks. Later Tuesday, the President will arrive in Jeddah and call on Crown Prince Abbdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.
During the overnight stay, the President will perform Umrah, and return to Islamabad on June 12. The Government and people of Pakistan attach the highest importance to their close and fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The relations with UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are time-tested and demonstrate their abiding interest in each others security, stability and prosperity.
Musharraf says India-Pakistan crisis will not derail October polls
KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (APP/AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said that the India-Pakistan crisis would not derail a general election planned for October, according to a report Sunday. "It is very certain there will be an election. We will have an elected government," he told Malaysia's New Straits Times in an interview in Islamabad last week. "Like I said, this will be the label of democracy. The essence of democracy is already there in Pakistan.
We'll put the label in October." Musharraf said he expected a "de-escalation" in hostilities from the two nuclear-armed rivals, to be followed by a dialogue to resolve the long-standing Kashmir dispute. "I am very optimistic that if whatever discussions we had are accepted, then things should move in a better direction," he said. "The response that I'm expecting is de-escalation followed by the initiation of a dialogue on Kashmir." Musharraf has said the chance of war was "receding" as both sides realised that war was "extremely costly." He called for sincerity and flexibility to resolve the dispute over Kashmir.
"If we carry on badgering each other with whatever we have been saying for 50 years, we carry on with the conflict. If there is sincerity and we show flexibility, we can solve the problem," he said. "We're prepared to be bold, we're prepared to be courageous here for the sake of permanent peace if there be a similar courage and boldness from the other side."
Musharraf described himself as a "totally self-made man" and said his military training had helped him cope with the "pressure-cooker situations" in his job. "I have never asked anyone for anything and I think I've been getting the best from the army always," he said. "I am a very contented man. I have a nice family, I've got good children and they're doing well in life. I like games. I like socialising." The army chief, earlier told the Malaysian newspaper that he was ready to hand over day-to-day running of the government to the new prime minister after the polls. "That is what I am going to shed in October. There will be a PM and I will shed this function of running the government which is the real power. What I will retain is the president's authority to make sure that the PM is governing well. "I don't call that power. To oversee is the only power that I will have."
Pakistan welcomes India's reported decision to defuse tension; Memon
ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP): Pakistan has welcomed India's reported decision to take steps within next few days to defuse a tense military stand-off across the borders. Commenting on the latest development the Federal Minister for Information, Nisar A. Memon Sunday said it is a positive development. He said, "It seems that the efforts of our friends like United States and Russia have been successful." The Information Minister said India has started understanding our position.
The Minister said President General Pervez Musharraf has already stated in his speech on the 12th January that Pakistan will not allow any one to use its soil for terrorism. Nisar Memon said, "Pakistan welcomes reports that India was considering military and diplomatic gestures to de-escalate tension between the two countries over the Kashmir issue." He said, "It seems the situation is heading towards improvement." The Information Minister also expressed hopes that the two countries would be able to begin a dialogue on "all important issues including Kashmir."
Pakistan condemns arrest of Syed Ali Gillani
ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP): Pakistan has strongly condemned the arrest of Syed Ali Gillani, a popular Kashmiri leader who is also a member of the Executive Council and former Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). A spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs while commenting on the arrest of Gillani Sunday said it has once again exhibited the Indian government's utter disregard for the fundamental rights and liberties of the Kashmiris.
The spokesman said India has failed to suppress the Kashmiri freedom struggle despite its massive campaign of state-terror and gross human rights violations in the Occupied Kashmir. India should come to the negotiating table with Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The Government of Pakistan calls upon the Indian government to end its repression in Kashmir and immediately release Syed Ali Gillani as well as other detained Kashmiri leaders and political workers.
Gillani's arrest a setback to efforts to ease Pak-India tension: Chairman APHC
ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP): Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference Abdul Ghani Bhat Sunday said arrest of Syed All Shah Gillani is a setback to the international efforts to ease tension between India and Pakistan. Speaking to BBC television, he said the arrest of the APHC leader is a setback to the peace initiative and efforts being made at the global level to ease tension between India and Pakistan and help resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute peacefully through negotiations. "This should never have happened," he added. To a question, Bhat said, "he (Gillani) was not a hardliner. He was as good as any of us is in the sense that he chose to seek justice, asked Indians to fulfill their promises. If this is a hardliner then each one of us is a hardliner." No doubt his arrest will have a very negative impact on the mindset, attitude, approach of the people in Kashmir, Pakistan and on saner elements of India among whom there will be a realisation in the days to come that it is a bad political arrest, he added. Bhat said, "we choose and seek to promote peace with honour and dignity." "The peace with honour and dignity can come only when you address the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, resolving it in the interest of peace, stability and security in South Asia," he added.
Farrukh for a comprehensive system of road safety signs
ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP): Chairman, National Highway Authority, Maj.Gen. Farrukh Javed Sunday said, a comprehensive system be adopted to place road safety signs on national highways all across the country. "This matter needs serious attention to ensure safe traveling and avoid accidents," he said addressing the concluding session of a seminar on "Rules and Regulations of Highways" held at NHA head office. Highway construction experts and highway safety experts from all over the country participated in the seminar. NHAs officials M. Amjad Virk, Col. ® Aziz ul haq Mirza, Brig. Imtiaz Hussain, Dr. Tajul Islam and Ch. Muhammad Younis also addressed. The Chairman NHA said the road safety experts opine that most of the road accidents occur due to non-implementation of highway safety rules and regulations. He said as rules and regulations are made to ensure safe and comfortable journey on highways so their implementation is an imperative. He said, a comprehensive policy is being adopted to make people aware of highways rules and regulations. Overloading is one of the major causes of accidents on our highways and needed to be controlled strictly, he added, "overloading control will not only help overcome accidents but also protect highways from bad effects." He said, special attention be paid towards designing of roads and ensure proper road furniture for a safer and comfortable journey on highways.
The Chairman said 30 Weigh Stations would be constructed along highways to check overloading of which 16 Weigh Stations are expected to become functional by end of June this year. On conclusion of the seminar, Maj Gen Farrukh Javed gave away certificates to the participants of the seminar.
Nine civilians killed, 10 injured in Indian firing across Working Boundary, LoC
ISLAMABAD, June 10 (APP): Nine civilians were martyred and 10 others injured in unprovoked and indiscriminate Indian firing and shelling across Working Boundary and Line of Control in Azad Kashmir. Seven persons including two women were martyred and eight people injured in Indian shelling on Charwa village near Sialkot Working Boundary on Saturday, PTV reported. The injured were admitted to a hospital in Sialkot. The Indian army resorted to severe firing and Shelling around 6 a.m and continued it for about two hours destroying many houses and three vehicles. Two civilians embraced shahadat and two girls were injured as the Indian army continued unprovoked firing across the LoC in Nakial and Bandala villages of Samhani sector of Azad Kashmir during the last 12 hours. The unprovoked and indiscriminate firing is continuing in Satwal and Chatra villages of Rawalakot and Samhani sectors and in Bhimber district of Azad Kashmir.
First ever population policy next month
ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP): First ever population policy will be announced in July this year with a view to achieve the goals of family planning. The policy being finalised by Ministry of Population will highlight the issues of population stabilization, plans for direct link with masses and to reach out to younger population effectively. This was disclosed by Federal Minister for Population Welfare and Special Education Dr. Attiya Anayat Ullah in an interview with APP here today. She said Ministry of Family Planning is the first Ministry to implement the devolution of power plan and from first of July some 11,500 employees of the Ministry will be handed over to the provinces and the Ministry will have only 1,000 staff at the federal capital.
She said the budget of the ministry will also be handed over to the provinces and hoped that the NFC will include this proposal in its next award. Dr. Attiya said Ministry of Population Planning has prepared a comprehensive plan to implement restructuring and revitalization of population budget for better results in this sector. She said the budget for the ministry is Rs. 1.74 billion for the year 2001-2002 while the ministry has proposed to increase it to Rs. 3.00 billion for the next fiscal year.
She said the main issue is not the budget but just to implement the available resources effectively and properly. The Minister said since 1947 the population of Pakistan has quadruple and reached to 144 million and become 7th most populated country of the world. She said during the year 2001-2002 the GNP was 2.6 while the population growth rate was 2.2. Referring to goals and targets of population planning, the minister said, in 1981 the population growth rate was 3.1 per annum which has been reduced to 2.1 in 2002 and the target before the government is to reduce it further to 1.9 per year by 2004.
She said with the achievement of 1.9 growth rate in the population by year 2004 and then it will be reduced further to 1.6 by the year 2012. Giving reasons for high population growth rate, she said, it was due to unemployment, corruption, political problems from eastern and western borders, poverty, law and order situation and many other social problems.
Referring to most effective way to control population rate, she said, contraceptives is the most common and effective system being used in Pakistan. She said, its use will be increased by 30 per cent by 2004 and with effective measures and policies, its use will be increased to 43 per cent and consequently its consumption will be enhanced to 57 per cent by the year 2012. Dr. Attiya said Ministry of Population Planning is committed to resolve the issue of high growth rate.
She said every birth averted saved Rs. 500,000 which could be spent on the welfare of the people. She said with the reduction in the population growth rate the country could be able to save Rs. 328 million by 2004. She said use of contraceptive would be made a continuous step because due to drop out cases, the results are being reverted. Dr. Attiya said the Ministry of Population Planning has chalked out a comprehensive plan to provide family planning facilities at the door step of the people particularly in the rural areas. For this purpose, the Mobile service has been started in different remote areas in the provinces to reach out at the door steps of the people. She said all the methods of family planning except contraceptives have negative effects.
The Minister said besides production of contraceptives, Pakistan is also manufacturing oral pills and injections for family planning locally which are certified by World Health Organization. To ensure the security of contraceptives, she said, special measures have been taken by the ministry. She said under this system, starting from forecasting, procurement, storage, distribution and feed back operations have been given special attention. The Minister said the government has ensured the availability of contraceptives at the counter with making it a consumer item.
She said Women Health Projects for the welfare of women in rural areas have been started in 30 districts initially which will be increased to 60 districts very soon. Family Welfare Canters have also set up and so far 1600 have start working while 2500 will be functional by the year 2005, she added. Initially 4,000 males will be trained while 3,000 more will be imparted training to engage them in the family planning programmes later on, she added. The project, she said, was started in 2000 and the first batch of 700 trained males have been given training on experimented basis.
Radio to spread Pakistan's message in country and across borders: Minister
KARACHI, June 10 (APP): Federal Information Minister Nisar A. Memon said Sunday that the voice of Radio Pakistan will not only be heard in every corner of Pakistan but also across the border. He was speaking at the inauguration of auditorium of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) at new Broadcasting House here. The Minister said President General Pervez Musharraf has asked PBC to set up its stations across the country so that every Pakistani could listen its programmes. Besides, the message of Radio Pakistan should also reach across the border.
He pointed out that the budget for setting up new transmitters and stations has been approved by the government. Nisar said the voice of Radio Pakistan will be broadcast across the border in three languages including Persian, Dari and Hindi. This will be in addition to other regular programmes in other languages by PBC. He said Radio programmes in Hindi will be transmitted to inform the people of India that Pakistan does not want war with India.
It is India which forced Pakistan to develop nuclear weapon for defence, he said. "We developed nuclear weapon in self-defence. We would not have deployed our forces on border had India not moved its forces. Similarly, we would not have shot down Indian spy plane had our neighbour not launched it for spying", Nisar said. He said Pakistan wanted to tell India that it should do something for its 410 million population which is living below the poverty line instead of creating a war hysteria. The Minister made it clear that Pakistan's defence budget is not for offensive purposes but is of defensive nature. Lauding the role of Radio Pakistan, he said it is playing a very important role in spreading the message of the government. The voice of Radio Pakistan can be heard everywhere in Pakistan whether in fields, cities, villages or farms.
He said Pakistan has won the battle against India on diplomatic front. The results of this battle are coming up and our friends now have started asking India to de-escalate, show passion and initiate dialogue with Pakistan. Chairman PBC and Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mahmood said the new building has been constructed despite a cost over run and financial problems. He said he was very happy that this Broadcasting House has been completed and inaugurated. Director General Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) Tarique Imam said the new Broadcasting House costing Rs 140 million has best available facilities including multi-track digital recording system and 16-track recording system for CDs. He said four new FM 101 stations will be set up in Peshawar, Hyderabad, Quetta and Sialkot. Earlier the Minister inaugurated the PBC auditorium.
Pakistan not to allow India dubbing Kashmiris as terrorists
BEIJING, June 10 (APP): Pakistan would never allow the Indian government dubbing the Kashmiris as terrorists, said Pakistan Ambassador to China Riaz Hussain Khokhar. The Muslims in the occupied Kashmir sacrificing lives for their just right of self-determination are considered heroes by their people. He cited the case of Nelson Mandela, who was detained for decades under the charges of terrorism, but ultimately he emerged as hero because of his legitimate struggle, seeking freedom from foreign subjugation. In an interview, Ambassador Riaz Hussain said Pakistan would never succumb to Indians' pressure and would continue to extend moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people. He said there is an indigenous movement, going on in the Indian-held Kashmir, and it could not be misrepresented leveling unfounded charges of cross-border terrorism. The Indian government, he said should accept the ground realities, giving up its diplomatic tactics holding Pakistan responsible to its purely domestic problems. He said the Kashmir issue that lies at the source of tension between the two countries needs to be addressed with all seriousness. And unless we address the substance of this issue, the efforts to establish lasting and durable peace in the region could not be achieved, he added.
He said the world community must realize the fact that the Indo-Pak rivalry is the result of the Kashmir problem, and there is no solution of the growing tension, except to resolve it once for all. To a question, Ambassador Riaz said the government of Pakistan has taken several measures to curb terrorism. And if, he added, India was expecting further steps to this direction, it should come out with concrete evidences of it allegations. About the use of nuclear weapons, he said even contemplating a nuclear conflict is irresponsible and would be insane. In this connection, he also referred to the repeated statements by President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan is not an irresponsible country, even to think for nuclear option. Riaz Khokhar who had also been Pakistan's Ambassador to India, said Indian leadership is responsible of creating a war-like situation. This could be well judged from the threats of war emanating from their statements. Whereas Pakistan, he added has along been asking for holding talks to defuse the tension. About Kashmir, he further said the Indian government has been perpetuating worst-type of brutalities on the Kashmiri people for the last ten years. But, it could not succeed to suppress this indigenous movement. He recalled that India has voluntarily pledged to the United Nation thrice to hold plebiscite, enabling the Kashmiris to decide their political future themselves. "How can India now run away from its commitment?" Besides the bilateral talks, we have even offered to go for a third-party mediation to solve the issue, left over by history. But, he added India has been rejecting it in order to linger on its illegal occupation of the occupied territory.
Riaz Khokhar further said India is engaged in playing coercive diplomatic tactics, by demanding Pakistan to hand over 20 terrorists as a pre-condition for holding bilateral talks. "Such a demand has nothing but to pressurize Pakistan to give up its just support to the Kashmir cause, he said adding India has failed to provide any evidence to prove involvement of any Pakistani national in the alleged acts of terrorism. India should tell Pakistan, which crimes the said 20 persons have committed on its territory. Khokhar castigated the Indians' accusation that those attacked Indian Parliament were belonging to Pakistan. He questioned, "Does a terrorist while committing a crime hold identity card, passport or carries a number plate which proves his nationality. India, he said is playing the role of prosecutor and a judge the same time, by putting the burden of its own failure and unruly acts on Pakistan." He said, how can Pakistan meet such ridiculous demand. "We have our own courts, law and system to try those persons, found involved in terrorism," he added. Pakistan, he argued is itself victim of terrorism, and it cannot permit anybody to commit such heinous crimes. Pointing out the coercive tactics being adopted by Indian government, he said they have deployed 250,000 troops on the Line of Control and 600,000 troops within Kashmir itself, suppressing the Kashmiri people and posing serious threats to the stability of Pakistan.
President Putin briefs Tony Blair on talks with Musharraf and Vajpayee
LONDON June 10 (APP): Russian President Vladimir Putin has briefed British Prime Minister Tony Blair on his talks with President General Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on his talks with the two leaders on tension over Kashmir. Putin spoke with Blair over telephone for 15 minutes on Saturday afternoon as he wanted to brief him on his discussion with the two leaders during Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building in Asia(CICA) in Almaty, 10-Downing Street Spokesperson told APP on Sunday. " President Putin wanted to brief the Prime Minister on talks he had with Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf. Their discussion focused on India and Pakistan," said the Spokesperson. The Spokesperson declined to divulge further details of conversation between Putin and Blair. President Putin had invited President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee to attend Almaty conference in a bid to defuse tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in South Asia. Putin also invited the two leaders to come to Moscow. His invitation was accepted by President Pervez Musharraf who had expressed his willingness to have dialogue with India for de-escalation of tension and peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute.
Physical work in full swing on mega projects unveiled by President Musharraf
ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP): Physical work is in full swing at mega projects worth billions of rupees, particularly Gawadar port and Coastal highway, launched by President General Pervez Musharraf last year, to generate development and economic activities at a fast pace. At Right Bank Outfall Drainage (RBOD) project, Mirani Dam and Gomal Zam Dam, work would be set in motion at top speed shortly as the preliminary matters have been completed, Secretary, Planning Division, Dr. Mutawakkil Qazi told APP here today. While work progress at other projects including Karachi Northern Bypass, Lyari Expressway, Karachi Water Supply Scheme, Quetta Water Supply Scheme and Greater Thal canal is pacing well. The designing and consultation process of Gomal Zam Dam and Mirani Dam, he said has been completed and physical work would commence by the end of this month. Gawadar Deep Sea port and Makran coastal highway projects would cost an amount of Rs 10 billion and Rs 15 billion respectively. While RBOD, Mirani dam and Gomal Zam Dam projects are costing Rs 14 billion, Rs 8 billion and Rs 12.8 billion, respectively, which after completion will post major strength to the sinews of economy, viewed the Secretary Planning. Greater Thal canal project will cost Rs 25 Billion while Rs 12 billion would be spent on Greater Karachi Water Supply and Quetta water supply projects. Four roads, to be constructed in Northern Areas would be completed at a cost of Rs 2.9 billion, Mutawakkil Qazi said, adding, Rainee canal, Kachi canal and raising of Mangla Dam projects are also among the major projects.
Infrastructural work on big projects worth billions of rupees, particularly launched in water sector has already been started, leading to generate economic activities at grassroots level. The projects were launched by the present government under the dynamic leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf in various areas to augment water resources For irrigation purposes as well as to prop up economic growth, he added. The Secretary Planning said, Gomal Zam Dam, to be completed at a cost of Rs. 12.82 billion, will meet the shortage of irrigation water by storing 1.14 million acre feet of water. It will also generate additional electricity of 17.4 MW, he said, adding, the road approaching the project has already been completed. The Mirani Dam project will provide storage capacity for 0.322 million acre feet of irrigation water. The raising of Mangla Dam by 40 feet at a cost of Rs 53 billion will increase the water storage capacity of Dam by 3.1 million acre feet besides generation of additional 180 MW electricity. The Right Bank Outfall Drainage (RBOD) project initiated at a cost of Rs. 14 billion in Sindh will provide additional 2271 cusecs of farm water. The Phase-I of Gawadar Port project, after completion will have three multi-purpose births and related facilities will be constructed to accommodate 50,000 DWT vessels. The project, fully supported by China, will open Up Baluchistan for rest of the country and benefit the people of Pakistan. Mutawakkil Qazi observed that without ensuring the availability of ample water resources, "we cannot Bring more land under cultivation as water is an important component in agriculture". "We should have taken the decision of increasing the availability of water much earlier," he remarked. Agriculture is a major sector in the fight against poverty in Pakistan because two-third of our people live in rural areas and they are directly or indirectly linked with agriculture or agriculture related areas.
PAKCCO adopts resolution to urge Tony Blair prevent nuclear war over Kashmir
LONDON June 10 (APP): Pakistani and Kashmiri Councilors and Pakistani Community Organization (PAKCCO) from across the United Kingdom on Sunday adopted a unanimous resolution to urge British Prime Minister Tony Blair to use his good offices for staving off a nuclear conflict between two nuclear powers in South Asia. "We urge the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to use his good offices to reduce tension between India and Pakistan, to avert a nuclear war in Subcontinent," said a unanimous resolution adopted by them following a meeting organized by Councilor Ahmed Shezad here on Sunday.
PAKCCO was launched on Sunday at a meeting presided over Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, Abdul Kader Jaffer and was attended among others by Lord Nazir Ahmed, Labour MP Khalid Mehmood, MP Paul Daisley, Shahid Malik member of Labour Party National Executive Committee, and a large number of councillors from London, Alysbury, Bradford, Blackburne, Burnly, Gasgow, Luton, Nelson, Shafield , Manchester, High Wycome, Rugby and singer Ibrar ul Haq. Speaking on the occasion they expressed their concern over tension between Pakistan and India and emphasized the need to make every effort to avoid a looming nuclear war between Pakistan and India which could be devastating for the two sides. Councillor Shezad from London called the meeting to explore ways not only to prevent a nuclear war over Kashmir but also consider means to persuade the European countries to do more to bring de-escalation between the two countries.
"We also urge the Prime Minister to assist in the monitoring of the Line of Control, and mediate between the two countries in order to resolve outstanding Kashmir issue on fair and just grounds," said the resolution by PAKCCO. The proposed Governing Body members of PAKCCO are Lord Nazir Ahmed ( Patron), Labour MP Muhammad Sarwar (Patron) and Sir Anwar Pervez (Patron). The other members of the new organization are Councillor Ahmed Shezad, A.K. Shaikh, Lal Hussain, Ch.Mohammad Hissain from London, Councillor Illyas Raja from Alysbury, Councillor Mohammad Afzal and Mohammad Idree from Birmingham, Councillor Amir Hussain from Bradford, Councillor Mohammad Khan from Burnly, Councillor Rafiq Malik from Burnly, Councillor Mohammad Shoab from Glasgow, Councillor Saleem Raja from Luton, Councillor Mohammad Latif from Nelson, Councillor Zahoor Mir from Nottingham, Councillor Illyas Khan from Shafield, Councillor Afzal Khan and Jaweed Chaudhry from Manchester, Councillor Bhatti Mahboob Hussain from High Wycome, Councillor James Shera from Rugby. The 25 community representatives of the organization are Raja Adal, Raja Adalat, Dr. Akmal Makhdum, Zahoor Butt, Mohammad Iqbal Khokar, Dr Muhammad Razak, Ch. Manzoor, Khawar Chaudhary, Surbland Shaikh, Shahid Malik, Salman Asif , Sonia Qureshi, Masooda Mukhtar, Zatoon Sadique, Seema Rizvi, Aliza Illyas, Khawaja Shafeeq, Haji Hukumdad, Zafar Chishti, Raja Mohammad Afsar, Yousaf Akhtar, Mahran Akhtar and Raja Munshi Khan.
The media representatives include Zahoor Niazi, Mohammad Sarwar, Salman Iqbal and Mashoor Ahmed Najam. Speaking on the occasion Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Kader Jaffe said Indian needed to realize that the countries were built for welfare and prosperity of the people and not for their destruction. Indian was trying to tread on path of destruction by creating war like situation, he said. He said he was happy that at long last the international community had realized what was the real cause of tension between the two countries.
"It is Kashmir issue pending solution since partition" of the Sub-Continent, said the High Commissioner. President Pervez Musharraf, he said, was" talking nothing else but peace and dialogue," he said. The President had said repeatedly Pakistan did not want war but if war was thrust upon it it would fight with its full might. Kader Jaffer said "we are trying to bring sanity and sense," as war between the two countries would be disaster.
Kashmir, he said, was an international dispute and needed to be settled through peaceful means. Musharraf Government was endeavouring to build a strong, prosperous country and wanted to make it "citadel of Islam." He urged the community close their ranks and raise their voice wherever necessary to plead cause of Kashmir. However he urged them not to allow tension on Pakistan Indian border to affect their relations with other communities as they were living in multi-cultural British society. MP Muhammad Sarwar, MP Paul Daisley, Lord Nazir Ahmed who on the occasion dilated on the long-running Kashmir issue and were unanimous on one point that this issue had to be solved only through dialogue.
MP Paul Daisley said he would do all to avert a nuclear war between two countries as it could have devastating consequences for both the countries. "The horrific situation between the two countries is going to be dealt with at the highest level of the Government. But the main player is going to be US," he said urging Tony Blair to use his good offices to pull the two sides back from the brink of war.
Daisley said " Kashmir issue has to be resolved. There has to be compromise on all sides". He said United Nations must be used to bring about a solution to this issue. MP Muhammad Sarwar who had the distinction of becoming the first Muslim MP, on the occasion said, he had pointed out following terrorist attacks on the US that by attacking Afghanistan they were setting a bad precedent. Israel and India were also trying to use the excuse of bomb attacks to kill Palestinians and Kashmiris respectively. He lashed at the double standards of the international community particularly in seeking implementation of the UN resolutions. On the one hand sanctions are slapped on the states defying UN resolutions while on the other, states like Israel were encouraged and allowed to kill the innocent people with impunity.
Sarwar, an outspoken MP, said if the issues of terrorism, peace and stability had to be dealt with, the global injustices as also in Kashmir and Palestine had to be addressed. Britain has a moral responsibility to help ease tension and solve Kashmir issue as it was its legacy. Moreover it was also head of the Commonwealth and member of the UN Security Council and was also party to the resolution on Kashmir.
Thirdly two million Kashmiris live across the UK hence a war in South Asia could have spill-over impact on ethnic communities here as well. So the solution of Kashmir was also in the interest of UK, said Sarwar. Sarwar urged the councilors to impress upon their MPs and write letters to them for seeking their indulgence for settlement of Kashmir issue. He urged the businessmen to support PAKCCO and make it a vibrant organization and enable it deliver goods unlike other organizations which were created in the past. Lord Nazir Ahmed, the first Kashmiri to rise to the august position, urged the Councilors to take up Kashmir issue with their MPs and urged them to raise it with Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He impressed upon them to write letters to MPs, community leaders to explain to them the genesis of Kashmir
issue and tell them how they could be helpful for its settlement. Lord Nazir rejected contention of those who considered UN resolutions on Kashmir as old. These are still valid. He said there was definitely a difference between a freedom fighter and terrorist. He said if this was not the case UN and NATO neither could have intervened in Afghanistan nor in Kosovo and even would not had fought with Nazi Germany. So there is a difference between terrorists and South African leader Nelson Mandela, and those struggling for their genuine rights to decide their political destiny. Lord Nazir who never missed a chance to plead Kashmir cause told the participants, that he, alongwith couple of lawyers, was collecting all the relevant material on massive human rights abuses in Kashmir and on Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani's involvement in killing of Muslims in India which would be put before the International Criminal Court expected to meet in July after its formation. He reminded the participants that Pakistan had been loyal friend of UK and US in past 53 years hence it need their support at this critical juncture. The international community must take notice of killings of Muslims in Gujrat and persecution of Christians in India which claimed to be civilized country. He urged Pakistani and Kashmiri councilors to write to MPS, FCO and the 10-Downing Street and gave quotes from the Amnesty International report 2002 and Asia Watch to prove the worst human rights abuses by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir.
This is how they can make their contribution to the cause of Kashmir. Shezad Malik, member of Labour Party National Executive Committee urged the community to transcend their party affiliations and unitedly work to promote cause of Kashmir as British Pakistanis.
He said this was the time to point out human righst violations and particularly rape of women, killing of children in Kashmir. He said no NGO or international organizations were allowed to visit occupied Kashmir to see the state terrorism being carried on there.
He asked them to pick up courage and talk out their concerns about their relatives back in Pakistan and India. He urged them to remain peaceful and law abiding citizens to prove that they were mature people. Councilor Ahmed Shezad said the idea of creating PAKCCO was to create unity in ranks of the community and encourage new blood and ideas which could help community play an active role to promote cause of the country.
Sir Anwar Pervaiz, a leading Pakistani businessman here, on the occasion called for making all out efforts for ensuring peace in South Asia. He urged his compatriots to be rational and live with peace as part of multi-cultural British society. Dr. Chaudhary Ghulam Sarwar another businessman said, he would soon announce details of a Peace Convoy from Scotland to Dovar to draw world's attention towards the issue of Kashmir. He said he would organize Peace Convoy of a 45 foot long trailers and planned to distribute five million leaflets for promoting cause of Kashmir.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
