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PM Imran Khan to address a public gathering at Muzaffarabad today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan took to the Twitter to announce that he would address a big public gathering at Muzaffarabad today Friday 13th of September (2019).

“I am going to do a big jalsa in Muzaffarabad on Friday 13th Sept, to send a message to the world about the continuing siege of IOJK by Indian Occupation forces; & to show the Kashmiris that Pakistan stands resolutely with them.”

Imran Khan Tweetrelevant pieces published earlier: 

Kashmir Issue: Pakistan rejects Indian attempts to portray normalcy

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) here today, rejecting Indian attempts to misguide the world by portraying normalcy in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK), has stated that the Valley has been turned into the world’s largest prison being guarded by  the heaviest deployment of occupation forces since stripping the state of its autonomy on 5th of August, 2019. 

FO, pointing towards the fact that curfew continued there, held that Indian endeavor was aimed at altering the internationally recognized disputed status of IoK and changing its demographic structure to preempt the results of a UN plebiscite.

In its statement FO stated that politicians there, particularly Hurriyat leadership, remained incarcerated in prisons or at their houses. It said Global Media and credible human rights organizations continue to highlight the humanitarian nightmare, including arbitrary arrests of innocent Kashmiris and kidnapping of hundreds of young boys  to coerce their parents into submission.

FO further said that landlines, mobile phones and internet services were not available to the populace; Media is not allowed to operate freely in order to  strangulate people’s voice; commercial centers and shops are keeping their doors closed; Kashmiris are not allowed to offer namaz-e-Juma at jama masjids. FO further stated that there were credible reports of non-availability of edibles (including baby food) and medicines.

It has been stated by the foreign office that pellet guns were still being used by Indian occupation forces against innocent Kashmiris. Pakistani FO observed that India has failed to justify why Kashmiris could not get in touch with their loved ones. And inhumanly cutting off more than eight million Kashmiris from the rest of the world, since fifth of the last month, prompting the international community and international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International to question Indian assertions of normalcy. FO also reminded that even Indian top leaders were not allowed to visit IoK.

According to FO, New Delhi regime is exerting an authoritarian and dictatorial control over all information coming out of IoK.  The statement held that authorities were distorting truth and twisting facts in a desperate attempt to promote their own narrative.

FO has vehemently rejected the Indian accusations apropos Pakistan’s involvement in IoK unrest. It said India attempted to pass off a false and fabricated story, including during an Indian army presser on Wednesday (4th of September, 2019) blaming deaths of some Kashmiris in IoK on “Pakistani militants. FO stated that Indian National Security Advisor had also been trying to justify increasingly frequent reports of Kashmiri casualties by blaming them unsuccessfully on Pakistan.

Pakistan, FO stated, has consistently been trying to inform the world about  the danger of a false flag operation by India to shift attention and apportion blame to Pakistan for its indefensible actions in IoK.

FO maintained if India was so keen asserting that all was well in IoK then it should lift the communication blockade and allow international fact finding missions and international Media to visit the region and discover themselves the true state-of-affairs.

Kashmir Issue: Life remains severely affected on 35th day of military siege

SRINAGAR: The military siege of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK), that commenced on 5th of August entered 35th day on Sunday (8th of September, 2019) that happens to be the 8th day of Muharram too.

On 35th day of siege too normal life remained severely affected. The restrictions were imposed when Modi government had revoked provisions of Article 370 stripping the state of its autonomy.

While Muharram processions were not allowed to be taken out in IoK, public transport remained off the roads, commercial centers too kept the doors closed. Meanwhile, since 5th of August authorities have been imposing restrictions on Friday prayers fearing that large gatherings at Jama Masjids could fuel protests.

Though Kashmiris in the occupied valley were able to use landline yesterday with much difficulty, cellular mobile phone and internet connections were still not available to the populace. As a result there is no communication with the rest of the world.

Times of India has reported in its today’s issue that ‘curfew-like restrictions were re-imposed in several parts of Kashmir’. Saying that large congregations could cause  violence authorities have hermetically sealed the commercial hub of Lal Chowk and adjoining areas-off by means of barbed wires that had been placed on all the entries and exits. Security personnel refuse to let people bearing curfew passes issued by concerned authorities cross the barricades.

Head of Amnesty International India Aakar Patel has launched a campaign this week asking the concerned authorities to lift the communications blockage as it had grossly impacted the daily lives of Kashmiri people, their emotional and mental well-being, medical care, as well as their access to basic necessities and emergency services.

It is pertinent to mention here that political leadership has been incarcerated. Three former CMs of IoK Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mahbooba Mufti have been placed under house arrest.

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.