Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif nominated Raja Farooq Haider as the Prime Minister of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, the Express Tribune reported. 
 
The ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) swept the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, bagging 30 of 41 directly elected seats, with a two-third majority to form the new government. 
 
Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) emerged victorious in the Assembly elections in which a total of 26 political parties and 423 candidates took part. 
 
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) which had the last government could only manage to win two seats while cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khans Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI) got as much seats and Muslim Conference bagged three. 
 
It was expected that there would be a stiff competition between the three mainstream parties Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), PPP and PTI - but the PML-N routed them, stunning the political pundits. 
 
A total of 2.674 million Kashmiris exercised their right to franchise to elect members for the AJK Legislative Assembly, which will be the ninth since the parliamentary form of government was introduced in Pakistan-controlled Jammu and Kashmir in 1975. 
 
While the region is spread over 14,245 square kilometres, the polling process is not restricted to this area. Instead, it stretches to entire Pakistan because members for 12 out of the 41 directly elected seats are elected by 438,884 voters living in various parts of the country. 
 
Some 12 are reserved for refugees from Indian-controlled Kashmir in Pakistan. 
 
( PTI) 
 
&nbsp;

Rigging charges marred PML sweeping Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections bagging 30 of 41 directly elected seats

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif nominated Raja Farooq Haider as the Prime Minister of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, the Express Tribune reported. The ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) swept the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, bagging 30 of 41 directly elected seats, with a two-third majority to form the new government. Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) emerged victorious in the Assembly elections in which a total of 26 political parties and 423 candidates took part. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) which had the last government could only manage to win two seats while cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khans Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI) got as much seats and Muslim Conference bagged three. It was expected that there would be a stiff competition between the three mainstream parties Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), PPP and PTI - but the PML-N routed them, stunning the political pundits. A total of 2.674 million Kashmiris exercised their right to franchise to elect members for the AJK Legislative Assembly, which will be the ninth since the parliamentary form of government was introduced in Pakistan-controlled Jammu and Kashmir in 1975. While the region is spread over 14,245 square kilometres, the polling process is not restricted to this area. Instead, it stretches to entire Pakistan because members for 12 out of the 41 directly elected seats are elected by 438,884 voters living in various parts of the country. Some 12 are reserved for refugees from Indian-controlled Kashmir in Pakistan. ( PTI)

Raja Farooq Haider is the new Prime Minister of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir

Massive protests erupted across Pakistan-controlled Kashmir as people hit the streets against the recent elections, which they claimed were rigged by the winning Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). 
 
The PML-N was declared winner in 32 out of the 41 seats for the elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, held on July 21. 
 
Protesters blocked the traffic and burnt tyres as they staged protests in Muzaffarabad. All commercial establishments also remained shut in cities as protesters held demonstrations outside government buildings. 
 
Various incidents of violence were also reported from across the region as supporters of political parties clashed with each other. 
 
&quot;After rigging elections, they are now indulging in widespread propaganda and killing. They have killed our friend. If the authorities fail to take any action, they will be responsible for any future incident,&quot; said a party worker of Muslim Conference on Tuesday.&nbsp; 
 
The protesters alleged that genuine voters were not allowed to cast their votes during the elections and the country&#39;s intelligence services rigged the polls in favour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s party. 
 
&quot;The election commission should suspend everyone. They have stooped to such low levels. We suggest everyone not to indulge in any violence, but now when they have started (the violence), we will reply back for sure,&quot; said a local, Raza Mansoor. 
 
The PML-N had fielded 38 candidates in the elections, while the Pakistan People&#39;s Party (PPP) had contested elections on all 41 seats. Imran Khan&#39;s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had contested elections in 32 constituencies. 
 
The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir was split between India and Pakistan in 1948, after they fought a brief war over it. It remains at the heart of animosity between the nuclear-armed neighbours. 
 
The win by Sharif&#39;s party in the region is seen to not have any direct bearing on Pakistan&#39;s stand on the Kashmir dispute or on its dealings with India. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Various incidents of violence were also reported from across the region as supporters of political parties clashed with each-other

Massive protests erupted across Pakistan-controlled Kashmir as people hit the streets against the recent elections, which they claimed were rigged by the winning Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The PML-N was declared winner in 32 out of the 41 seats for the elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, held on July 21. Protesters blocked the traffic and burnt tyres as they staged protests in Muzaffarabad. All commercial establishments also remained shut in cities as protesters held demonstrations outside government buildings. Various incidents of violence were also reported from across the region as supporters of political parties clashed with each other. "After rigging elections, they are now indulging in widespread propaganda and killing. They have killed our friend. If the authorities fail to take any action, they will be responsible for any future incident," said a party worker of Muslim Conference on Tuesday. The protesters alleged that genuine voters were not allowed to cast their votes during the elections and the country's intelligence services rigged the polls in favour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party. "The election commission should suspend everyone. They have stooped to such low levels. We suggest everyone not to indulge in any violence, but now when they have started (the violence), we will reply back for sure," said a local, Raza Mansoor. The PML-N had fielded 38 candidates in the elections, while the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) had contested elections on all 41 seats. Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had contested elections in 32 constituencies. The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir was split between India and Pakistan in 1948, after they fought a brief war over it. It remains at the heart of animosity between the nuclear-armed neighbours. The win by Sharif's party in the region is seen to not have any direct bearing on Pakistan's stand on the Kashmir dispute or on its dealings with India. (Reuters)

Pakistan-controlled Kashmir erupts into protests over 'rigged elections'

India&#39;s ministry of external affairs (MEA) today condemned the remark made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, that &quot;Kashmir will one day become Pakistan&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
India&#39;s MEA issued a strong statement: &quot;The whole of India would like to tell Prime Minister of Pakistan that this dream will not be realised even at the end of eternity. The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The official statement also criticised Pakistan&#39;s reactions over the recent spike in violence in Kashmir after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani&#39;s death:&nbsp; 
 
&quot;In the last few days, leadership of Pakistan, including its Prime Minister has praised as martyr, a wanted terrorist Commander of the banned terrorist organisation Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Burhan Wani. He was carrying an award of Rs 10 Lakh on his head because he had perpetrated heinous crimes, including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security forces.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The statement further added, &quot;Even more condemnable than these deplorable attempts from across our border to incite violence and glorify terrorists is the fact that these attempts have been undertaken by Pakistan&rsquo;s state machinery in active partnership with UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed and other leading terrorists belonging to internationally proscribed organisations.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Hafiz Saeed 
 
Hafiz Saeed had expressed solidarity with a key separtist leader of Kashmir, Asiya Andrabi, on Friday.&nbsp;Saeed, a Pakistani Islamist with a $10 million bounty on his head, warned India of war if separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani&#39;s four-point solution to the Kashmir issue is not accepted. 
 
Widespread agitation in Kashmir since then has left over 40 dead and 3,100 injured, most of them by police fire, in the worst outbreak of violence in six years, triggering massive protests in Pakistan. 
 
(WION, with inputs from Reuters)

The Indian foreign ministry was reacting to the Pakistan PM's remark that 'Kashmir will one day become Pakistan'

India's ministry of external affairs (MEA) today condemned the remark made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, that "Kashmir will one day become Pakistan". India's MEA issued a strong statement: "The whole of India would like to tell Prime Minister of Pakistan that this dream will not be realised even at the end of eternity. The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists." The official statement also criticised Pakistan's reactions over the recent spike in violence in Kashmir after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's death: "In the last few days, leadership of Pakistan, including its Prime Minister has praised as martyr, a wanted terrorist Commander of the banned terrorist organisation Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Burhan Wani. He was carrying an award of Rs 10 Lakh on his head because he had perpetrated heinous crimes, including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security forces." The statement further added, "Even more condemnable than these deplorable attempts from across our border to incite violence and glorify terrorists is the fact that these attempts have been undertaken by Pakistan’s state machinery in active partnership with UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed and other leading terrorists belonging to internationally proscribed organisations." Hafiz Saeed Hafiz Saeed had expressed solidarity with a key separtist leader of Kashmir, Asiya Andrabi, on Friday. Saeed, a Pakistani Islamist with a $10 million bounty on his head, warned India of war if separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's four-point solution to the Kashmir issue is not accepted. Widespread agitation in Kashmir since then has left over 40 dead and 3,100 injured, most of them by police fire, in the worst outbreak of violence in six years, triggering massive protests in Pakistan. (WION, with inputs from Reuters)

Your dream of Kashmir as part of Pakistan will never come true, India tells PM Sharif

Pakistan&#39;s ruling party plans to pass the long-delayed legislation against &quot;honour killings&quot; within weeks in the wake of the high-profile murder of an outspoken social media star, the daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday. 
 
The bill will go before a parliamentary committee as early as today, said Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who is an increasingly influential member of the ruling party her father leads. 
 
The government has faced mounting pressure to pass the law against murders carried out by people professing to be acting in defence of the honour of their family. 
 
The law would remove a loophole that allows other family members to pardon a killer. 
 
The brother of social media star Qandeel Baloch, often described as Pakistan&#39;s Kim Kardashian, has been arrested in connection with her strangling death and told a news conference he was incensed by her often risqu? posts on social media. 
 
Some 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of family members over perceived damage to &quot;honour&quot; that can involve eloping, fraternising with men or any other infraction against conservative values that govern women&#39;s modesty. 
 
Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the government wanted to pass the law unanimously and had been negotiating with religious parties in the Parliament. 
 
&quot;We have finalised the draft law in the light of negotiations,&quot; she said. &quot;The final draft will be presented to a committee of joint session of Parliament on July 21 for consideration and approval.&quot; 
 
Maryam said once the parliamentary committee approved the bill, it would be presented for a vote in a &quot;couple of weeks&quot; before a joint session of Parliament. 
 
A spokesman for Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the two major religious parties in Parliament, said his party would not oppose the bill. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s other main religious political party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, could not be reached for comment, but it has only a small number of seats in Parliament. 
 
Both religious parties have traditionally opposed legislation empowering women. 
 
The Upper House of Parliament passed the bill in 2014, but it lapsed after the government failed to put it up for a vote in the Lower House because it was preoccupied with legislation aimed at tackling security problems and economic reforms. 
 
A senior government official said all major parties were now backing the bill and it was likely to be passed in a few weeks by a joint session of parliament. 
 
&quot;The Prime Minister is taking personal interest,&quot; added a second official and close aide to Sharif. &quot;You will see in coming days more will be done, big changes will be announced.&quot; 
 
In a rare move, this week the government became a complainant in the police case against Baloch&#39;s brother accused of her murder, designating it a crime against the state and thereby blocking her family from forgiving their son. 
 
&#39;Right to forgive&#39; 
 
Baloch had long divided opinion in the deeply conservative Muslim society with her social media photos and posts. 
 
She was unapologetic about pushing the boundaries of acceptability for women and changing &quot;the typical orthodox mindset&quot; of Pakistanis. 
 
Many viewed her as a disgrace to the cultural values of Islam and Pakistan. Others hailed her as a &quot;feminist icon&quot;. 
 
She ran into political controversy last month after her &quot;selfie&quot; photographs with a prominent Muslim cleric, went viral, leading to him being fired from a prominent Muslim council. 
 
After her death, the cleric, Abdul Qavi, told media that her murder should serve as an example for others who tried to malign the clergy. He is being investigated for her murder along with Baloch&#39;s two brothers. 
 
Although government officials appeared confident of backing for the bill in Parliament, it could still face resistance. 
 
The influential Council of Islamic Ideology, which advises the government on the compatibility of laws with Islam, warned that it would not support any law that removed the forgiveness loophole, even if the council considers honour killings a crime. 
 
&quot;Islamic law and the Quran say that the right to forgive or punish lies first and foremost with the victim&#39;s family,&quot; said council spokesman Inam Ullah. 
 
&quot;So if this bill is trying to completely take away that right from the family, then of course that is against Islamic teachings. The state cannot completely take away that right from the family.&quot; 
 
The religious parties and the council hold significant influence over public opinion and the government fears a backlash if any law passes without their approval. 
 
&quot;This mentality - that you can get away with murder in the name of honour - it has to be done away with,&quot; said Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, whose documentary on honour killings &quot;A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness&quot; won an Oscar this year. 
 
&quot;I am hopeful that this law will pass, but the change in mindset will talk so much longer. I think Qandeel Baloch&#39;s murder is the tipping point.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

The law will disallow family members to forgive the killer. The bill will go before the parliamentary committee as early as today, she said

Pakistan's ruling party plans to pass the long-delayed legislation against "honour killings" within weeks in the wake of the high-profile murder of an outspoken social media star, the daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday. The bill will go before a parliamentary committee as early as today, said Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who is an increasingly influential member of the ruling party her father leads. The government has faced mounting pressure to pass the law against murders carried out by people professing to be acting in defence of the honour of their family. The law would remove a loophole that allows other family members to pardon a killer. The brother of social media star Qandeel Baloch, often described as Pakistan's Kim Kardashian, has been arrested in connection with her strangling death and told a news conference he was incensed by her often risqu? posts on social media. Some 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of family members over perceived damage to "honour" that can involve eloping, fraternising with men or any other infraction against conservative values that govern women's modesty. Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the government wanted to pass the law unanimously and had been negotiating with religious parties in the Parliament. "We have finalised the draft law in the light of negotiations," she said. "The final draft will be presented to a committee of joint session of Parliament on July 21 for consideration and approval." Maryam said once the parliamentary committee approved the bill, it would be presented for a vote in a "couple of weeks" before a joint session of Parliament. A spokesman for Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the two major religious parties in Parliament, said his party would not oppose the bill. Pakistan's other main religious political party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, could not be reached for comment, but it has only a small number of seats in Parliament. Both religious parties have traditionally opposed legislation empowering women. The Upper House of Parliament passed the bill in 2014, but it lapsed after the government failed to put it up for a vote in the Lower House because it was preoccupied with legislation aimed at tackling security problems and economic reforms. A senior government official said all major parties were now backing the bill and it was likely to be passed in a few weeks by a joint session of parliament. "The Prime Minister is taking personal interest," added a second official and close aide to Sharif. "You will see in coming days more will be done, big changes will be announced." In a rare move, this week the government became a complainant in the police case against Baloch's brother accused of her murder, designating it a crime against the state and thereby blocking her family from forgiving their son. 'Right to forgive' Baloch had long divided opinion in the deeply conservative Muslim society with her social media photos and posts. She was unapologetic about pushing the boundaries of acceptability for women and changing "the typical orthodox mindset" of Pakistanis. Many viewed her as a disgrace to the cultural values of Islam and Pakistan. Others hailed her as a "feminist icon". She ran into political controversy last month after her "selfie" photographs with a prominent Muslim cleric, went viral, leading to him being fired from a prominent Muslim council. After her death, the cleric, Abdul Qavi, told media that her murder should serve as an example for others who tried to malign the clergy. He is being investigated for her murder along with Baloch's two brothers. Although government officials appeared confident of backing for the bill in Parliament, it could still face resistance. The influential Council of Islamic Ideology, which advises the government on the compatibility of laws with Islam, warned that it would not support any law that removed the forgiveness loophole, even if the council considers honour killings a crime. "Islamic law and the Quran say that the right to forgive or punish lies first and foremost with the victim's family," said council spokesman Inam Ullah. "So if this bill is trying to completely take away that right from the family, then of course that is against Islamic teachings. The state cannot completely take away that right from the family." The religious parties and the council hold significant influence over public opinion and the government fears a backlash if any law passes without their approval. "This mentality - that you can get away with murder in the name of honour - it has to be done away with," said Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, whose documentary on honour killings "A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness" won an Oscar this year. "I am hopeful that this law will pass, but the change in mindset will talk so much longer. I think Qandeel Baloch's murder is the tipping point." (Reuters)

Pakistan's ruling party wants law against honour killing, says PM Sharif's daughter

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today declared slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a &quot;martyr&quot; and said July 19 will be observed as black day to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. The Indian government, however, rejected the Pakistan cabinet&#39;s decisions on the matter &quot;unequivocally&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir, Sharif termed the &quot;movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom&quot;. 
 
&quot;Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination,&quot; Sharif said. 
 
The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson reiteratred, for the second time in 24 hours, that Pakistan or any other external party had&nbsp;no locus standi&nbsp;to intervene in India&rsquo;s internal matters. 
 
&quot;India completely and unequivocally rejects&nbsp;the decisions adopted by the Cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,&quot; &nbsp;the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said. 
 
He also&nbsp;criticised&nbsp;Pakistan for glorifying terrorists belonging to banned organisations. 
 
&quot;The Prime Minister termed Burhan Wani as a martyr of independence movement,&quot; Radio Pakistan reported Sharif&#39;s speech to his cabinet. 
 
&quot;Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them,&quot; Sharif said today. 
 
He directed all the relevant departments to highlight the Kashmir issue at international fora. 
 
&quot;Seven hundred thousand Indian soldiers deployed in Occupied Kashmir could not suppress the struggle of Kashmiris,&quot; Sharif was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. 
 
On the proposal of Prime Minister Sharif, the cabinet decided that &quot;Black Day will be observed on Tuesday (July 19) against Indian barbarism in Occupied Kashmir.&quot; 
 
The meeting also condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia. 
 
(WION with agency inputs)

Pak PM Sharif said the country will observe July 19 as black day, even as India criticised them for 'glorifying' terrorists

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today declared slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a "martyr" and said July 19 will be observed as black day to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. The Indian government, however, rejected the Pakistan cabinet's decisions on the matter "unequivocally". Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir, Sharif termed the "movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom". "Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination," Sharif said. The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson reiteratred, for the second time in 24 hours, that Pakistan or any other external party had no locus standi to intervene in India’s internal matters. "India completely and unequivocally rejects the decisions adopted by the Cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir," the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said. He also criticised Pakistan for glorifying terrorists belonging to banned organisations. "The Prime Minister termed Burhan Wani as a martyr of independence movement," Radio Pakistan reported Sharif's speech to his cabinet. "Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them," Sharif said today. He directed all the relevant departments to highlight the Kashmir issue at international fora. "Seven hundred thousand Indian soldiers deployed in Occupied Kashmir could not suppress the struggle of Kashmiris," Sharif was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. On the proposal of Prime Minister Sharif, the cabinet decided that "Black Day will be observed on Tuesday (July 19) against Indian barbarism in Occupied Kashmir." The meeting also condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia. (WION with agency inputs)

Pakistan declares Burhan Wani 'martyr', India 'unequivocally' rejects decision

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a special Cabinet meeting in Lahore on Friday to discuss the &quot;deteriorating situation&quot; in the violence-hit Kashmir and chalk out &quot;future course of action&quot; on the issue. 
 
&quot;The Cabinet will discuss the oppressive actions of Indian security forces against innocent civilians and the over all situation in Kashmir after the brutal assassination of Burhan Wani,&quot; the Prime Minister&#39;s Office said in a statement. 
 
The meeting at the Governor House in Lahore will discuss the &quot;rapidly deteriorating situation&quot; in Kashmir and the Prime Minister will chalk out &quot;future course of action&quot; on the issue, it said. 
 
The statement also noted that on the directions of the Prime Minister, the foreign office summoned Indian high commissioner to the foreign office and conveyed &quot;strong concerns of the Pakistani government and people on rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir and increasing oppression by Indian security forces.&quot; 
 
It said that a detailed briefing was also given to ambassadors of all permanent members of UN security council of UN &quot;regarding atrocities of the security forces.&quot; 
 
India had asked Pakistan to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs after Sharif issued a statement expressing &quot;shock&quot; at the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. 
 
Sharif today said the &quot;voice and struggle&quot; of the people of Kashmir cannot be suppressed through use of &quot;brutal force and human rights abuses&quot;. 
 
He said this during a meeting with PoK Parliament Special Committee Chairman and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Lahore. 
 
During the meeting, Rehman apprised the Prime Minister on his recent talks with separatist leaders over the &quot;human rights violations&quot; by Indian military and paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
Rehman said the &quot;Kashmiri leadership looks towards Pakistan in difficult times&quot;, according to an official statement. 
 
Sharif said, &quot;The government and people of Pakistan respect the sentiments of their Kashmiri brethren and will continue to support the Kashmir cause at each and every forum internationally come what may.&quot; 
 
&quot;The resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is only possible by the realisation of the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as per the UNSC resolutions, through a fair and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices,&quot; Sharif said. 
 
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary also briefed the Islamabad-based Ambassadors of the member countries of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Niger) over the situation in the Valley. 
 
In the meeting, Pakistan called on the OIC member states to raise their voice against &quot;the blatant human rights violations&quot; of Kashmiri Muslims. 
 
The Foreign Secretary also briefed the Ambassadors of the European Union over the situation and emphasised the need for a fair and transparent inquiry against individuals responsible for these killings.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)&nbsp;

The meeting at the Governor House in Lahore will discuss the "rapidly deteriorating situation" in Kashmir

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a special Cabinet meeting in Lahore on Friday to discuss the "deteriorating situation" in the violence-hit Kashmir and chalk out "future course of action" on the issue. "The Cabinet will discuss the oppressive actions of Indian security forces against innocent civilians and the over all situation in Kashmir after the brutal assassination of Burhan Wani," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. The meeting at the Governor House in Lahore will discuss the "rapidly deteriorating situation" in Kashmir and the Prime Minister will chalk out "future course of action" on the issue, it said. The statement also noted that on the directions of the Prime Minister, the foreign office summoned Indian high commissioner to the foreign office and conveyed "strong concerns of the Pakistani government and people on rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir and increasing oppression by Indian security forces." It said that a detailed briefing was also given to ambassadors of all permanent members of UN security council of UN "regarding atrocities of the security forces." India had asked Pakistan to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs after Sharif issued a statement expressing "shock" at the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. Sharif today said the "voice and struggle" of the people of Kashmir cannot be suppressed through use of "brutal force and human rights abuses". He said this during a meeting with PoK Parliament Special Committee Chairman and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Lahore. During the meeting, Rehman apprised the Prime Minister on his recent talks with separatist leaders over the "human rights violations" by Indian military and paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Rehman said the "Kashmiri leadership looks towards Pakistan in difficult times", according to an official statement. Sharif said, "The government and people of Pakistan respect the sentiments of their Kashmiri brethren and will continue to support the Kashmir cause at each and every forum internationally come what may." "The resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is only possible by the realisation of the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as per the UNSC resolutions, through a fair and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices," Sharif said. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary also briefed the Islamabad-based Ambassadors of the member countries of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Niger) over the situation in the Valley. In the meeting, Pakistan called on the OIC member states to raise their voice against "the blatant human rights violations" of Kashmiri Muslims. The Foreign Secretary also briefed the Ambassadors of the European Union over the situation and emphasised the need for a fair and transparent inquiry against individuals responsible for these killings. (PTI)

Pak PM calls Cabinet meeting to discuss Kashmir situation

The Pakistan government has reportedly said that it will decide whether or not to allow Indian investigators to visit the country in connection with their probe into a deadly terror attack on an Indian airbase after Eid-ul-Fitr.&nbsp; 
 
This year, on January 2, a heavily armed group attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the India`s Western Air Command, killing six Indian security personnel. New Delhi blamed Pakistan-based jihadi group Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) for orchestrating the brutal assault.&nbsp; 
 
To discuss India&#39;s request for a visit by its investigators and issues related to bilateral dialogue between the two neighbours, a high-level meeting to be attended by top civil and military officials will be convened by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he returns from London, reports the Express Tribune. 
 
The Express Tribune has quoted a senior official, who is part of the government`s core team dealing with India, that the meeting would decide whether to allow a team from India&#39;s National Investigation Agency (NIA) to travel to Pakistan for carrying forward the probe into the Pathankot attack. 
 
It may be recalled that a five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan had visited India between March 27 and 31 to collect evidence with regard to the attack. The team comprising officials from police and intelligence agencies had met officials from National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi and had also been given access to the Pathankot airbase where the attack took place.Islamabad, however, contended that its investigators were given limited access as they were not allowed to meet eyewitnesses. 
 
New Delhi, in return, requested Pakistan to allow its investigators to visit the country to question alleged masterminds of the attack including JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and his brother.&nbsp; 
 
So far, Pakistan has not officially responded to the Indian request. One of the reasons behind the government`s reluctance has been reported that it thinks India may use the visit to ridicule Pakistan. 
 
&quot;We will take the final decision after Eid,&quot; the Express Tribune quoted an official as saying. The official on being asked about the prospects of resumption of the bilateral dialogue said India appears to be &#39;hiding behind the Pathankot incident&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
The Pathankot attack led to the cancellation of crucial foreign secretary-level talks, which were to take place in mid-January. India`s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, last week at a news conference in New Delhi, said that foreign secretary-level talks were not cancelled but New Delhi is only awaiting probe from Pakistan side on the Pathankot attack. Though the prospects of resumption of talks at present are at grim, officials are hoping that the both nations will eventually return to the negotiating table before the next Saarc summit scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in November this year. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

The Pathankot attack led to cancellation of crucial foreign secretary-level talks between the neighbours

The Pakistan government has reportedly said that it will decide whether or not to allow Indian investigators to visit the country in connection with their probe into a deadly terror attack on an Indian airbase after Eid-ul-Fitr. This year, on January 2, a heavily armed group attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the India`s Western Air Command, killing six Indian security personnel. New Delhi blamed Pakistan-based jihadi group Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) for orchestrating the brutal assault. To discuss India's request for a visit by its investigators and issues related to bilateral dialogue between the two neighbours, a high-level meeting to be attended by top civil and military officials will be convened by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he returns from London, reports the Express Tribune. The Express Tribune has quoted a senior official, who is part of the government`s core team dealing with India, that the meeting would decide whether to allow a team from India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) to travel to Pakistan for carrying forward the probe into the Pathankot attack. It may be recalled that a five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan had visited India between March 27 and 31 to collect evidence with regard to the attack. The team comprising officials from police and intelligence agencies had met officials from National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi and had also been given access to the Pathankot airbase where the attack took place.Islamabad, however, contended that its investigators were given limited access as they were not allowed to meet eyewitnesses. New Delhi, in return, requested Pakistan to allow its investigators to visit the country to question alleged masterminds of the attack including JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and his brother. So far, Pakistan has not officially responded to the Indian request. One of the reasons behind the government`s reluctance has been reported that it thinks India may use the visit to ridicule Pakistan. "We will take the final decision after Eid," the Express Tribune quoted an official as saying. The official on being asked about the prospects of resumption of the bilateral dialogue said India appears to be 'hiding behind the Pathankot incident'. The Pathankot attack led to the cancellation of crucial foreign secretary-level talks, which were to take place in mid-January. India`s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, last week at a news conference in New Delhi, said that foreign secretary-level talks were not cancelled but New Delhi is only awaiting probe from Pakistan side on the Pathankot attack. Though the prospects of resumption of talks at present are at grim, officials are hoping that the both nations will eventually return to the negotiating table before the next Saarc summit scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in November this year. (ANI)

Pakistan likely to consider India's request to investigate airbase attack after Eid

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