APHC leader shot at

Rawalpindi, Apr 25: The information secretary of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G) Pakistan administered (PaK) chapter Shoukat Ahmed Wani was fired at by some unknown gunman here Sunday evening.

Wani was rushed to the Benazir Hospital for treatment. The incident took place at about 9 pm, when Wani was on way to his friend’s house at Khurram Colony in Muslim Town area of Rawalpindi.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, the APHC leader said, “As I was walking down in the street, all of a sudden, I heard a shout, I saw two young boys riding on a motor-cycle approaching me. Hands up, hands up, they yelled.”

 “I did not know whether they had any weapon with them but I simply asked them as what is wrong with them, one of the motorists carrying a pistol in his hand opened fire at me and then fled from the scene,” Wani said adding that he was lucky enough to escape but one a bullet hit his upper thigh

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PaK president flays world powers’ policy of indifference towards Kashmir

Nisar A Thokar
Islamabad, Aprl 23: The president of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), Raja Zulqarnain Khan while flaying big powers’ negligence vis-a-vis the settlement of Kashmir issue has said that their policy of indifference had actually left Kashmir dispute to linger on for too long.

“This is the sheer duplicity, wherever they (big powers) have interests they don’t even hesitate to send their troops”, Khan said this while talking to a delegation of journalists from UK. Ruling out a military solution, Khan was of the view that the Kashmir issue has to be resolved through peacefully means.

Hailing China’s Kashmir policy he said that the country had adopted a clear-cut and pragmatic stance on the issue. Referring to the HR situation in Kashmir he said, “It will be the biggest Confidence Building Measure (CBM) if human rights violations come to an end in the troubled valley”.

Rather than harping on the so-called Kashmir centric CBMs he said that the government of India should stop rampant HR violations in Kashmir.

He said that Kashmiris living on both sides of the LOC should be allowed to travel freely saying that they should have free access to any part of the divided state.

Khan said that the issuance of Dogra Certificate was a conspiracy against Kashmiris.

OIC to continue its support to Kashmiris

NISAR A THOKAR

Islamabad, Apr 23: Reaffirming OIC’s full support to Kashmiris’ struggle for “Right To Self-Determination,” the OIC Secretary General’s special representative on Jammu and Kashmir Abdullah Abdurahman Alim on Saturday said that the organization would continue its all out support to Kashmiris till they achieve their cherished goal.

“Kashmiris are not alone, the entire Muslim Ummah stands by them in their just struggle”, the OIC Secretary General’s special representative said this while visiting Chahla-Bandi Refuggee camp at Muzaffarabad. The migrant children accorded a warm welcome to the visiting delegation and presented a bouquet of flowers to the guests. Alim, after spending some time at the camp, distributed gift-packs amongst the children.

 

Commissioner Rehabilitation, Sardar Khursheed Ahmed Khan who was accompanying the visiting delegation briefed them about the facilities being provided to the migrant families in the camp.

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PaK president urges OIC to play its much needed role to settle K-dispute

Nisar Ahmed Thokar

Islamabad, Aprl 23: The president of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), Raja Zulqarnain Khan has urged the member countries of the OIC to redouble their efforts to seek peaceful and permanent settlement of Kashmir dispute.

 

“The OIC countries must persuade the United Nations, European Union and other international human rights bodies to help resolve the lingering dispute in line with Kashmiris’ aspirations”, Khan said this while speaking at a dinner hosted in honor of Abdullah Abdurahman Alim, the OIC Secretary General’s special representative on Jammu and Kashmir at Kashmir House on Friday. Besides the foreign office officials Hurriyat leaders including Mehmood Ahmed Saghar and Ghulam Muhammad Safi were amongst the attendees at the dinner.

The PaK president while apprising the visiting delegation of the prevailing political situation in the region said that the human rights situation in Kashmir was a challenge for the humanity at large. “India is hugely involved in human rights violations in the occupied territory”, he said adding that thousands of innocent Kashmiris were killed and tortured by Indian troops in the trouble region.

Khan said that the OIC should also play its much demanded role to thwart India’s bid to get a permanent seat at the UNSC saying that the country that has been violating international covenants and has no right to become member of the highest body.

Speaking on the occasion Abdullah Abdurahman Alim said that instead of granting Kashmiris their internationally recognized right, the right to self-determination, India had deployed over half a million troops in Jammu and Kashmir. Under these circumstances, Alim said that there was no chance of granting observer status to India in the OIC.

Earlier, both the leaders had a one-on-one meeting wherein they discussed in detail the future prospects of Indo-Pak dialogue process vis-à-vis Kashmir. Khan also extended his invitation to the OIC Secretary General’s special representative to participate in the international seminar to be held under the aegis of the University of PaK on 23, 24 May at Muzafarabad.

Sultan seeks Germany’s role in settling K-dispute

Intra-Kashmir dialogue must to forge broad-based consensus

Nisar Ahmed Thokar

Islamabad, Aprl 19: Seeking Germany’s pro-active role in settling the Kashmir dispute, the former PaK premier Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chudhary has said that the country has witnessed the agonizing period of division and can better understand the feelings and emotions of Kashmiri divided families on either sides of the line of control (LOC).

 “As the fall of Berlin Wall led to the reunion of East and West Germany, the people of Kashmiris across the divide can be able to get together in case the International community particularly the Germany plays its much needed role to settle Kashmir dispute”, Chudhary said this while talking Dr. Babak Khalatbari the country director, Konrad Adenauer Foundation Germany (KAFG) here on Tuesday.

Lauding the KAFG’s role regarding Afghanistan Chudhary said that the institution should focus on the core issue of Kashmir as peace and stability in Afghanistan was inescapably linked to the settlement of long outstanding issue of Kashmir.

Kashmiris he said were neither averse to Indo-PaK dialogue process nor have they opposed to track II level engagements between the two countries. He however maintained the resolution of Kashmir dispute was possible only if Kashmiri leadership hailing from both sides of the line of control were allowed to sit and talk together by holding intra-Kashmir dialogue.

He said, “Although different countries are painstakingly working on the issue but private institutions and democratic institutions can hugely contribute in seeking amicable solution ofKashmir issue”.

Regarding intra-Kashmir dialogue the PPP leader said that the KAFG can play an important role in facilitating intra-Kashmir dialogue that would help to forge a broad base consensus with regard to the final settlement of the issue.

Attique assures fair elections in PaK

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Apr 18: The Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan on Monday said that his government was committed to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the region.

 “My regime is completing its term in July and we hope that the Election Commission (EC) will formally announce the  election schedule very soon, probably in first or second week of May”, Khan told a  private news channel. 

He said his government would provide all necessary support and facilities to the EC to conduct transparent polls in the region. 

He said that special arrangements have been made to maintain law and order. “My party (Muslim Conference) will prefer to have an electoral alliance with regional parties.”

In order to conduct timely and transparent polls in the region, he said that the government would provide necessary support and facilities to the EC adding that the government has suggested the commission to adopt modern techniques to make the poll process fair and transparent.Islamabad, 

He said that special arrangements have been made to maintain law and order situation in the region. He said that his party (Muslim Conference) would prefer to have an electoral alliance with regional parties. He however did not rule out the option of forging alliance with other non state political parties.

With regard to external influence Khan expressed the hope that the federal as well as provincial governments will demonstrate highest degree of responsibility and political maturity thereby lending due support to have transparent polls in the territory. He said in presence of a vibrant media policy of coercion was not going to work at all. He warned that interference/ meddling by the non-state political parties would not only harm the integrity of the state but would also be detrimental to Pakistan’s principled stance on Kashmir.

Lauding his father’s role he said that Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan has played great role in strengthening democracy and establishing democratic institutions in the region.

Terming resumption of peace talks as a positive development he hoped that Kashmiris would be made a part of the dialogue process to seek solution of the long-pending dispute peacefully.

Attique for intra-Kashmir dialogue

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Apr 13: Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan on Wednesday said the international community can play a vital role in facilitating intra-Kashmir dialogue that would enable Kashmiri leadership representing various sections of the society to share their view point on the issue.

“International community must focus on intra-Kashmir dialogue and set-up joint Kashmir development fund for the economic uplift of the people hailing from both sides of line of control,” the PaK premier said addressing a media delegation from Germany who called on him at Kashmir House Islamabad.
He was of the view that the world community should pursue the respective regimes in India and Pakistan to let Kashmiris travel freely from one part of Kashmir to other.
Apprising the visiting delegates of the prevailing political situation in Jammu Kashmir he maintained that a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue between India and Pakistan was must to seek a solution of the dispute. He said, “ For last 63 years India has deprived Kashmiris of their legitimate and internationally acknowledged right, the right to self-determination”. 
Referring to the HR situation in the valley the premier told the delegates that in order to strengthen its “illegal occupation” India was committing serious human rights violations in the territory, which he said was a challenge for the international community at large.
Khan said that there was a dire need that the world community should establish joint development fund for the economic uplift and progress of the people living on both sides of the line of control. Besides facilitating intra-Kashmir dialogue he said that world community can play important role to have access to the people of the region to travel freely from one part of the state to other.
Khan expressed gratitude to the people and the government of Germany for their all out support to Earth-quake victims saying that the country had hugely contributed in relief and rehabilitation of the affected people. He also thanked the government of Germany for its co-operation in establishing the University of Health Sciences in the territory. Highlighting the role of NGOs and international donors he said that Kashmiris were highly indebted of the support and favour lend by world donor agencies.

Parliamentary history of AJK

Azad Jammu and Kashmir has Parliamentary Democratic System under which the Prime Minister of AJ&K is executive head and President of AJ&K is constitutional head of the state. The democratic setup was introduced in 1970  under the presidential system on the basis of adult franchise when Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan took over the charge of first elected President of AJ&K as the head of the Government and head of the State as well. For the first time the people of AJ&K and the refugees of Jammu and Kashmir settled in Pakistan elected the Legislative Assembly as well as President for Azad Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of adult franchise. The Assembly consisted of 24 members and one co-opted lady member. The Presidential system worked for four years. Later on in 1974, some major constitutional changes were made when the interim constitution - Act, 1974, was adopted and Parliamentary system of democracy was introduced in the State. The first elected Assembly completed its tenure and approved 56 bills, which were of religious as well as of public importance. This Assembly also passed many resolutions of public importance.

The second Assembly came into existence in 1975 under the Interim Constitution  Act, 1974, which has undergone 11 amendments so for. For the first time in the history of AJ&K Parliamentary system was introduced and Prime Minister, as the executive head of the State, was elected by the majority of the votes of the Assembly. Mr. Khan Abdul Hameed Khan was elected as First Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan was elected as President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Assembly consisted of forty two members, among them 40 members were elected by the people of AJ&K and refugees settled in Pakistan, and two co-opted ladies members. This Assembly worked for two years and was suspended w.e.f August, 1977, due to the enforcement of Martial Law in Pakistan. This Assembly, in very short span of two years, worked diligently and showed tremendous results by approving 51 bills and passed the resolutions on Kashmir issue and on many other matters concerning public. On the dissolution of the Assembly Brigadier Muhammad Hayat Khan was appointed as Chief executive on 31-10-1978. He remained in office up to 31-1-1983 with the exclusive power of Chief executive and president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Later on Maj. General ® Abdul Rehman was appointed as President/ Chief executive on 1-2-1983. He remained in the office up to 30-9-1985.

The democratic system remained suspended up to 1985, when the Martial Law was lifted and civil setup was established in Pakistan. The election of Legislative Assembly were held and Sardar Sikander Hayat Khan took over the charge as Prime Minister and Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan as the President of the State. This Assembly was elected for five years and worked till 1990. This Assembly approved 109 bills and passed resolutions on various subjects. The constitution was amended and six more seats of the Assembly were approved. It contained 48 members out of which 40 members were elected and 8 seats were reserved for the members elected by the Assembly. Five seats were reserved for ladies, one for technocrats, one for Overseas Kashmiris and one for Ullmah and Mashaikh.

The elections for fourth Assembly were held in 1990. Raja Mumtaz Hussain Rathore was elected as Prime Minister while Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan elected as President of AJ&K. This Assembly could worked for only one year up to 1991, because the Prime Minister Raja Mumtaz Hussain Rathore had dissolved the Assembly. No legislation was made by this Assembly but passed many resolutions on various subjects including Kashmir issue.

The fifth Assembly came into existence in 1991. Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan was elected as Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan was elected as President. This Assembly worked for five years up to 1996. This Assembly worked tremendously and approved 145 bills and passed the resolutions on Kashmir and  other matters of public importance. Many delegations of different countries, especially America, Britain and other European countries, visited Azad Kashmir.

The sixth Assembly came into existence in 1996. Barrister Sultan Mehmood Ch. was elected as Prime Minister and Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan was elected as President. This Assembly approved 44 bills and passed many resolutions about Kashmir issue and other Public concerning matters.

The seventh Assembly came into existence on 5 th July 2001, and elected Sardar Sikander Hayat Khan as Prime Minister and Maj. General®Sardar Mohammad Anwar Khan elected by joint sittingas President. This Assembly approved 78 bills and has the honor of having been addressed (joint sessions of Assembly and Council) by the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan on various occasions. The constitution was amended once again and through 11 th constitutional amendment one more seat was approved for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir, hence the total strength of seats for Azad Jammu and Kashmir become 49.

The General election for Eighth Assembly were held on 11 th July, 2006. This Assembly comprises of 49 members and the distribution of seats is as under:

1.          Azad Kashmir                                      29

2.          Refugees settled in Pakistan              12

3.          Ladies                                                  05

4.          Ulama and Mushaikh                           01

5.          Overseas Kashmiris                            01

6.          Technocrat                                          01

             Total                                                     49

This Assembly has elected Sardar Atique Ahmed Khan as Prime Minister, while the joint sitting elected Raja Zulqarnain Khan as President Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Legislative Assembly elected its Speaker, Shah Ghulam Qadir, on 24 th July, 2006

MQM in Punjab

Nisar Ahmed Thakur
Source link:http://thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=41102&Cat=11&dt=4/12/2011

This is with reference to the MQM’s public meeting in Lahore. It is the inalienable right of every Pakistani political and religious party to pursue their agenda in any part of the country within the established principles as enshrined in the Constitution. 

Instead of resorting to the old practices of political vandalism, and mud-slinging, we must acknowledge each others’ viewpoint without any prejudice to promote the much-lacked pluralism in our country. 

Multiparty system, I think is the beauty of democracy, which has to be encouraged by all the political actors on the ground. The sort of system will certainly lead to a pleasant change, provided the leadership shows prudence, pragmatism and political acumen thereby getting engaged seriously and sincerely in thrashing out solutions of the problems faced by the nation.

In view of the prevailing political system in the country, there was a dire necessity of a vibrant political force that would work as a pressure group to ensure a transparent and corruption free government besides providing an unorthodox and visionary leadership to the nation. However, the MQM that claims to be an effective anti-status-quo force to drive the feudal system out is expected to play vital role in this regard as its entire leadership hails from lower and middle class cadre of the society.

After holding a public rally in the country’s largest province, Punjab, one hopes that the MQM leadership will demonstrate highest degree of political maturity and magnanimity thereby embracing and encouraging other political forces working in Karachi. In order to attract more and more people into the party’s fold, the MQM stalwarts will have to reciprocate positively and provide a level playing field to other political forces in Karachi to shed the perception that the party practices the politics of regionalism and communalism.. 

This gesture of reciprocity on the part of MQM would substantially help to reduce tension in the port city besides bridging the trust-deficit amongst the political stake holders.

‘Redouble efforts to resolve Kashmir’

ATTIQUE KHAN URGES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Nisar Ahmed Thokar

Islamabad, Apr 9: The Prime Minister of Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK) Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has urged the international community to redouble its efforts to settle the Kashmir dispute saying resolution of the long-standing issue is imperative for the region’s peace and stability.

"Lasting peace in the subcontinent was inescapably linked to Kashmir and the world community should come forward in a big way to help resolve the decades’ long dispute amicably,” Khan said while addressing a function organized to honor a delegation led by Lord Qurban Hussain at Kashmir House here.

Besides the cabinet ministers, the function was attended by the Government officials and a large number of Kashmiri expatriates based in UK.

Extending his full support to Cricket diplomacy, Khan said it would substantially help to reduce tension between India and Pakistan. “Kashmiris are not averse to dialogue. But their inclusion in the talk’s process is must to make it a success. The tripartite talks would be helpful in seeking an amicable solution of the dispute,” he said.

Khan said his Government was making efforts to bring Kashmir into limelight both at national as well as international level. “We have introduced a vision Green and Skilled Kashmir that will not only help to overcome the deluge of negative trends amongst the young people, but would also lead to the economic prosperity in the region,” he said.

On the occasion, Lord Qurban said that the Kashmiri expatriates have played pivotal role in projecting and promoting Kashmir cause at every forum. “As per the UN charter, Kashmiris have the right to choose their political destiny and being member state of the United Nations, India should acknowledge the Kashmiris’ right and let them decide their future,” he added
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K-solution must to reap economic benefits: Riaz

Nisar Ahmed Thokar 

Islamabad, Apr 07: Terming Indo-Pak subcontinent as hub of mutual-trade, the Information Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir(PaK) Dr. Mehmood Riaz has said that the region has a tremendous trade-potential but it could not be exploited unless Kashmir issue was settled peacefully on permanent basis.

“We are not averse to Indo-Pak friendly relations however we believe that the settlement of Kashmir issue is vital for a durable peace and prosperity in South Asian region”, the PaK information said this while interacting with a group of Journalist at Muzaffarabad on Thursday.

He said that the confrontation and hostility between the two nuclear arch rivals has a directing bearing on the region’s socio-economic development. Besides affecting the peoples’ lives adversely he said that the sort-of-approach causes security problems in the region.

Appreciating Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir he said that tripartite talks were must to seek an equitable and honourable solution of the lingering dispute.

Regarding the forthcoming elections he said that tolerance and reconciliation was hallmark of the region’s politics and expressed the optimism that the general elections would be held freely in a peaceful manner.  He said that law and order situation in the territory was conducive for the elections saying that over all development was directly linked to political stability in the area.

My father is innocent: Zubair Ahsan Dar

Nisar Ahmed Thokar

Muzaffarabad, Apr 6: Family members of the former militant commander Muhammad Ahsan Dar on Wednesday rejected the police claim that he was involved in the murder of Nazir Ahmad Lone of Kreeri Baramulla in north Kashmir.

Dar’s elder son Zubair Ashan Dar termed the accusations leveled against Dar as “unfounded and uncalled for.” “The police have in fact no legal justification to put him (Dar) behind the bars and that is why they crafted a fictitious and concocted story against him”, Zubair told Greater Kashmir.

“How come a person under judicial custody can be involved in such an act”, he said adding that the Deputy Inspector General of Police had admitted the fact that “My father was in jail at the time when the incident took place”. Terming it as a “sheer vengeance” he said, “The authorities’ ultimate motive is to let him languish in jail and nothing else as a matter of the fact he was never released from the jail”, he said.

Zubair said that his father had developed many health problems due to years-long incarceration and urged the human rights organizations to take cognizance of his deteriorating health. “He is now 53-year old and is ill for last several months and needs a medical check up on regular basis”, he maintained.

Earlier, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had also rejected Police claim that two former commanders, Muhammad Ahsan Dar and Muzaffar Ahmad Dar, had planned to kill 16 civilians in Kreeri and Palhalan areas.  “No Hizb commander can be involved in such heinous crimes,” the Hizb spokesman had said
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