ISLAMABAD: Pakistani traders believe that the export of precious stones and jewelry from gem-rich Pakistan to China will help the country in revenue generation.
Apart from having an abundance of gemstones, Pakistan also
has some unique stones in the world including Pink Topaz and Kashmir Ruby which
are famous for their unique color and beauty in the international market. Pink
Topaz is also considered one of the highest valued minerals in the world.
The country has potential to exploit and export 800,000
carats of Ruby, 87,000 carats of Emerald and 5 million carats of Peridot, but the
yield is much lower, due to lack of skills, technology, and knowledge for
processing of the mining materials, reports Gwadar Pro media network quoting
the chamber official.
The country also could not carry out value-added services to
the processed stones due to lack of appropriate cutting and polishing
facilities, and PCJCCI officials believed that collaboration with China to
learn the latest techniques for cutting and polishing of the gemstones may be
greatly beneficial for Pakistan to uplift the sector.
They suggested that Chinese professionals in this sector
should be invited to train Pakistani labor force and mining engineers for
cutting, manufacturing and designing state of the art jewelry.(Additional Input From INP)
ISLAMABAD: Two leaders of Jamiat Ulema Islam – Fazlur (JUI-F) were arrested from Islamabad on Monday and a case was lodged against them by the police for urging people to participate in the Azaadi March.
According to reports, Maulana Shafiq-ur-Rehman and Maulana Muhammad Arshad were arrested from Shams Colony along with banners for the JUI-F sit-in in their possession.
Police allege that the duo were urging people to participate in the Azaadi March being organised by the JUI-F against the government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Police officials said that a few people were spotted putting up banners for the JUI-F sit-in, but fled as soon as the police force started chasing them.
Police said the suspects had challenged the administration by putting up banners despite the fact that Section 144 had been imposed in the area.
Earlier, it was reported that the government had decided in principal to prevent the sit-in (dharna) by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in federal capital.
The government decided to stop the sit-in even if it had to go for detention of top leadership of JUI-F, including its chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Whereas, A case has been filed against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) representatives on Monday over allegedly asking extortion from the people of Karachi for anti-government rally Azadi March.
According to police personnel, JUI-F’s local leaders Sabir Ashrafi, Hanif and Saleem have been named in the case lodged by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Kashif Nizami.
First information report (F.I.R.) revealed that JUI-F has allegedly demanded Rs50,000 for the arrangements of sit-in in the federal capital, Islamabad and also threatened the masses of severe consequences if they fail to pay the extortion money.
One the other hand, Lahore High Court (LHC) has fixed petition against JUI-F’s anti-government protest ‘Azadi March’ for hearing.
The plaintiff has adopted the stance that constitutional government cannot be dissolved before completing its five year tenure. JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has formed private army for protecting his Azadi March, the plea claimed.
The petitioner further demanded the court to take up the case and stop JUI-F activists’ private army from holding illegal sit-in in the federal capital, Islamabad.
JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman had announced that his party’s anti-government ‘Azadi March’ to Islamabad will take place on October 31 instead of October 27.
“We have decided to enter Islamabad on October 31,” he said, adding that marchers will express solidarity with Kashmiris on Oct 27 and then leave for the federal capital. “People from all over the country will enter Islamabad at the same time, he told.
Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman said he will announce the next plan of action himself after reaching Islamabad. The protests will be staged nationwide if Azadi March is stopped, he stressed. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has decided to hold important meeting on October 24 for consultation on Azadi March.
According to details, the meeting will be supervised by JUI-F Chief Fazlur Rehman during which, arrangements regarding anti-government protest will be discussed.
The participants will also devise final strategy to lead the protest to the federal capital, Islamabad.
On the other hand, first formal contact between the government and JUI-F leaders was developed after Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjarani telephoned JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri and decided to meet on October 20 for thorough discussion on anti-government march.
JUI-F’s Haidri has confirmed the contact, adding that the doors for talks were never closed and that final decision in this regard would be taken by Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman had announced that his party’s anti-government ‘Azadi March’ to Islamabad will take place on October 31 instead of October 27.
“We have decided to enter Islamabad on October 31,” he said, adding that marchers will express solidarity with Kashmiris on Oct 27 and then leave for the federal capital.
“People from all over the country will enter Islamabad at the same time, he told.
Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman said he will announce the next plan of action himself after reaching Islamabad. The protests will be staged nationwide if Azadi March is stopped, he stressed. (With additional input from INP)
LAHORE: Latest research in the field of medical has been surfaced as according to the experiences made in 29 countries on 12737 patients during last seven years death rate in case of head injuries can be reduced if injection of Tranexamic acid be given to the patients within 2 hours of the accident.
Head of Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences and Renowned Neurologist Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmud while unveiling the results of this research told the media that out of these 12737 patients, 4567 patients were from Pakistan while 2500 were only from Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences where a senior team undertook this research from 2012 to 2019 and it has been proved that without wasting time if in case of accidents and head injury patient should be given immediately the injection of Tranexamic acid and those patients who can move their hand or foot can be out of danger.
Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmud while commenting on this research told that it would be recommended that emergency service 1122 and all ambulances should carry these injections of Tranexamic acid so that immediately it could be injected to the patients. He said in this regard proper awareness should be created so that lives could be saved especially in case of accidents.
He said that this research carried out in different countries was simultaneously undertook here in Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences where capable team has worked on it and same positive results have been achieved. He said that latest research help the ailing humanity to reduce their health hazards.
Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmud appreciated the role of senior doctors’ role in the research at Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences in which Prof. Rizwan Masood Butt and Prof. Asif Bashir and their team participated and these results have been passed on to media as well.
The Head of Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences expressed hope that in the light of this research such steps will taken immediately which can extend benefit to the common man and especially in case of traffic accident death rate could be reduced in head injury incidents. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: A bilateral exercise SEA THUNDER-IV 2019 between Pakistan Navy Special Service Group and Indonesian Navy Special Operation Force (SOF) concluded on Saturday.
Sea Thunder is a series of bilateral exercises which is conducted annually between Pakistan and Indonesian Navies. This exercise, being 4th in the series, continued for seven days.
The aim of exercise was to strengthen military relationship, improve coordination and interoperability between Special Operation Forces, exchange professional expertise and experiences of Counter Terrorism Operations between participating forces.
During the exercise, Maritime Counter Terrorism Operations including Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIOs) were also rehearsed at sea.
The exercise concluded with a remarkable coordinated Visit Board Search & Seizure Operations, jointly conducted by Pakistan & Indonesian Navies’ SOF teams involving Pakistan Navy Ships, Sea-king helicopters and Special Forces’ Boats in Arabian Sea.
The exercise is a reflection of strong bilateral military cooperation between Pakistan Navy and Indonesian Navy. Professional experiences gained during bilateral exercises were mutually rewarding and will foster greater bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly navies. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi is scheduled to undertake a five-day official visit to Japan on Sunday.
President Arif Alvi is paying the visit on the invitation of the Government of Japan to attend the ceremony of Emperor Naruhito’s ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The international event likely to be attended by over 100 heads of state and government, a President House statement said.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan. Google Image
Pakistan and Japan are long-standing friends. The cooperative bilateral relations have been on an upward trajectory, with a huge potential to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in diverse areas such as economic, commercial, investment, IT, agriculture, human resource development and tourism.
The visit by the president would further cement the already existing friendly relations between the two countries. (With additional input from INP)
Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR. Google Image
NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has paid tribute to Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s outgoing Permanent Representative to the United Nations, for her efforts to make her country proud.
The UN Secretary-General has expressed his “gratitude and admiration” for Maleeha Lodhi during her farewell call on him.
Expressing his sadness over the completion of Maleeha’s eventful tenure, Guterres said, “You represented the country in a remarkable way … you were engaged in all issues at the UN, not just those involving Pakistan. That’s how you elevated the profile of Pakistan here.”
Maleeha Lodhi tweeted on Saturday “In my farewell call on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres I thanked him for the close cooperation that the Pakistan Mission in NY had with him and his office during my tenure.
In my farewell call on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres I thanked him for the close cooperation that the Pakistan Mission in NY had with him and his office during my tenure-1 @antonioguterrespic.twitter.com/XfXgamrqWA
“It’s challenging for a diplomat but you managed it so well. Your country should be proud of your work”, UN chief added.
During a meeting, Ambassador Lodhi briefed the secretary-general on the grim situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir that continues to pose a threat to peace and security.
Ambassador Lodhi also underlined Pakistan’s vision for peace in the neighbourhood. She said that this was evident from Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process and the role the Prime Minister Imran Khan was playing to defuse tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Maleeha Lodhi is stepping down on October 31 after leading the Pakistan Mission to the UN, which she also calls the voice of Kashmir, for four and a half years. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi on Saturday called Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah a “drug lord” and said there was evidence against him but lives of the witnesses in the case were in danger.
Speaking to media persons in Islamabad, he said that it was not his trial
instead a “trial of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF)” – which had
recovered illegal substance from the possession of the accused.
The minister held a press conference in Islamabad, and spoke about a subjudice case
of former law minister Rana Sanaullah. He claimed that evidence was produced
against Sanaullah in the court but the lives of the witnesses were in danger.
The state minister bragged over the property owned by
Sanaullah, saying that if he was not involved in drug smuggling then how he had
bought the property.
He said the former law minister had not gotten anything in
inheritance and bought a four-marla plot in 2013. He said they provided copies
of the case to accused persons.
The minister also played an alleged audio message from
Sanaullah during the press conference as well.
“Evidence against the accused was presented in the
court but the lives of our witnesses are in danger. I demand the case be
shifted to Rawalpindi
to protect the ANF witnesses and a daily trail should be allowed be conducted
in jail,” Afridi said.
He added, Sanaullah was openly targeting ANF personnel and
that notice should be taken of the threats.
Afridi further said Sanaullah was arrested from the road and not his home with 15kg of heroin and ANF presented the evidence within two weeks(Additoinal Input From INP)
LONDON: Lawmakers in the British Parliament were in uproar over the draconian clampdown in India Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and condemned the human rights violations by Indian security forces in the disputed valley.
The development came at the Kashmir Conference organised by the Tehreek-e-Kashmir’s United Kingdom chapter in the British Parliament. The event was co-chaired by British MP Jess Phillips, TeK president Raja Fahim Kayani with Azad Jammu & Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan called as the chief guest.
The AJK president warned of a genocide-in-the-making in the occupied valley and urged the international community to build pressure on New Delhi to avoid a bloodbath and adhere to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution.
President Masood added that the occupying forces conducted routine search operations to harass Kashmiris citizens.
Labour Party’s deputy leader and former defence minister Tom Watson affirmed support to the Kashmiris while MP Byrne dismissed India’s stance that the matter was a bilateral issue.
“Human rights violations are an international matter,” said the British lawmaker, adding that India must end the lockdown.
“It is time the Kashmir dispute be resolved with the consent of the Kashmiris – the main stakeholders.”
Reiterating support for the Kashmir cause, Phillips added that she will continue to push for a permanent solution.
AJK Chairman Public Accounts Committee Abdul Rashid Turabi also highlighted how Indian state terrorism had separated thousands of families by forcing Kashmiris to migrate since 1947. He said the speaker of the AJK Legislative Assembly was also one of the victims of Indian atrocities who moved to AJK in search of basic rights.
Turabi further said New Delhi was putting the entire South Asian region at risk by delaying the settlement. “It is the responsibility of the global community, including Britain, to pressurise India for a permanent solution.”
Hurriyat leader and Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM) Altaf Ahmad Bhat said the Kashmiris wanted basic rights and sought implementation of the right to self-determination promised by the UNSC.
Underscoring the impact of the two and a half month curfew in IOK, Bhat said schools and business had been shut since August 5, pushing the people against the wall as India encroached Kashmiri political space.
“Educational institutions have been turned into army camps by the Indian troops,” he said and demanded the international community call on New Delhi to release political prisoners, civilians, human rights activists and end the information and communication blackout.
“Kashmiris have given generations to this cause – every family has suffered a loss due to Indian brutality. Every mother, sister, and daughter has a painful story to tell. We have been suffering for the past seven decades,” he said.
He added that the Kashmiris looked up to the United Kingdom to push for a permanent solution to the conflict.
MPs Jonathan Word, Cheryl Gillian, Tom Watson, Paula Sharif, John Cryer, Lisa Forbes, Steve McCabe, Kate Hollern, Steve Baker, Rupa Huq, Valerie Vaz, Trace Brabin, Liam Byrne, Liz McInnes, Imran Hussain, Afzal Khan, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Muhammad Yasin, Naz Shah, Shabana Mahmood, Rosie Duffield, John Speller, Colleen Fletcher, Ruth Smeeth, Jim McCahon, Judith Cummins, Kerry McCarthy, Stella Gracey, Roger Gadstiff and others also pushed for the right of self-determination for the Kashmiris. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior and former Interior Minister Senator A. Rehman Malik on Friday wrote a letter to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi urging him to take the case of continuous unprovoked cease-fire violation and targeting of civilian population by India to the United Nations General Assembly and International Court of Justice (ICJ).
He has asked the Foreign Minister to request the United Nations Security Council to appoint a Special Commission to investigate all cease-fire violations by India, increase the strength of Military Observers across LoC and also file a claim of damages in terms of lives and properties in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against India.
Senator Rehman Malik has written the letter based on the Truce Agreement signed both by Pakistan, India and United Nations which bounds the two country to implement it in letter and spirit. he said that the Truce Agreement is actually a trilateral agreement as United Nations is signatory in it and both the countries continued to make agreement regarding Line of Control but did not change the contents of ‘Truce Agreement of 1949’ and it is still in vogue.
In the letter Senator A. Rehman Malik has advised Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as following:
i. Proper investigation by UN Commission into the continuous unprovoked cease-fire violations and targeting of civilian population by India Armed Forces at Line of Control.
ii. Imposing Penalties on Indian Government for violation of “Truce Agreement” which was supervised / countersigned by United.
iii. Request for deployment of additional UN Military Observers at LoC to ensure an effective supervision to maintain proper control on the line of control as per the Truce Agreement of 1949.
Senator A. Rehman Malik’s letter is reproduced here as following:
Subject: FILING OF CASE IN INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ) FOR VIOLATIONS OF TRUCE / CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT OF 1949 BY INDIAN ARMED FORCES.
I would like to draw your kind attention towards the violations of the “Truce Agreement” duly signed by the two parties in 1949 and the agreement was supervised/ countersigned by the United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan constituted by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and in this agreement both countries have signed the following declarations:-
Para B: The delegation of India and Pakistan, duly authorized have reached the following agreement:
(1) “Under the provisions of Part I of the Resolution of 13 August 1948, and as a complement of the suspension of hostilities in the State of Jammu and Kashmir on 1 January 1949, a cease-fire line is established”.
Para F: ….There shall be no increase of forces or strengthening of defences in areas where no major adjustments are involved by the determination of the cease-fire line.
2. In fact, this was the first formal ceasefire agreement signed between India and Pakistan in 1949 and was the most elaborated and well thought agreement carried out and ratified on 27 July 1949. It drew the original Ceasefire Line (CFL) between the Indian Held Kashmir and Azad Kashmir. The original Cease Fire Line (CFL) was given the name of Line of Control (LoC) after the Simla Agreement in 1972, which was bilateral agreement whereas the bilateral agreement cannot overtake the international agreement / agreement under UNGA.
3. As India and Pakistan entered into 1965 and 1971 wars and signed two new bilateral treaties (Tashkand declaration of 1966 and Simla Agreement of 1972), the Truce agreement signed in 1949 is considered as dead / redundant by India, except for the boundary lines (LoC) between Azad Kashmir and the Indian held Kashmir. Later on a new cease-fire agreement was signed in November, 2003 but it was also not taken seriously by India and it continued unprovoked firing on LoC. Unfortunately, United Nations has failed to take any action against India for breaking the initial Truce agreement as well as other agreements.
4. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had reported in National Assembly that ‘unprovoked’ Indian firing across the LoC had cost 832 lives, 3000 severe injuries, and 3,300 houses had been damaged in Azad Kashmir till June, 2017. NDMA also informed the House that 425,000 citizens are continuously under the threat of Indian unprovoked firings at LoC.
5. The plea by India to resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally without any third-party involvement / mediation seems to have withered away by India as India is reluctant to come on the table to discuss either the Kashmir issue or implementation of the Truce Agreement. The Indian Government many times committed for a composite dialogue which also included on Kashmir but history is witness that India always avoided its commitments and it frustrated every move to resolve it in the past.
6. The above reported damage of the lives and properties in Azad Kashmir due to unprovoked cease-fire violations by Indian Armed Forces and careful examination of the “Truce agreement” of 1949 entitles Pakistan to claim from India through United Nations or taking the mater to International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the following grounds:-
i. Proper investigation by UN Commission into the continuous unprovoked cease-fire violations and targeting of civilian population by India Armed Forces at Line of Control.
ii. Imposing Penalties on Indian Government for violation of “Truce Agreement” which was supervised / countersigned by United.
iii. Request for deployment of additional UN Military Observers at LoC to ensure an effective supervision to maintain proper control on the line of control as per the Truce Agreement of 1949.
7. In view of the above I call upon you to kindly consider to move on the above lines asking UNGA to ensure implementation of” Truce Agreement” of 1949, which is still a valid agreement whereas, Simla Agreement signed in 1972 is a bilateral agreement and hence it cannot overrule the trilateral “Truce Agreement” signed between India, Pakistan and United Nations. (With additional input from INP)
