Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed today said he had received a call from Asiya Andrabi, the founder of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, seeking his help to resolve what she called the crisis in India&#39;s northern state of Kashmir. Addressing a rally here, Saeed said, &quot;The way Indian security forces are engaged in bloodshed in Kashmir, my sister Asiya Andrabi cried for 15 minutes and told me over phone that my brothers where are you?&quot; 
 
&quot;I am telling my sister Asiya that my sister, we are coming. This act of violence will come to end and nobody can stop Kashmir from becoming independent,&quot; he added. Saeed further said that he had also received a call from Burhan Wani (Hizbul Mujahideen militant), wherein he had said, &quot;His (Wanis) last wish was to talk to me (Saeed)&quot;. 
 
&quot;Few days before his death, Burhan Wani told me over a phone that it was my desire to talk with you. Now my desire has been fulfilled, and now, I am waiting for martyrdom,&quot; said Saeed in an event organized to express solidarity with both Andrabi and Wani. 
 
&quot;I want to assure the people of Kashmir that if you are in the field, we are also with you,&quot; said the Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader. He also warned India that this was its last chance to accept separatist Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani&#39;s four-point formula on Kashmir and to withdraw security forces from the valley, else the decision will be taken in battlefield. 
 
&quot;We have to give a message to India to stop and withdraw forces and accept Geelani&#39;s four-point formula immediately, because, this is the last chance, and hereafter, the matter will be decided in the battlefield,&quot; said Saeed. 
 
The Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader organised a procession from Lahore to Islamabad. It comprised of trucks and buses, stretched for several kilometers, and passed through many cities, including Gujaranwala, Jhelum and Gujarat. 
 
His rallies were attended by federal ministers and religious leaders of various organisations. The Pakistan Government&#39;s direct links with Hafiz Saeed has been further exposed by Islamabad allowing him to lead an anti-India rally on the Kashmir issue.&nbsp; 
 
Saeed led a Pakistan Government call to Observe July 19 as a Black Day, apparently to draw attention to the &quot;burning issue of Kashmir.&quot; The Obama Administration has been taken aback by this event. 
 
The US has designated both the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) as foreign terrorist organisations. Saeed has also been listed by the UN Security Council&#39;s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.&nbsp; 
 
South Asia watchers in Washington say that by allowing a terrorist to take up a government sponsored cause the Pakistan Government has bared its selective approach towards terrorism. When banned outfits are allowed to openly hold rallies in Pakistan at the behest of the Government the allegations about Pakistan using terror as state policy appears to gain ground. 
 
Experts say had Pakistan banned Saeed from holding this rally and had instead placed someone else in charge of the July 19 protests then that would have been understandable.&nbsp;The question arises why Saeed, is it because he is a terror asset which the state cannot do without, wonder South Asia analysts. They question is Saeed so important that Islamabad is risking an important relationship with the United States. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s irrevocable links with Saeed have disappointed the Obama Administration but have not shocked officials. It was always known in Washington&#39;s South Asia circles that Hafiz Saeed is an asset that the Pakistani State will always protect not standing the fact that he is a designated global terrorist.&nbsp; 
 
The LeT remains active and open in Pakistan and just recently had the audacity to attack Medina in Saudi Arabia in which 12 of its suspected members were arrested. This connection was also highlighted by a European Parliament Report by Vice President Ryszard Czarnecki where he pointed out how the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a charity front of the LeT was radicalising the Pakistani Diaspora and the state was a mute spectator. 
 
The July 19 Kashmir Rally is certain to be brought up on Capitol Hill where proposals are afoot to cut financial aid to Pakistan in the absence of complete and verifiable de-linkage with terror groups. 
 
While the Obama Administration has been supporting Pakistan as an important ally in the war against terror, this July 19 rally, where a wanted terrorist has been given state patronage, is certain to raise questions and embarrass Washington. 
 
(ANI)

Addressing a rally in Pakistan, Saeed said he has assured Andrabi that nobody can stop Kashmir from becoming independent

Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed today said he had received a call from Asiya Andrabi, the founder of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, seeking his help to resolve what she called the crisis in India's northern state of Kashmir. Addressing a rally here, Saeed said, "The way Indian security forces are engaged in bloodshed in Kashmir, my sister Asiya Andrabi cried for 15 minutes and told me over phone that my brothers where are you?" "I am telling my sister Asiya that my sister, we are coming. This act of violence will come to end and nobody can stop Kashmir from becoming independent," he added. Saeed further said that he had also received a call from Burhan Wani (Hizbul Mujahideen militant), wherein he had said, "His (Wanis) last wish was to talk to me (Saeed)". "Few days before his death, Burhan Wani told me over a phone that it was my desire to talk with you. Now my desire has been fulfilled, and now, I am waiting for martyrdom," said Saeed in an event organized to express solidarity with both Andrabi and Wani. "I want to assure the people of Kashmir that if you are in the field, we are also with you," said the Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader. He also warned India that this was its last chance to accept separatist Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's four-point formula on Kashmir and to withdraw security forces from the valley, else the decision will be taken in battlefield. "We have to give a message to India to stop and withdraw forces and accept Geelani's four-point formula immediately, because, this is the last chance, and hereafter, the matter will be decided in the battlefield," said Saeed. The Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader organised a procession from Lahore to Islamabad. It comprised of trucks and buses, stretched for several kilometers, and passed through many cities, including Gujaranwala, Jhelum and Gujarat. His rallies were attended by federal ministers and religious leaders of various organisations. The Pakistan Government's direct links with Hafiz Saeed has been further exposed by Islamabad allowing him to lead an anti-India rally on the Kashmir issue. Saeed led a Pakistan Government call to Observe July 19 as a Black Day, apparently to draw attention to the "burning issue of Kashmir." The Obama Administration has been taken aback by this event. The US has designated both the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) as foreign terrorist organisations. Saeed has also been listed by the UN Security Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee. South Asia watchers in Washington say that by allowing a terrorist to take up a government sponsored cause the Pakistan Government has bared its selective approach towards terrorism. When banned outfits are allowed to openly hold rallies in Pakistan at the behest of the Government the allegations about Pakistan using terror as state policy appears to gain ground. Experts say had Pakistan banned Saeed from holding this rally and had instead placed someone else in charge of the July 19 protests then that would have been understandable. The question arises why Saeed, is it because he is a terror asset which the state cannot do without, wonder South Asia analysts. They question is Saeed so important that Islamabad is risking an important relationship with the United States. Pakistan's irrevocable links with Saeed have disappointed the Obama Administration but have not shocked officials. It was always known in Washington's South Asia circles that Hafiz Saeed is an asset that the Pakistani State will always protect not standing the fact that he is a designated global terrorist. The LeT remains active and open in Pakistan and just recently had the audacity to attack Medina in Saudi Arabia in which 12 of its suspected members were arrested. This connection was also highlighted by a European Parliament Report by Vice President Ryszard Czarnecki where he pointed out how the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a charity front of the LeT was radicalising the Pakistani Diaspora and the state was a mute spectator. The July 19 Kashmir Rally is certain to be brought up on Capitol Hill where proposals are afoot to cut financial aid to Pakistan in the absence of complete and verifiable de-linkage with terror groups. While the Obama Administration has been supporting Pakistan as an important ally in the war against terror, this July 19 rally, where a wanted terrorist has been given state patronage, is certain to raise questions and embarrass Washington. (ANI)

Hafiz Saeed assures help to 'sister' Asiya Andrabi

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s party has swept polls in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, local media reported on Friday. 
 
&quot;The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has swept the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections and is all set to form a government in the Valley, unconfirmed reports received from the 41 constituencies of the self-governing administrative division indicate,&quot; reported Pakistan Today.&nbsp; 
 
The daily newspaper said that according to unofficial results, the PML-N had bagged 32 seats, while the Muslim Conference three.&nbsp;&quot;Both the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf)&nbsp;and PPP &nbsp;(Pakistan Peoples Party) managed to secure two seats each.&nbsp;One seat was won by an independent candidate.&quot;

Forty-one AJK or Pakistan-controlled Kashmir&nbsp;constituencies went to polls with 423 candidates contesting for the seats.&nbsp;

&quot;Twenty-nine&nbsp;seats were meant for all 10 districts of the AJK and 12 for Pakistan-based refugees from Azad Jammu and Kashmir&quot;. 
 
Pakistan Today said that according to the AJK Election Commission, there were 2,674,586 registered voters in all 10 districts&nbsp;and out of the 44 registered political parties in AJK, a strong standoff was&nbsp;between candidates of the PML-N, PTI and PPP. 
 
(WION)

The twenty-nine seats were meant for all 10 districts of the area and 12 for Pakistan-based refugees from the region

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party has swept polls in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, local media reported on Friday. "The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has swept the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections and is all set to form a government in the Valley, unconfirmed reports received from the 41 constituencies of the self-governing administrative division indicate," reported Pakistan Today. The daily newspaper said that according to unofficial results, the PML-N had bagged 32 seats, while the Muslim Conference three. "Both the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) and PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) managed to secure two seats each. One seat was won by an independent candidate." Forty-one AJK or Pakistan-controlled Kashmir constituencies went to polls with 423 candidates contesting for the seats. "Twenty-nine seats were meant for all 10 districts of the AJK and 12 for Pakistan-based refugees from Azad Jammu and Kashmir". Pakistan Today said that according to the AJK Election Commission, there were 2,674,586 registered voters in all 10 districts and out of the 44 registered political parties in AJK, a strong standoff was between candidates of the PML-N, PTI and PPP. (WION)

PM Sharif's party sweeps poll in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, say local media reports

After a lull of almost 22 years, India and Pakistan have returned to fight on Kashmir on the diplomatic turf, with China also muddying waters, dropping its usual reticence and unilaterally commenting on the violence in the region. 
 
The situation in Kashmir has also come handy for China to hit down its relations with India.After opposing India&#39;s membership at the NSG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang in a usual departure said Beijing was concerned at the situation in the state od Jammu and Kashmir. &quot;We are equally concerned about the casualties in the clash, and hope that the relevant incident will be handled properly,&quot; she said. 
 
Diplomatic sources here say that the China&#39;s commentary on Kashmir and its stand at the NSG was rooted in re-hyphenating India with Pakistan as well as claiming the sole ownership of being the Asian power. 
 
Last time, Pakistan had attempted a major diplomatic move on Kashmir in March 1994, by pushing the grouping of Islamic countries and some Western nations to sponsor a resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) against India. 
 
While India&#39;s home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest, ministry of external affairs (MEA) also hit out at Islamabad for observing &#39;Kashmir&#39;s Accession to Pakistan Day&#39; and &#39;Black Day&#39;. 
 
The MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop asked the world to take note that rallies and events over past two days in Pakistan were led by UN-designated terrorists. These groups in the past &quot;protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan&quot;. 
 
In Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to prime minister Nawaz Sharif, announced that his country will approach the UNCHR on its own behalf and on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) contact group on Kashmir to demand sending a fact-finding mission to Kashmir and also to impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest. 
 
Last time, Pakistan burnt its fingers at the UNCHR in 1994, when India succeeded in prevailing upon Iran to abstain at the OIC session from voting, and thereby failing the consensus required to back the resolution. 
 
The joint OIC resolution, backed by some Western nations, was supposed to be put before the UNCHR, which if approved was to be referred to the UN Security Council for initiating economic sanctions and other punitive measures against India. That was also the last time Pakistan tried to get a resolution on the Kashmir issue tabled in a UN forum. 
 
Since the latest flare-up in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian leadership at the highest level had decided to ignore incessant provocation and statements from Pakistan, terming them as political compulsions of Nawaz Sharif government in the wake of assembly elections in the PoK. But the rallies of jihadis in Pakistan seem to have pushed New Delhi&#39;s patience to limits. 
 
In a strong recrimination, India also urged Islamabad to stop &quot;misleading&quot; the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises. In a statement, the spokesperson asked Pakistan to fulfill its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir&nbsp;and refrain from its deplorable meddling in internal affairs in any manner. &quot;We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner.&quot; 
 
&quot;In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan,&quot; the statement concluded. 
 
In the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, interior minister Rajnath Singh categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the Kashmir saying that the terrorism in the Valley is Pakistan-sponsored. 
 
He said the neighbouring country, instead of fixing its internal matters, is trying to destabilise India. He also took strong exception for observing Black Day in Pakistan after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was involved in various heinous crimes and activities. 
 
Stating that Pakistan has no right to interfere in India&#39;s internal matters, he said it was doing so to deflect attention from its failures as the people there were fighting along sectarian lines. 
 
Training guns further, he said the country came into being in the name of religion, but failed to keep the Muslims together and underwent a division. &quot;It does not need to worry about Muslims in India,&quot; he said and invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee&#39;s poem to suggest that those who fuel fire in the homes of others get caught in the same blaze. 
 
In Islamabad, Aziz promised every possible effort to draw international attention towards &quot;Indian brutalities&quot; and to resolve the dispute. He also said he has shot off letters to the UN secretary general, president of the Security Council, OIC secretary general, UN high commissioner for Human Rights and the foreign ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey). 
 
(WION) 
&nbsp;

Islamabad wants UN to send fact-finding mission to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, China comments on the situation

After a lull of almost 22 years, India and Pakistan have returned to fight on Kashmir on the diplomatic turf, with China also muddying waters, dropping its usual reticence and unilaterally commenting on the violence in the region. The situation in Kashmir has also come handy for China to hit down its relations with India.After opposing India's membership at the NSG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang in a usual departure said Beijing was concerned at the situation in the state od Jammu and Kashmir. "We are equally concerned about the casualties in the clash, and hope that the relevant incident will be handled properly," she said. Diplomatic sources here say that the China's commentary on Kashmir and its stand at the NSG was rooted in re-hyphenating India with Pakistan as well as claiming the sole ownership of being the Asian power. Last time, Pakistan had attempted a major diplomatic move on Kashmir in March 1994, by pushing the grouping of Islamic countries and some Western nations to sponsor a resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) against India. While India's home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest, ministry of external affairs (MEA) also hit out at Islamabad for observing 'Kashmir's Accession to Pakistan Day' and 'Black Day'. The MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop asked the world to take note that rallies and events over past two days in Pakistan were led by UN-designated terrorists. These groups in the past "protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan". In Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to prime minister Nawaz Sharif, announced that his country will approach the UNCHR on its own behalf and on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) contact group on Kashmir to demand sending a fact-finding mission to Kashmir and also to impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest. Last time, Pakistan burnt its fingers at the UNCHR in 1994, when India succeeded in prevailing upon Iran to abstain at the OIC session from voting, and thereby failing the consensus required to back the resolution. The joint OIC resolution, backed by some Western nations, was supposed to be put before the UNCHR, which if approved was to be referred to the UN Security Council for initiating economic sanctions and other punitive measures against India. That was also the last time Pakistan tried to get a resolution on the Kashmir issue tabled in a UN forum. Since the latest flare-up in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian leadership at the highest level had decided to ignore incessant provocation and statements from Pakistan, terming them as political compulsions of Nawaz Sharif government in the wake of assembly elections in the PoK. But the rallies of jihadis in Pakistan seem to have pushed New Delhi's patience to limits. In a strong recrimination, India also urged Islamabad to stop "misleading" the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises. In a statement, the spokesperson asked Pakistan to fulfill its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and refrain from its deplorable meddling in internal affairs in any manner. "We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner." "In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan," the statement concluded. In the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, interior minister Rajnath Singh categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the Kashmir saying that the terrorism in the Valley is Pakistan-sponsored. He said the neighbouring country, instead of fixing its internal matters, is trying to destabilise India. He also took strong exception for observing Black Day in Pakistan after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was involved in various heinous crimes and activities. Stating that Pakistan has no right to interfere in India's internal matters, he said it was doing so to deflect attention from its failures as the people there were fighting along sectarian lines. Training guns further, he said the country came into being in the name of religion, but failed to keep the Muslims together and underwent a division. "It does not need to worry about Muslims in India," he said and invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's poem to suggest that those who fuel fire in the homes of others get caught in the same blaze. In Islamabad, Aziz promised every possible effort to draw international attention towards "Indian brutalities" and to resolve the dispute. He also said he has shot off letters to the UN secretary general, president of the Security Council, OIC secretary general, UN high commissioner for Human Rights and the foreign ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey). (WION)

India, Pakistan in diplomatic war on Kashmir issue, China muddies waters

Pakistan&#39;s parliament will on Thursday debate bills aimed at tackling the so-called honour killings and amending its rape law, officials said, following the murder of a social media star last week.

Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan and the debate follows a slew of high-profile killings in the country.

Lawmakers from both lower and upper houses of parliament will take up proposed bills on Thursday afternoon, parliament official Hasan Murtaza Bukhari said, and votes on the suggested changes are expected within weeks.

&quot;After discussion and approval of these bills by this committee, the drafts will be tabled in a joint sitting of the house which is likely to promptly take it up,&quot; he said.

&quot;But we are not sure that how much time this process will take. The salient features of these drafts will also be known only after being presented in the committee,&quot; added Bukhari.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N)&nbsp;has a large majority of seats in the lower house and the bills are believed to have enough backing from opposition parties to pass in the senate too.

The proposed bills could seek to close a loophole that allows those who kill in the name of honour, &nbsp;usually a relative of the victim, &nbsp;to evade punishment by seeking clemency from other family members.

Pakistan amended its criminal code in 2005 to prevent men who kill female relatives pardoning themselves as an &quot;heir&quot; of the victim.

But punishment is left to a judge&#39;s discretion when other relatives of the victim forgive the killer, a loophole which critics say is exploited.

Social media starlet Qandeel Baloch was strangled to death by her brother on Friday, once again casting a spotlight on the custom of &quot;honour killings&quot;, which claims around a thousand lives in Pakistan every year.

Held up by many of the country&#39;s youth for her liberal views and forthrightness, was also reviled by many and frequently subject to misogynist abuse online.

Rights group Amnesty International this week called on the country to &quot;undertake structural reforms that end impunity for so-called &#39;honour&#39; killings, including by passing legislation that removes the option of clemency for such killings&quot;. 
 
(AFP)

The bills might seek to close a loophole that allows those who kill in the name of honour to seek clemency from?other family members

Pakistan's parliament will on Thursday debate bills aimed at tackling the so-called honour killings and amending its rape law, officials said, following the murder of a social media star last week. Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan and the debate follows a slew of high-profile killings in the country. Lawmakers from both lower and upper houses of parliament will take up proposed bills on Thursday afternoon, parliament official Hasan Murtaza Bukhari said, and votes on the suggested changes are expected within weeks. "After discussion and approval of these bills by this committee, the drafts will be tabled in a joint sitting of the house which is likely to promptly take it up," he said. "But we are not sure that how much time this process will take. The salient features of these drafts will also be known only after being presented in the committee," added Bukhari. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) has a large majority of seats in the lower house and the bills are believed to have enough backing from opposition parties to pass in the senate too. The proposed bills could seek to close a loophole that allows those who kill in the name of honour, usually a relative of the victim, to evade punishment by seeking clemency from other family members. Pakistan amended its criminal code in 2005 to prevent men who kill female relatives pardoning themselves as an "heir" of the victim. But punishment is left to a judge's discretion when other relatives of the victim forgive the killer, a loophole which critics say is exploited. Social media starlet Qandeel Baloch was strangled to death by her brother on Friday, once again casting a spotlight on the custom of "honour killings", which claims around a thousand lives in Pakistan every year. Held up by many of the country's youth for her liberal views and forthrightness, was also reviled by many and frequently subject to misogynist abuse online. Rights group Amnesty International this week called on the country to "undertake structural reforms that end impunity for so-called 'honour' killings, including by passing legislation that removes the option of clemency for such killings". (AFP)

Pakistan lawmakers to debate honour killing, rape laws

When it comes to murdered social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, there is no doubt that she was a polarising figure in Pakistan. Her Internet posts, often considered controversial in an overwhelmingly orthodox society, created quite a storm. But she did not deserve to be murdered for this rebellion or insistence on being true to herself. In a June 14 Facebook post, Baloch spoke about &quot;girlpower&quot; and a month later, on July 15, she was strangled to death by her brother, in what is undoubtedly a case of honour killing. 
 
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In Pakistan, hundreds of women become victims of honour killing which is a pervasive part of a culture where family honour is irrevocably tied to the women. Any deviation, however minor, is considered to be damaging. Perpetrators are in most cases family members who are unhappy with the actions of the &lsquo;errant&rsquo; woman. Most honour killings occur when the family disagrees to a woman&#39;s choice of husband or partner. Sometimes, both the husband and wife are murdered in cold blood. Although many politicians and religious leaders have denounced the practice, a glaring legal loophole has turned honour killing into a righteous concept. When the law says that the accused - often relatives - can go scot-free if the family of the victim pardons the murder, one can hardly expect any justice. 
&nbsp; 
It was in 2013 when Qandeel Baloch&rsquo;s audition for Pakistan Idol brought her fame and recognition, and she quickly became an Internet sensation. 
 
Baloch was everything a Pakistani woman should not be: sexy, provocative and defiant of social norms. She even had a tattoo on her chest. 
 
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In the last several weeks, she was widely talked about in the media for her controversial selfies with cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi. She claimed she had a desire to learn about Islam and wanted to become a better Muslim and sought Mufti Abdul Qavi&rsquo;s advice. Their meeting however was in a private hotel room during the holy month of Ramzan. Selfies and videos of the pair alone in the hotel room quickly went viral. The pictures (image below) were deemed inappropriate and the Mufti was quickly suspended from his position. 
 
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Earlier this year, Qandeel Baloch promised to perform a striptease for the Pakistani cricket team if they won their T20 cricket match against India. 
 
Pakistani men, like in other parts of the subcontinent, have a predominantly conservative mindset, a direct result of feudal patriarchy. As per such standards, Baloch did the exact opposite of how a woman should have acted in public. Her persona was something to be admired, for she was fearless and mostly acted and spoke as she wanted. But it was this free spirit that got her killed in the end. 
 
A part of the Pakistani society condemned the killing and called for her brother to be imprisoned, while the rest believed that Baloch got what she deserved. No woman should feel threatened by her family, especially in her parent&rsquo;s home. The Anti-Honour Killing Bill was passed earlier this year due to public pressure. The Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy-directed documentary on honour killings, &#39;A Girl in the River&#39;, which won an Oscar, also added to the pressure. 
 
However, perpetrators are hardly ever brought to justice by the law enforcement agencies here and a lot more needs to be done before Pakistani women start feeling safe in their own homes. 
 
Women in Pakistan are scrutinised for everything they do. Their actions, the way they dress, the way they speak, the way they wear their makeup are all judged. In Pakistan, a woman is expected to behave in a certain way and cover up so as to not attract attention. Qandeel Baloch sought everyone&rsquo;s attention and she always got it. Her brother killed her because he believed her action tainted the family&rsquo;s name and shamed him in the process. 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RQaQsyhx0LI" width="500"></iframe> 
 
What he didn&rsquo;t understand is that Baloch was, in a sense, helping the cause of women&rsquo;s liberation. She was a feminist. She believed that women had the right and the freedom to live their lives the way they wanted. In that light, Baloch may emerge as a symbol of the movement for gender equality in Pakistan. 
&nbsp; 
However, many young and old are calling this murder &ldquo;good riddance.&rdquo; Baloch wasn&rsquo;t publicly well received by many who believed she was &lsquo;vulgar&rsquo; and &lsquo;inappropriate&rsquo;. This mentality will lead to the killing of more women in the name of honour. Our society is so determined to keep women in line with Islamic beliefs and values, that they will even commit murder and then be able to justify it by bringing in &#39;honour&#39;. One can only hope that the senseless killing of Qandeel Baloch will open the eyes of Pakistan. Baloch represented more than just dramatics and Internet celebrityhood, she opened the door for women to express themselves. Hopefully, one day, women in Pakistan will be able to express themselves freely without having to lose their lives. 
 
(Images sourced from Baloch&#39;s Facebook page) 
&nbsp;

Baloch was everything a Pakistani woman should not be: sexy, provocative and defiant

When it comes to murdered social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, there is no doubt that she was a polarising figure in Pakistan. Her Internet posts, often considered controversial in an overwhelmingly orthodox society, created quite a storm. But she did not deserve to be murdered for this rebellion or insistence on being true to herself. In a June 14 Facebook post, Baloch spoke about "girlpower" and a month later, on July 15, she was strangled to death by her brother, in what is undoubtedly a case of honour killing. In Pakistan, hundreds of women become victims of honour killing which is a pervasive part of a culture where family honour is irrevocably tied to the women. Any deviation, however minor, is considered to be damaging. Perpetrators are in most cases family members who are unhappy with the actions of the ‘errant’ woman. Most honour killings occur when the family disagrees to a woman's choice of husband or partner. Sometimes, both the husband and wife are murdered in cold blood. Although many politicians and religious leaders have denounced the practice, a glaring legal loophole has turned honour killing into a righteous concept. When the law says that the accused - often relatives - can go scot-free if the family of the victim pardons the murder, one can hardly expect any justice. It was in 2013 when Qandeel Baloch’s audition for Pakistan Idol brought her fame and recognition, and she quickly became an Internet sensation. Baloch was everything a Pakistani woman should not be: sexy, provocative and defiant of social norms. She even had a tattoo on her chest. In the last several weeks, she was widely talked about in the media for her controversial selfies with cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi. She claimed she had a desire to learn about Islam and wanted to become a better Muslim and sought Mufti Abdul Qavi’s advice. Their meeting however was in a private hotel room during the holy month of Ramzan. Selfies and videos of the pair alone in the hotel room quickly went viral. The pictures (image below) were deemed inappropriate and the Mufti was quickly suspended from his position. Earlier this year, Qandeel Baloch promised to perform a striptease for the Pakistani cricket team if they won their T20 cricket match against India. Pakistani men, like in other parts of the subcontinent, have a predominantly conservative mindset, a direct result of feudal patriarchy. As per such standards, Baloch did the exact opposite of how a woman should have acted in public. Her persona was something to be admired, for she was fearless and mostly acted and spoke as she wanted. But it was this free spirit that got her killed in the end. A part of the Pakistani society condemned the killing and called for her brother to be imprisoned, while the rest believed that Baloch got what she deserved. No woman should feel threatened by her family, especially in her parent’s home. The Anti-Honour Killing Bill was passed earlier this year due to public pressure. The Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy-directed documentary on honour killings, 'A Girl in the River', which won an Oscar, also added to the pressure. However, perpetrators are hardly ever brought to justice by the law enforcement agencies here and a lot more needs to be done before Pakistani women start feeling safe in their own homes. Women in Pakistan are scrutinised for everything they do. Their actions, the way they dress, the way they speak, the way they wear their makeup are all judged. In Pakistan, a woman is expected to behave in a certain way and cover up so as to not attract attention. Qandeel Baloch sought everyone’s attention and she always got it. Her brother killed her because he believed her action tainted the family’s name and shamed him in the process. What he didn’t understand is that Baloch was, in a sense, helping the cause of women’s liberation. She was a feminist. She believed that women had the right and the freedom to live their lives the way they wanted. In that light, Baloch may emerge as a symbol of the movement for gender equality in Pakistan. However, many young and old are calling this murder “good riddance.” Baloch wasn’t publicly well received by many who believed she was ‘vulgar’ and ‘inappropriate’. This mentality will lead to the killing of more women in the name of honour. Our society is so determined to keep women in line with Islamic beliefs and values, that they will even commit murder and then be able to justify it by bringing in 'honour'. One can only hope that the senseless killing of Qandeel Baloch will open the eyes of Pakistan. Baloch represented more than just dramatics and Internet celebrityhood, she opened the door for women to express themselves. Hopefully, one day, women in Pakistan will be able to express themselves freely without having to lose their lives. (Images sourced from Baloch's Facebook page)

The Qandeel Baloch saga: A society dishonoured

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

Six people were killed including two public officials today after a bomb hit a car in Pakistans restive north-west province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said, adding the intended target of the attack was not in the vehicle. An improvised explosive device planted along a roadside detonated after the vehicle carrying seven people passed by in the north-western town of Upper Dir. 
 
&quot;The bomb in fact targeted Malik Mutabar Khan, the pro-government elder and peace committee head, who was not present in the car at the time of the explosion,&quot; Yar Muhammad, a local police official said. &quot;Six other people including two local councillors were killed in the explosion.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
One of the passengers in the vehicle sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. &quot;It was just by chance that Malik Mutabar Khan got out of the vehicle at a nearby place before the explosion,&quot; Muhammad added. District police officer Athar Waheed also confirmed the incident but put the death toll at seven. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but the Taliban have often targeted pro-government tribal elders in the north-western province.&nbsp; 
 
Pakistan, which has been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked fighters in the restive tribal belt for over a decade, launched an offensive to clear their strongholds in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, in 2014. 
 
The army announced in May this year it had cleared the last militant stronghold in North Waziristans Shawal valley, in the final phase of the mission. 
 
The operation was intensified after the Taliban massacred more than 150 people, the majority of them children, at a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar in December 2014. 
 
(AFP)

According to a local police officer, the bomb targeted Malik Mutabar Khan, the pro-government elder and peace committee head

Six people were killed including two public officials today after a bomb hit a car in Pakistans restive north-west province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said, adding the intended target of the attack was not in the vehicle. An improvised explosive device planted along a roadside detonated after the vehicle carrying seven people passed by in the north-western town of Upper Dir. "The bomb in fact targeted Malik Mutabar Khan, the pro-government elder and peace committee head, who was not present in the car at the time of the explosion," Yar Muhammad, a local police official said. "Six other people including two local councillors were killed in the explosion." One of the passengers in the vehicle sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. "It was just by chance that Malik Mutabar Khan got out of the vehicle at a nearby place before the explosion," Muhammad added. District police officer Athar Waheed also confirmed the incident but put the death toll at seven. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but the Taliban have often targeted pro-government tribal elders in the north-western province. Pakistan, which has been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked fighters in the restive tribal belt for over a decade, launched an offensive to clear their strongholds in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, in 2014. The army announced in May this year it had cleared the last militant stronghold in North Waziristans Shawal valley, in the final phase of the mission. The operation was intensified after the Taliban massacred more than 150 people, the majority of them children, at a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar in December 2014. (AFP)

Bomb kills six in north-west Pakistan: police

Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz has said that the decision of a US Congressional panel to cut aid to the country is inspired by &#39;baseless concerns&#39; of &#39;a section of US lawmakers&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
Last week, a US Congressional panel met to hold discussions regarding foreign aid provided to Pakistan. Congressman Matthew Salmon, during the meet, gave opening statements against giving further aid to &lsquo;terrorism abetting&rsquo; Pakistan. &nbsp; 
 
Salmon further added that Pakistan was holding Dr Shakil Afridi in jail for helping the US capture and kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011 and that this kind of relation is not acceptable to the US.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;This country (Pakistan) poses challenges that has plagued the United States for decades,&rdquo; he added. 
 
Another Congressman, Bill Keating, argued during the meet held on July 12 that Pakistan supports the Taliban, Haqqani network and other terrorist organisations, and that &ldquo;these things undermine critical US national security interests.&rdquo; &nbsp; 
 
This discussion paved the way for some of the strongest remarks to come out of US Congress on Pakistan in recent years. Pertinently, earlier this year, the sale of F-16 fighter jets was blocked by the US government for fear of Pakistan misusing them for terrorism-related activities.&nbsp; 
 
The panel also proposed that Pakistan be added to a list of countries that are &lsquo;state sponsors of terrorism&rsquo;.&nbsp; 
 
It may be recalled, however, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Barack Obama have previously vowed to work together to step up &#39;fight against terrorism&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
Also, Operation Zarb-e-Azb, carried out by the Pakistani military has so far killed more than 2,500 militants across 9,000 intelligence operations in various parts of Pakistan.&nbsp; 
 
Titled &#39;Pakistan: Friend or Foe&#39;, the discussion was mostly against further financial support of Pakistan due to the various terrorist havens that the Congress believes are untouched by the Pakistani military.&nbsp; 
 
What remains to be seen is if the US Congress would pass such a move in near future.&nbsp;

The US Congressional panel also suggested last week that Pakistan be added to a list of countries that are ?state sponsors of terrorism?

Pakistan’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz has said that the decision of a US Congressional panel to cut aid to the country is inspired by 'baseless concerns' of 'a section of US lawmakers'. Last week, a US Congressional panel met to hold discussions regarding foreign aid provided to Pakistan. Congressman Matthew Salmon, during the meet, gave opening statements against giving further aid to ‘terrorism abetting’ Pakistan. Salmon further added that Pakistan was holding Dr Shakil Afridi in jail for helping the US capture and kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011 and that this kind of relation is not acceptable to the US. “This country (Pakistan) poses challenges that has plagued the United States for decades,” he added. Another Congressman, Bill Keating, argued during the meet held on July 12 that Pakistan supports the Taliban, Haqqani network and other terrorist organisations, and that “these things undermine critical US national security interests.” This discussion paved the way for some of the strongest remarks to come out of US Congress on Pakistan in recent years. Pertinently, earlier this year, the sale of F-16 fighter jets was blocked by the US government for fear of Pakistan misusing them for terrorism-related activities. The panel also proposed that Pakistan be added to a list of countries that are ‘state sponsors of terrorism’. It may be recalled, however, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Barack Obama have previously vowed to work together to step up 'fight against terrorism'. Also, Operation Zarb-e-Azb, carried out by the Pakistani military has so far killed more than 2,500 militants across 9,000 intelligence operations in various parts of Pakistan. Titled 'Pakistan: Friend or Foe', the discussion was mostly against further financial support of Pakistan due to the various terrorist havens that the Congress believes are untouched by the Pakistani military. What remains to be seen is if the US Congress would pass such a move in near future.

US lawmakers' plan to cut aid for Pakistan inspired by baseless concerns: Aziz

Supporters of more than 40 political parties and hard-line religious groups, some of them proscribed for terror activities, will stage a march starting from Lahore to the capital city of Islamabad in Pakistan to show solidarity over the growing unrest in Kashmir in India. The rally will pledge support from the Pakistani establishment for the &#39;liberation of Kashmir&#39; in India. Pakistan has declared July 19 as Kashmir Solidarity Day. 
 
Tehreek e Azaadi Jammu Kashmir (TAJK), a front group of the banned militant organisation Lashkar e Taiba and its charitable affiliate Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), is organising the rally called &#39;Caravan for Kashmir&#39; starting on Tuesday, following a call by its chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. 
 
Several militant groups focusing on armed jihad in Indian Kashmir are participating in the rally. Cutting across political and ideological lines, groups like Difa e Pakistan Council &ndash; an alliance of more than 40 parties including JuD, Sipah e Sahiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, headed by Maulana Sami ul Haque, also known as founding father of Taliban, will take part. 
 
Mohammad Safi, representative of Hurriyat Conference in Pakistan; PoK-based United Jihad Council led by Syed Salahuddin, Hurriyat Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haque, Awami Muslim League, Muslim Conference, Muslim League (Zia faction) and intellectuals including Abdullah Gul (son of former ISI chief Hamid Gul), Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, former prime minister of PoK, Izazul Haq (son of late President Zia-ul-Haq), will take part in the rally. 
 
The road show starting from Shuhada mosque in Lahore will make its way through Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Jhelum and Rawalpindi before reaching Islamabad. &quot;The route can be covered in four hours, but since lakhs are joining, the rally will stop in main cities where leaders will make speeches. It will reach Islamabad the next day,&#39;&#39; media coordinator TAJK, Nadeem Awan, told dna. 
 
The road show is expected to receive wide support from the villages and districts on the route populated by Kashmiri immigrants who have settled in Punjab province after partition. The province is also a major recruitment ground for armed jihadi groups fighting in Kashmir. 
 
Awan said that Kashmiris living in Pakistan wanted to organise a rally to &quot;express their support to the brothers suffering under the atrocities of the Indian army.&#39;&#39; 
 
&quot;The road show will bring national and international attention to the dreadful situation in Kashmir. It will also let our brothers and sisters in Kashmir know they are not alone. Kashmiris are a part of Pakistani blood,&#39;&#39; he said. 
 
The TAJK had organised a similar road show in 2009 on Kashmir Solidarity Day, attended by the top leadership of jihadi groups including the LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. 
 
The rally will collect &#39;funds&#39; or donations from supporters for the Kashmir cause. Awan said that on social media, Kashmiris were posting on shortage of medical supplies and food and money will be collected to send relief across the border. &quot;We will send relief packages of food and medicine. We will also try to send a team of doctors if permission is given for them to travel to Kashmir.&#39;&#39; 
 
The unrest in Kashmir followed by the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani a week ago has caused political frenzy in Pakistan with cabinet ministers in the Nawaz Sharif-led government calling the deaths as &#39;genocide&#39;. 
 
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accused the foreign policy based on &#39;Sharif-Modi&#39; friendship for failing to address the Kashmir issue. Sharif, the ministry of foreign affairs and LeT chief Saeed issued statements castigating India for &quot;using excessive force against street protestors and civilians&quot;. 
 
The confrontation has resulted in 41 civilian deaths, injuries to over 1,000 persons, censorship on local media and a curfew restricting daily movements to bring the situation under control. 
 
India has rebuffed calls from Pakistan, saying the latter has no right to talk on India&#39;s internal matters. 
 
(DNA)

The rally will seek support from the Pakistani establishment for the 'liberation of Kashmir' in India

Supporters of more than 40 political parties and hard-line religious groups, some of them proscribed for terror activities, will stage a march starting from Lahore to the capital city of Islamabad in Pakistan to show solidarity over the growing unrest in Kashmir in India. The rally will pledge support from the Pakistani establishment for the 'liberation of Kashmir' in India. Pakistan has declared July 19 as Kashmir Solidarity Day. Tehreek e Azaadi Jammu Kashmir (TAJK), a front group of the banned militant organisation Lashkar e Taiba and its charitable affiliate Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), is organising the rally called 'Caravan for Kashmir' starting on Tuesday, following a call by its chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. Several militant groups focusing on armed jihad in Indian Kashmir are participating in the rally. Cutting across political and ideological lines, groups like Difa e Pakistan Council – an alliance of more than 40 parties including JuD, Sipah e Sahiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, headed by Maulana Sami ul Haque, also known as founding father of Taliban, will take part. Mohammad Safi, representative of Hurriyat Conference in Pakistan; PoK-based United Jihad Council led by Syed Salahuddin, Hurriyat Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haque, Awami Muslim League, Muslim Conference, Muslim League (Zia faction) and intellectuals including Abdullah Gul (son of former ISI chief Hamid Gul), Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, former prime minister of PoK, Izazul Haq (son of late President Zia-ul-Haq), will take part in the rally. The road show starting from Shuhada mosque in Lahore will make its way through Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Jhelum and Rawalpindi before reaching Islamabad. "The route can be covered in four hours, but since lakhs are joining, the rally will stop in main cities where leaders will make speeches. It will reach Islamabad the next day,'' media coordinator TAJK, Nadeem Awan, told dna. The road show is expected to receive wide support from the villages and districts on the route populated by Kashmiri immigrants who have settled in Punjab province after partition. The province is also a major recruitment ground for armed jihadi groups fighting in Kashmir. Awan said that Kashmiris living in Pakistan wanted to organise a rally to "express their support to the brothers suffering under the atrocities of the Indian army.'' "The road show will bring national and international attention to the dreadful situation in Kashmir. It will also let our brothers and sisters in Kashmir know they are not alone. Kashmiris are a part of Pakistani blood,'' he said. The TAJK had organised a similar road show in 2009 on Kashmir Solidarity Day, attended by the top leadership of jihadi groups including the LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The rally will collect 'funds' or donations from supporters for the Kashmir cause. Awan said that on social media, Kashmiris were posting on shortage of medical supplies and food and money will be collected to send relief across the border. "We will send relief packages of food and medicine. We will also try to send a team of doctors if permission is given for them to travel to Kashmir.'' The unrest in Kashmir followed by the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani a week ago has caused political frenzy in Pakistan with cabinet ministers in the Nawaz Sharif-led government calling the deaths as 'genocide'. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accused the foreign policy based on 'Sharif-Modi' friendship for failing to address the Kashmir issue. Sharif, the ministry of foreign affairs and LeT chief Saeed issued statements castigating India for "using excessive force against street protestors and civilians". The confrontation has resulted in 41 civilian deaths, injuries to over 1,000 persons, censorship on local media and a curfew restricting daily movements to bring the situation under control. India has rebuffed calls from Pakistan, saying the latter has no right to talk on India's internal matters. (DNA)

Pakistan: After Hafiz Saeed's call, 40 hardline political parties to collect funds for jihad in Kashmir today

The first information report (FIR) registered against the &quot;killers&quot; of social media celebrity, Qandeel Baloch, was transformed into a non-compoundable FIR. This makes it impossible for Qandeels&#39;s family to pardon her killers, reported Pakistani daily, Dawn. 
 
Dawn quoted a senior police officer, involved with the investigation of the case, as saying that Sections 311 and 305 of the Pakistan Penal Code has been added to the FIR. 
 
&quot;Section 305 states that the &#39;wali&#39; will be the heirs of the victim, but will exclude the accused or convict in case of qatl-i-amd (wilful murder) if committed in the name or on the pretext of honour. According to Section 311, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 309 or Section 310... the court may, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, punish an offender against whom the right of qisas has been waived or compounded with death, or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term of which may extend to fourteen years as ta&#39;zir,&quot; the newspaper explained the two sections of Pakistani law framed specifically to deal with &quot;honour killing&quot; cases. 
 
&ldquo;There cannot be an agreement (after this). These sections were created to end karo-kari (honour killing). Now that they have added them to the FIR, the victim&#39;s family cannot forgive the killers as the state has become a complainant. It will be taken as a murder against the state,&rdquo; Dawn quoted advocate Balak Shair Khosa.&nbsp; 
 
In some communities, especially tribal ones, after a murder there is a practice of demanding blood money or forgiving the murderer. In cases of honour killings, the murderer is generally pardoned. Thus, in this case, introduction of these two sections are very important. 
 
In the early hours of Saturday, Qandeel Baloch, who was a model and an actress, was strangled to death in her house in Multan&#39;s Karimabad area. Her father claimed that it was an honour killing by her younger brother, Waseem.&nbsp; 
 
In a press conference, where Waseem was accompanied by police, he confessed that he had drugged and strangled Qandeel. He tried to reason the murder by saying that &ldquo;she brought dishonour to the Baloch name&rdquo; by posting indecent videos and statements on social media. 
 
Pakistan police said today that they were investigating Mufti Abdul Qavi, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf religious wing&#39;s head, who was censured for appearing in &ldquo;selfie&rdquo; photographs with Qandeel. Qavi was suspended from Ruet-i-Hilal committee after the photographs were published. 
 
Azhar Ikram, the police chief in the town of Multan, where Baloch was killed, told Reuters: &quot;We have decided to widen the scope of the investigation and include Mufti Abdul Qavi in the probe.&quot; Although Qavi has denied any involvement in the murder, today he told Reuters he would present himself to police for questioning if summoned.&nbsp; 
 
Baloch&#39;s other brother, Mohammad Aslam, a junior army officer, is also being investigated by the police. After his daughter&#39;s death Qandeel&#39;s father, Mohammad Azeem, had filed a police report against both his sons. He had alleged that Aslam had encouraged Waseem to carry out the murder. 
 
Police have not commented on Aslam&#39;s role, and according to Dawn today he was unavailable for comment. 
 
(WION)

Qandeel's brother Waseem had confessed in a press conference that he had killed his sister to save his family from disgrace

The first information report (FIR) registered against the "killers" of social media celebrity, Qandeel Baloch, was transformed into a non-compoundable FIR. This makes it impossible for Qandeels's family to pardon her killers, reported Pakistani daily, Dawn. Dawn quoted a senior police officer, involved with the investigation of the case, as saying that Sections 311 and 305 of the Pakistan Penal Code has been added to the FIR. "Section 305 states that the 'wali' will be the heirs of the victim, but will exclude the accused or convict in case of qatl-i-amd (wilful murder) if committed in the name or on the pretext of honour. According to Section 311, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 309 or Section 310... the court may, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, punish an offender against whom the right of qisas has been waived or compounded with death, or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term of which may extend to fourteen years as ta'zir," the newspaper explained the two sections of Pakistani law framed specifically to deal with "honour killing" cases. “There cannot be an agreement (after this). These sections were created to end karo-kari (honour killing). Now that they have added them to the FIR, the victim's family cannot forgive the killers as the state has become a complainant. It will be taken as a murder against the state,” Dawn quoted advocate Balak Shair Khosa. In some communities, especially tribal ones, after a murder there is a practice of demanding blood money or forgiving the murderer. In cases of honour killings, the murderer is generally pardoned. Thus, in this case, introduction of these two sections are very important. In the early hours of Saturday, Qandeel Baloch, who was a model and an actress, was strangled to death in her house in Multan's Karimabad area. Her father claimed that it was an honour killing by her younger brother, Waseem. In a press conference, where Waseem was accompanied by police, he confessed that he had drugged and strangled Qandeel. He tried to reason the murder by saying that “she brought dishonour to the Baloch name” by posting indecent videos and statements on social media. Pakistan police said today that they were investigating Mufti Abdul Qavi, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf religious wing's head, who was censured for appearing in “selfie” photographs with Qandeel. Qavi was suspended from Ruet-i-Hilal committee after the photographs were published. Azhar Ikram, the police chief in the town of Multan, where Baloch was killed, told Reuters: "We have decided to widen the scope of the investigation and include Mufti Abdul Qavi in the probe." Although Qavi has denied any involvement in the murder, today he told Reuters he would present himself to police for questioning if summoned. Baloch's other brother, Mohammad Aslam, a junior army officer, is also being investigated by the police. After his daughter's death Qandeel's father, Mohammad Azeem, had filed a police report against both his sons. He had alleged that Aslam had encouraged Waseem to carry out the murder. Police have not commented on Aslam's role, and according to Dawn today he was unavailable for comment. (WION)

State becomes complainant in Qandeel Baloch case, making it impossible for family to pardon murderer

The brother of Pakistan&#39;s social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch has been arrested in Punjab province for strangling to death the 26-year-old model for &quot;dishonouring&quot; the family&#39;s reputation, the latest case of honour killings that plague the country. 
 
Qandeel&#39;s younger brother Waseem was arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan late last night and later in a press conference he confessed that he drugged and strangled his sister. 
 
He said that he killed her as she brought &quot;dishonour to the Baloch name&quot; due to risque videos and statements that she posted on social media, the Dawn reported. 
 
&quot;There were other issues as well...Like the Maulvi issue,&quot; he said, in an apparent reference to a controversy surrounding Qandeel&#39;s selfies with Mufti Abdul Qavi, which hit the headlines last month. 
 
Her controversial pictures recently led to the suspension of Mufti Qawi&#39;s membership from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee. 
 
&quot;She wasn&#39;t aware I was killing her. I gave her a tablet and then strangled her,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The actor-cum-model was strangled to death in her house in Multan&#39;s Karimabad area in the early hours yesterday.&nbsp;Her father, Muhammad Azeem, claimed that she was killed by her younger brother Waseem in the name of honour. 
 
In his police complaint, Qandeel&#39;s father said his daughter came to Multan from Karachi to celebrate Eid with the family. He said Waseem, 25, also came to meet them on July 14.&nbsp;He said that he along with his wife went to sleep on the rooftop while Qandeel slept in a room where Waseem strangled her to death as he was against her working in showbiz. 
 
The father alleged that Waseem had taken this extreme step at the behest of his brother Mohammad Aslam Shaheen.&nbsp;Qandeel had received threats from her family to quit modelling and her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, the police said. 
 
Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, the Dawn reported.&nbsp;She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. 
 
Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling.&nbsp;Qandeel became famous through her tireless self-promotion and suggestive &quot;selfies&quot; posted on social media, and had amassed tens of thousands of followers.&nbsp;She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer, and opposition politician, Imran Khan. 
 
Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to send Qandeel&#39;s body to her hometown of Shah Saddardin, in Dera Ghazi Khan, for burial. 
 
(PTI)

He killed his sister because he thought her risque videos and statements on social media brought 'dishonour to the Baloch name'

The brother of Pakistan's social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch has been arrested in Punjab province for strangling to death the 26-year-old model for "dishonouring" the family's reputation, the latest case of honour killings that plague the country. Qandeel's younger brother Waseem was arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan late last night and later in a press conference he confessed that he drugged and strangled his sister. He said that he killed her as she brought "dishonour to the Baloch name" due to risque videos and statements that she posted on social media, the Dawn reported. "There were other issues as well...Like the Maulvi issue," he said, in an apparent reference to a controversy surrounding Qandeel's selfies with Mufti Abdul Qavi, which hit the headlines last month. Her controversial pictures recently led to the suspension of Mufti Qawi's membership from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee. "She wasn't aware I was killing her. I gave her a tablet and then strangled her," he said. The actor-cum-model was strangled to death in her house in Multan's Karimabad area in the early hours yesterday. Her father, Muhammad Azeem, claimed that she was killed by her younger brother Waseem in the name of honour. In his police complaint, Qandeel's father said his daughter came to Multan from Karachi to celebrate Eid with the family. He said Waseem, 25, also came to meet them on July 14. He said that he along with his wife went to sleep on the rooftop while Qandeel slept in a room where Waseem strangled her to death as he was against her working in showbiz. The father alleged that Waseem had taken this extreme step at the behest of his brother Mohammad Aslam Shaheen. Qandeel had received threats from her family to quit modelling and her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, the police said. Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, the Dawn reported. She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling. Qandeel became famous through her tireless self-promotion and suggestive "selfies" posted on social media, and had amassed tens of thousands of followers. She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer, and opposition politician, Imran Khan. Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to send Qandeel's body to her hometown of Shah Saddardin, in Dera Ghazi Khan, for burial. (PTI)

Brother arrested for Qandeel Baloch's murder

Pakistan&#39;s social media sensation Qandeel Baloch was allegedly killed by her brother in Multan in Punjab province, becoming the latest victim of &#39;honour killing&#39; that plagues the country. 
 
The 26-year-old actor and model was killed in the central district of Multan last night, police said today. 
 
Police said she was apparently&nbsp;killed by her brother Wasim, who fled after the incident. 
 
&quot;She was suffocated to death by strangulation. It seems to be a case of honour killing but we are investigating it,&quot; district police chief Azhar Akram said. 
 
Baloch shot to fame in 2014 
 
Baloch was a media sensation known for her boldness and was also considered highly controversial. She shot to fame in Pakistan in 2014 after a video of her pouting for the camera came up on the internet. 
 
She became famous through her tireless self-promotion and &quot;selfies&quot; posted on social media and had amassed tens of thousands of followers on microblogging site Twitter.&nbsp; 
 
She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer and opposition politician Imran Khan. 
 
Her controversial pictures with Islamic cleric Mufti Qawi recently led to the suspension of his membership &nbsp;from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee, a department that announces sighting of new moon.&nbsp; 
 
Baloch had sought security amid threats&nbsp; 
 
Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling. 
 
She received threats from her family to quit modeling and also for her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, said the police. 
 
Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, Dawn reported. 
 
She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. 
 
 
(PTI)

The 26-year-old controversial model had been receiving threats from her brother over Facebook posts. She said her life was in danger

Pakistan's social media sensation Qandeel Baloch was allegedly killed by her brother in Multan in Punjab province, becoming the latest victim of 'honour killing' that plagues the country. The 26-year-old actor and model was killed in the central district of Multan last night, police said today. Police said she was apparently killed by her brother Wasim, who fled after the incident. "She was suffocated to death by strangulation. It seems to be a case of honour killing but we are investigating it," district police chief Azhar Akram said. Baloch shot to fame in 2014 Baloch was a media sensation known for her boldness and was also considered highly controversial. She shot to fame in Pakistan in 2014 after a video of her pouting for the camera came up on the internet. She became famous through her tireless self-promotion and "selfies" posted on social media and had amassed tens of thousands of followers on microblogging site Twitter. She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer and opposition politician Imran Khan. Her controversial pictures with Islamic cleric Mufti Qawi recently led to the suspension of his membership from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee, a department that announces sighting of new moon. Baloch had sought security amid threats Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling. She received threats from her family to quit modeling and also for her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, said the police. Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, Dawn reported. She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. (PTI)

Brother allegedly kills Pakistan internet sensation Qandeel Baloch in apparent honour killing

Pakistan will move the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) to restrain India from building two major hydropower projects on Jhelum and Chenab, the two rivers assigned to Islamabad under the 1960s Indus Waters Treaty. 
 
&quot;Pakistan to move international court of arbitration,&quot; tweeted federal minister for water and power Khwaja Mohammad Asif, who also holds the portfolio of federal minister for defence. 
 
An eight-member delegation led by secretary water and power Mohammad Younas Dagha is presently in New Delhi for final talks on resolving the dispute bilaterally or to seek arbitration, Dawn reported. 
 
Asif said the talks for two and a half years with India on the resolution of Pakistan&#39;s objections regarding Kishanganga and Ratle Hydroelectric projects have failed. 
 
&quot;Pakistan with consent of stakeholders decided to take it to full court of arbitration,&quot; he said adding that India has invited Pakistan to discuss points of dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty. 
 
Under the treaty, in case the parties fail to resolve water disputes through bilateral means, the aggrieved party has the option to invoke the jurisdiction of the ICA or the neutral expert under the auspices of the World Bank. 
 
An official said Pakistan feels its water rights are being violated by India on two rivers, the Chenab and Jhelum, through a faulty design of 850 megawatt Ratle Hydropower Project, and 330 megawatt Kishanganga Hydropower, respectively. 
 
Pakistan believes the Indian design of the Ratle project would reduce Chenab water flow by 40 per cent at Head Marala and cause irrigation loss to crops. 
 
(ANI)

Pakistan feels Indian water projects would reduce the flow of its river, causing damage to crops

Pakistan will move the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) to restrain India from building two major hydropower projects on Jhelum and Chenab, the two rivers assigned to Islamabad under the 1960s Indus Waters Treaty. "Pakistan to move international court of arbitration," tweeted federal minister for water and power Khwaja Mohammad Asif, who also holds the portfolio of federal minister for defence. An eight-member delegation led by secretary water and power Mohammad Younas Dagha is presently in New Delhi for final talks on resolving the dispute bilaterally or to seek arbitration, Dawn reported. Asif said the talks for two and a half years with India on the resolution of Pakistan's objections regarding Kishanganga and Ratle Hydroelectric projects have failed. "Pakistan with consent of stakeholders decided to take it to full court of arbitration," he said adding that India has invited Pakistan to discuss points of dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty. Under the treaty, in case the parties fail to resolve water disputes through bilateral means, the aggrieved party has the option to invoke the jurisdiction of the ICA or the neutral expert under the auspices of the World Bank. An official said Pakistan feels its water rights are being violated by India on two rivers, the Chenab and Jhelum, through a faulty design of 850 megawatt Ratle Hydropower Project, and 330 megawatt Kishanganga Hydropower, respectively. Pakistan believes the Indian design of the Ratle project would reduce Chenab water flow by 40 per cent at Head Marala and cause irrigation loss to crops. (ANI)

Pakistan to seek arbitration with India over water dispute

The former head of Afghanistan&#39;s main intelligence agency released documents on Thursday which he said showed that Pakistani intelligence services helped leaders of the Taliban and the feared Haqqani network in 2014 and 2015. 
 
Rahmatullah Nabil stepped down from the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in December last year after opposing Afghan President Ashraf Ghani&#39;s efforts to improve relations with Pakistan and include Islamabad in peace talks with the Taliban. 
 
Nabil told a group of journalists in Kabul that he had released the documents to provide concrete evidence of Pakistan&#39;s collusion with the Taliban and the associated Haqqani group, which has been blamed for a series of kidnappings and high profile suicide bombings in the capital. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s foreign office and the army&#39;s media wing did not respond to several written and telephoned requests for comment in which Reuters outlined the accusations levelled against Pakistan. 
 
Neither the NDS nor the Afghan government was available for immediate comment on the letters. 
 
The Afghan Taliban insurgency has in the past said it is fighting against the government and Western allies with the support of the Afghan people, and has no need of outside help. 
 
Nabil did not say how the letters had been obtained. Reuters could not independently verify their authenticity. 
 
Since retiring from the intelligence service, Nabil has been strongly critical of Pakistan, which is routinely accused by Afghanistan of sponsoring the Afghan Taliban, a charge it has consistently denied. 
 
&quot;For the past 14 years, no one has disclosed documents of this kind. Here, I&#39;m proving it,&quot; he told reporters, to whom he released the letters. &quot;They kill us every day and commit all kinds of atrocities, we have to show them.&quot; 
 
One letter, addressed from a section of Pakistan&#39;s military intelligence service in the northwestern city of Peshawar, is headed &#39;Arrangements of Secure Houses and Protection to Afghan Taliban and Their Leadership&#39;. 
 
In the letter, dated August 2014, an official arranges for safe houses and vehicles to be provided for Afghan Taliban commanders forced out of a remote area of northern Pakistan while an army operation is conducted. 
 
Another letter, dated March 2015, requests an update on Haqqani network personnel in Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi, in the border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 
 
A third letter addressed from the Directorate General Military Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, dated July 2014, is headed &#39;Kabul Airport Attacks and Release of Payments&#39;. 
 
The letter says four members of the Haqqani network are to be paid 2.5 million Pakistani Rupees ($24,000) each for the &quot;successful and comprehensive execution of assault on KB AP&quot;. 
 
Victim of terrorism 
 
Authorities in Islamabad have long rejected accusations that Pakistan has provided support and sanctuary for the Afghan Taliban and its leaders, saying it has for years itself been a victim of terrorism, much of it from groups based in Afghanistan. 
 
The release of the documents comes amid worsening tensions between the neighbouring countries in recent weeks, with days of clashes last month during which troops on the border exchanged artillery fire. 
 
It also came days after Pakistan faced heavy criticism in a Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington. 
 
Afghan President Ghani sharply criticised Pakistan during a visit to a NATO summit in Warsaw last week, and has accused it of conducting an &quot;undeclared war&quot; against Afghanistan. 
 
In response, Islamabad said that Afghanistan was playing a &quot;blame game&quot; instead of cooperating effectively to stop terrorism. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s critics say that it supports Islamist militants in Afghanistan to maintain influence and counter attempts by arch-rival India to gain a foothold, effectively surrounding it. 
 
($1 = 104.7900 Pakistani Rupees) 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Rahmatullah Nabil resigned from the security agency in December after opposing the Afghan President's efforts to improve ties with Pakistan

The former head of Afghanistan's main intelligence agency released documents on Thursday which he said showed that Pakistani intelligence services helped leaders of the Taliban and the feared Haqqani network in 2014 and 2015. Rahmatullah Nabil stepped down from the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in December last year after opposing Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's efforts to improve relations with Pakistan and include Islamabad in peace talks with the Taliban. Nabil told a group of journalists in Kabul that he had released the documents to provide concrete evidence of Pakistan's collusion with the Taliban and the associated Haqqani group, which has been blamed for a series of kidnappings and high profile suicide bombings in the capital. Pakistan's foreign office and the army's media wing did not respond to several written and telephoned requests for comment in which Reuters outlined the accusations levelled against Pakistan. Neither the NDS nor the Afghan government was available for immediate comment on the letters. The Afghan Taliban insurgency has in the past said it is fighting against the government and Western allies with the support of the Afghan people, and has no need of outside help. Nabil did not say how the letters had been obtained. Reuters could not independently verify their authenticity. Since retiring from the intelligence service, Nabil has been strongly critical of Pakistan, which is routinely accused by Afghanistan of sponsoring the Afghan Taliban, a charge it has consistently denied. "For the past 14 years, no one has disclosed documents of this kind. Here, I'm proving it," he told reporters, to whom he released the letters. "They kill us every day and commit all kinds of atrocities, we have to show them." One letter, addressed from a section of Pakistan's military intelligence service in the northwestern city of Peshawar, is headed 'Arrangements of Secure Houses and Protection to Afghan Taliban and Their Leadership'. In the letter, dated August 2014, an official arranges for safe houses and vehicles to be provided for Afghan Taliban commanders forced out of a remote area of northern Pakistan while an army operation is conducted. Another letter, dated March 2015, requests an update on Haqqani network personnel in Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi, in the border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A third letter addressed from the Directorate General Military Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, dated July 2014, is headed 'Kabul Airport Attacks and Release of Payments'. The letter says four members of the Haqqani network are to be paid 2.5 million Pakistani Rupees ($24,000) each for the "successful and comprehensive execution of assault on KB AP". Victim of terrorism Authorities in Islamabad have long rejected accusations that Pakistan has provided support and sanctuary for the Afghan Taliban and its leaders, saying it has for years itself been a victim of terrorism, much of it from groups based in Afghanistan. The release of the documents comes amid worsening tensions between the neighbouring countries in recent weeks, with days of clashes last month during which troops on the border exchanged artillery fire. It also came days after Pakistan faced heavy criticism in a Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington. Afghan President Ghani sharply criticised Pakistan during a visit to a NATO summit in Warsaw last week, and has accused it of conducting an "undeclared war" against Afghanistan. In response, Islamabad said that Afghanistan was playing a "blame game" instead of cooperating effectively to stop terrorism. Pakistan's critics say that it supports Islamist militants in Afghanistan to maintain influence and counter attempts by arch-rival India to gain a foothold, effectively surrounding it. ($1 = 104.7900 Pakistani Rupees) (Reuters)

Former Afghan spy chief says letters show Pakistan supports militants

Pakistan&#39;s sporting decline has left the vast South Asian nation that once prided itself on producing the world&#39;s best hockey and squash players facing up to an Olympics for which none of its athlete has qualified. 
 
While cricket remains a wildly popular game in Pakistan, a nation of almost 200 million, most other sport have shrunk in popularity as the successes of the 1980s and early 1990s have become a distant memory. 
 
In dilapidated gyms and crumbling sportfields Pakistani athletes lament the dated equipment and obsolete training methods which leave them struggling against foreign foes who adhere to the latest science-based techniques. 
 
Female athletes have an even bigger mountain to climb, most young girls in the deeply conservative Muslim nation are pressured by their families to stop exercising in public, while those with family backing face the wrath of their communities. 
 
&quot;We are behind the rest of the world,&quot; said Inam Butt, a Pakistani wrestling champion who won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. &quot;Our budget, training and facilities are just nothing. How can we compete?&quot; 
 
Butt, like other athletes, says the future will remain bleak until Pakistan&#39;s government starts pouring money into sport.&nbsp; 
 
The seven participants due to represent Pakistan at next month&#39;s Rio Olympics have all been given wildcard entries and stand &quot;no chance&quot; of winning medals, according to Arif Hasan, the Pakistan Olympic Association president. 
 
&quot;They are more or less going for the participation and gaining the experience. Let&#39;s hope next time will be better,&quot; he said. 
 
1980s training methods 
 
Those in charge of promoting sport in Pakistan despair.&nbsp;The grassroots system is almost non-existent, children in schools&nbsp;rarely play a sport which is not cricket, and top athletes seldom compete against the world&#39;s best as cash-strapped federations cannot afford to send them abroad. 
 
Waqar Ahmed, deputy director of the Pakistan Sports Board, said federations also cannot afford to hire top coaches familiar with scientific training techniques and end up relying on Pakistani trainers with &quot;obsolete&quot; methods from the 1980s. 
 
&quot;Athletes are really frustrated because... the coaches are not literate and they have been teaching what they were taught 30 years back,&quot; he said. &quot;Without infrastructure we can do a lot, but without the techniques you cannot win.&quot; 
 
The demise of hockey, Pakistan&#39;s national sport, has been painful to watch for an older generation who prospered during the halcyon days between 1960 and 1994, when Pakistan regularly won Olympic gold medals and world championships. 
 
Tahir Zaman, Pakistan hockey team coach, said the lack of government support means many young athletes no longer see a future in sports like hockey where top players get $10 per day. Pakistani cricketers, by contrast, are paid $5,000 monthly retainers and make a fortune from sponsorship deals.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The attraction is not there anymore. The (government) is not offering regular jobs for players,&quot; said Zaman, who won a bronze playing for Pakistan at the 1992 Olympics. 
 
At Lahore&#39;s empty 45,000-seat hockey stadium, Pakistani hockey player Hassan Anwar, 21, said that as a teenager his family begged him: &quot;please don&#39;t play hockey if you want a bright future&quot;. 
 
The demise of hockey has been mirrored by the decline in the Pakistani squash scene, where young players know all about 1980s legend Jahangir Khan - considered the greatest ever squash player - but none match his bravura on the court. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Women Harassed 
 
Pakistan&#39;s best known squash player is Maria Toorpakay Wazir, ranked 65 in the world, but to train she spent years dressing and pretending to be a boy in the ultra-conservative tribal areas near Afghanistan. Now she trains abroad. 
 
Pakistan Olympic chief Hasan says societal &quot;barriers are coming down&quot; for women but many female athletes rue the slow pace of change. 
 
At 16, Neelam Riaz&#39;s first love was cycling, but her father banned her from training on roads as men would stare at her. In response, she took up karate to learn how to fend off men and eventually stumbled on weightlifting. 
 
&quot;Usually in Pakistan girls are discouraged from sports, and often coaches push back,&quot; said Riaz, 25, who last year became a national champion and Pakistan&#39;s first female weightlifter to compete abroad. 
 
&quot;Now my family is happy with me doing weightlifting.&quot; 
 
In a dimly lit Lahore gym, where paint peels off walls, windows are shattered and cobwebs cling to a damp ceiling, Riaz is tutoring 16-year-old Iqra Chanzaib, who is new to weightlifting. 
 
Chanzaib wanted to play basketball, but the only hoop near her house was out in the open and full of boys, so one of her pious brothers protested. She then opted for weightlifting, indoors. 
 
&quot;There are plenty of girls like me but they cannot come because of family pressures. My own friends want to come but their families stop them,&quot; she said. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

For the first time in Pakistan's history none of its athlete has qualified for the Olympics

Pakistan's sporting decline has left the vast South Asian nation that once prided itself on producing the world's best hockey and squash players facing up to an Olympics for which none of its athlete has qualified. While cricket remains a wildly popular game in Pakistan, a nation of almost 200 million, most other sport have shrunk in popularity as the successes of the 1980s and early 1990s have become a distant memory. In dilapidated gyms and crumbling sportfields Pakistani athletes lament the dated equipment and obsolete training methods which leave them struggling against foreign foes who adhere to the latest science-based techniques. Female athletes have an even bigger mountain to climb, most young girls in the deeply conservative Muslim nation are pressured by their families to stop exercising in public, while those with family backing face the wrath of their communities. "We are behind the rest of the world," said Inam Butt, a Pakistani wrestling champion who won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. "Our budget, training and facilities are just nothing. How can we compete?" Butt, like other athletes, says the future will remain bleak until Pakistan's government starts pouring money into sport. The seven participants due to represent Pakistan at next month's Rio Olympics have all been given wildcard entries and stand "no chance" of winning medals, according to Arif Hasan, the Pakistan Olympic Association president. "They are more or less going for the participation and gaining the experience. Let's hope next time will be better," he said. 1980s training methods Those in charge of promoting sport in Pakistan despair. The grassroots system is almost non-existent, children in schools rarely play a sport which is not cricket, and top athletes seldom compete against the world's best as cash-strapped federations cannot afford to send them abroad. Waqar Ahmed, deputy director of the Pakistan Sports Board, said federations also cannot afford to hire top coaches familiar with scientific training techniques and end up relying on Pakistani trainers with "obsolete" methods from the 1980s. "Athletes are really frustrated because... the coaches are not literate and they have been teaching what they were taught 30 years back," he said. "Without infrastructure we can do a lot, but without the techniques you cannot win." The demise of hockey, Pakistan's national sport, has been painful to watch for an older generation who prospered during the halcyon days between 1960 and 1994, when Pakistan regularly won Olympic gold medals and world championships. Tahir Zaman, Pakistan hockey team coach, said the lack of government support means many young athletes no longer see a future in sports like hockey where top players get $10 per day. Pakistani cricketers, by contrast, are paid $5,000 monthly retainers and make a fortune from sponsorship deals. "The attraction is not there anymore. The (government) is not offering regular jobs for players," said Zaman, who won a bronze playing for Pakistan at the 1992 Olympics. At Lahore's empty 45,000-seat hockey stadium, Pakistani hockey player Hassan Anwar, 21, said that as a teenager his family begged him: "please don't play hockey if you want a bright future". The demise of hockey has been mirrored by the decline in the Pakistani squash scene, where young players know all about 1980s legend Jahangir Khan - considered the greatest ever squash player - but none match his bravura on the court. Women Harassed Pakistan's best known squash player is Maria Toorpakay Wazir, ranked 65 in the world, but to train she spent years dressing and pretending to be a boy in the ultra-conservative tribal areas near Afghanistan. Now she trains abroad. Pakistan Olympic chief Hasan says societal "barriers are coming down" for women but many female athletes rue the slow pace of change. At 16, Neelam Riaz's first love was cycling, but her father banned her from training on roads as men would stare at her. In response, she took up karate to learn how to fend off men and eventually stumbled on weightlifting. "Usually in Pakistan girls are discouraged from sports, and often coaches push back," said Riaz, 25, who last year became a national champion and Pakistan's first female weightlifter to compete abroad. "Now my family is happy with me doing weightlifting." In a dimly lit Lahore gym, where paint peels off walls, windows are shattered and cobwebs cling to a damp ceiling, Riaz is tutoring 16-year-old Iqra Chanzaib, who is new to weightlifting. Chanzaib wanted to play basketball, but the only hoop near her house was out in the open and full of boys, so one of her pious brothers protested. She then opted for weightlifting, indoors. "There are plenty of girls like me but they cannot come because of family pressures. My own friends want to come but their families stop them," she said. (Reuters)

Pakistan sport hits low point with qualifying debacle

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

Strongly hitting back at Pakistan for raising the issue of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in the United Nations (UN), India has said Pakistan &quot;extols&quot; the &quot;virtues&quot; of terrorists and uses terrorism as a state policy towards the &quot;misguided end&quot; of coveting the territory of others. 
 
India&#39;s Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin responded strongly to the remarks made by Pakistan&#39;s envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Kashmir and Wani&#39;s killing during a debate on human rights in the 193-member UN General Assembly here yesterday. 
 
In her statement, Lodhi, apart from raising the Kashmir issue, also mentioned the &quot;extrajudicial&quot; killing of Wani, whom she described as a &quot;Kashmiri leader&quot;, by Indian forces. 
 
In his statement, which sources here termed as perhaps the hardest-hitting against Pakistan in recent times, Akbaruddin said Pakistan &quot;extols&quot; the virtues of terrorists and could not gain membership of the UN&#39;s human rights body because of its &quot;track record&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Lashing out at Lodhi&#39;s raising of the Kashmir issue at the multi-lateral world body, Akbaruddin said it is regrettable that Pakistan attempted to &quot;misuse&quot; the UN platform. 
 
&quot;Regrettably, earlier today, we have seen an attempt at misuse of this UN platform. The attempt came from Pakistan; a country that covets the territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists; and a country that masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self determination,&quot; he said. 
 
Akbaruddin asserted that Pakistan&#39;s &quot;track record&quot; failed to convince the international community that it should gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very session of the UNGA. 
 
&quot;Pakistan, is the same country whose track record has failed to convince the international community to gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very Session of the UNGA. The international community has long seen through such designs. Cynical attempts, like the one this morning therefore, find no resonance in this forum or elsewhere in the United Nations,&quot; he said. 
 
(PTI)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

Pakistan envoy mentions the 'extrajudicial' killiing of 'Kashmiri leader' Burhan Wani, India retorts Pak 'extols the virtue of terrorists'

Strongly hitting back at Pakistan for raising the issue of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in the United Nations (UN), India has said Pakistan "extols" the "virtues" of terrorists and uses terrorism as a state policy towards the "misguided end" of coveting the territory of others. India's Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin responded strongly to the remarks made by Pakistan's envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Kashmir and Wani's killing during a debate on human rights in the 193-member UN General Assembly here yesterday. In her statement, Lodhi, apart from raising the Kashmir issue, also mentioned the "extrajudicial" killing of Wani, whom she described as a "Kashmiri leader", by Indian forces. In his statement, which sources here termed as perhaps the hardest-hitting against Pakistan in recent times, Akbaruddin said Pakistan "extols" the virtues of terrorists and could not gain membership of the UN's human rights body because of its "track record". Lashing out at Lodhi's raising of the Kashmir issue at the multi-lateral world body, Akbaruddin said it is regrettable that Pakistan attempted to "misuse" the UN platform. "Regrettably, earlier today, we have seen an attempt at misuse of this UN platform. The attempt came from Pakistan; a country that covets the territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists; and a country that masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self determination," he said. Akbaruddin asserted that Pakistan's "track record" failed to convince the international community that it should gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very session of the UNGA. "Pakistan, is the same country whose track record has failed to convince the international community to gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very Session of the UNGA. The international community has long seen through such designs. Cynical attempts, like the one this morning therefore, find no resonance in this forum or elsewhere in the United Nations," he said. (PTI)

India & Pakistan go tit-for-tat at UN

A flock of pigeons take off from a Lahore roof top at dawn, rising above the city&#39;s Mughal-era minarets before disappearing out of sight. 
 
Rather than being viewed as pests, these birds are champions of endurance who evoke a passionate following across Pakistan. 
 
&quot;It is a love affair,&quot; says Akhlaq Khan, a famous octogenarian pigeon-fancier and author of the only book on the subject in Pakistan. &quot;You don&#39;t see anything there, no difference between the birds,&quot; he says, cradling a plump bird with a white body and coloured head.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;But I can tell the worth of each bird by looking at the eyes and feathers.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
On his rooftop in a leafy district of Pakistan&#39;s cultural capital, hundreds of birds are cooing in massive light blue cages in the sweltering Punjabi summer. 
 
In film and folklore, pigeons, or &#39;kabootar&#39; are associated with love letters destined for harems and for military orders sent to champion warriors by kings of yesteryear. 
 
&quot;Flying breeds in India were introduced by the Mughals,&quot; says Khan referring to the Muslim dynasty that ruled the subcontinent from the early 16th century till the mid-19th. 
 
Pigeon followers broadly class the birds into those known for their competitive flying ability, and those prized for their looks. 
 
Mughal emperor Akbar was renowned for his passion for pigeons, and, according to one scholar of the court &quot;had 20,000 birds of different types&quot;, said Khan. 
 
Millions of fans across the country are enthralled by low and high altitude flying competitions, and races in which opponents attempt to distract each others&#39; birds, etc. 
 
It is a rare pastime that brings together people from different social backgrounds - experts are often illiterate and the owners are rich. A good pigeon can be valued at hundreds of dollars, equivalent to several months salary for many Pakistanis.&nbsp; 
 
Bird cages and enthusiasts can be found on rooftops in the old districts of cities across the country. 
 
Pakistani pigeons and experts have also been taken by Arab royals for tournaments in the Gulf. 
 
For so-called &#39;high-flying&#39; pigeons, the rules are simple: at dawn, each team of seven or eleven pigeons take off from their perches, spend the day flying out of sight, and when they return at nightfall, the flight time of each pigeon is added up and an average is calculated. 
 
The winning team is the one which has the longest average flight time after a total of seven or eleven flights held every two days. 
 
&quot;We fly pigeon around 5 in morning after stamping them, and if the pigeon comes back around 4 to 5 in the evening we consider them good,&quot; explains Syed Mehtab Shah, a participant in the Bahrain Cup, one of a number of tournaments organised in spring and autumn. 
 
&quot;I love beating my competitors, it brings me joy and fame,&quot; explains the pigeon-fancier from Islamabad, surrounded by several friends who have come to see his pigeons land one evening following an endurance flight. 
 
The conversation halts as two birds, which spent the day flying at 3,000 metres and are recognisable by the pink paint daubed under their wings, come in to land.&nbsp; 
 
Grabbing binoculars, the audience admire the birds` precision landing, which was guided by flags.The best champions, capable of flying for more than 12 hours without food or drink in exhausting heat, are showered with luxurious treatment often reserved for humans. The pigeon masters, known as &#39;ustads&#39;, give their birds long massages with a damp towel and special concoctions to boost performance.&nbsp; 
 
In his book, Khan reveals his diet plans for the winged athletes: crushed almonds, cardamom and Indian lotus seed powder, as well a &#39;water of life&#39; laced with cumin, pepper and other spices.&nbsp; 
 
He speaks too of the benefits of port and whisky, illegal in Pakistan, precious saffron and ginseng. 
 
There is no governing body regulating pigeon racing, so other less natural ingredients can creep in to the diet.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Anabolic steroids, calcium tablets and sometimes sedative tablets are used&quot;, says Waqar Haider, a student of Akhlaq Khan, from Rawalpindi. 
 
The victors can take home mobile phones, motorcycles and even cars - proving a winning bird in hand can be worth more than several in the proverbial shrubbery. 
 
In this way, the story of love became a story of money. &quot;It fell into disrepute because people started gambling,&quot; explains Khan. 
 
And it has become necessary to deal with the inevitable jealousy. 
 
Haider&#39;s wife spends long hours peeling almonds and cooking for her husband&#39;s guests during each competition.&nbsp; 
 
She concedes shyly: &quot;He spends more time with his birds than with me.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Pigeon racing brings together people from different social backgrounds since experts are often illiterate and the owners rich

A flock of pigeons take off from a Lahore roof top at dawn, rising above the city's Mughal-era minarets before disappearing out of sight. Rather than being viewed as pests, these birds are champions of endurance who evoke a passionate following across Pakistan. "It is a love affair," says Akhlaq Khan, a famous octogenarian pigeon-fancier and author of the only book on the subject in Pakistan. "You don't see anything there, no difference between the birds," he says, cradling a plump bird with a white body and coloured head. "But I can tell the worth of each bird by looking at the eyes and feathers." On his rooftop in a leafy district of Pakistan's cultural capital, hundreds of birds are cooing in massive light blue cages in the sweltering Punjabi summer. In film and folklore, pigeons, or 'kabootar' are associated with love letters destined for harems and for military orders sent to champion warriors by kings of yesteryear. "Flying breeds in India were introduced by the Mughals," says Khan referring to the Muslim dynasty that ruled the subcontinent from the early 16th century till the mid-19th. Pigeon followers broadly class the birds into those known for their competitive flying ability, and those prized for their looks. Mughal emperor Akbar was renowned for his passion for pigeons, and, according to one scholar of the court "had 20,000 birds of different types", said Khan. Millions of fans across the country are enthralled by low and high altitude flying competitions, and races in which opponents attempt to distract each others' birds, etc. It is a rare pastime that brings together people from different social backgrounds - experts are often illiterate and the owners are rich. A good pigeon can be valued at hundreds of dollars, equivalent to several months salary for many Pakistanis. Bird cages and enthusiasts can be found on rooftops in the old districts of cities across the country. Pakistani pigeons and experts have also been taken by Arab royals for tournaments in the Gulf. For so-called 'high-flying' pigeons, the rules are simple: at dawn, each team of seven or eleven pigeons take off from their perches, spend the day flying out of sight, and when they return at nightfall, the flight time of each pigeon is added up and an average is calculated. The winning team is the one which has the longest average flight time after a total of seven or eleven flights held every two days. "We fly pigeon around 5 in morning after stamping them, and if the pigeon comes back around 4 to 5 in the evening we consider them good," explains Syed Mehtab Shah, a participant in the Bahrain Cup, one of a number of tournaments organised in spring and autumn. "I love beating my competitors, it brings me joy and fame," explains the pigeon-fancier from Islamabad, surrounded by several friends who have come to see his pigeons land one evening following an endurance flight. The conversation halts as two birds, which spent the day flying at 3,000 metres and are recognisable by the pink paint daubed under their wings, come in to land. Grabbing binoculars, the audience admire the birds` precision landing, which was guided by flags.The best champions, capable of flying for more than 12 hours without food or drink in exhausting heat, are showered with luxurious treatment often reserved for humans. The pigeon masters, known as 'ustads', give their birds long massages with a damp towel and special concoctions to boost performance. In his book, Khan reveals his diet plans for the winged athletes: crushed almonds, cardamom and Indian lotus seed powder, as well a 'water of life' laced with cumin, pepper and other spices. He speaks too of the benefits of port and whisky, illegal in Pakistan, precious saffron and ginseng. There is no governing body regulating pigeon racing, so other less natural ingredients can creep in to the diet. "Anabolic steroids, calcium tablets and sometimes sedative tablets are used", says Waqar Haider, a student of Akhlaq Khan, from Rawalpindi. The victors can take home mobile phones, motorcycles and even cars - proving a winning bird in hand can be worth more than several in the proverbial shrubbery. In this way, the story of love became a story of money. "It fell into disrepute because people started gambling," explains Khan. And it has become necessary to deal with the inevitable jealousy. Haider's wife spends long hours peeling almonds and cooking for her husband's guests during each competition. She concedes shyly: "He spends more time with his birds than with me." (AFP)

Where dreams take flight: Pakistan's pigeon racers

India will go on hunting militants in the state of Jammu and Kashmir despite widespread protests over the killing of a young separatist commander, officials said, as the government bets that force coupled with development will quell rebellion in the restive state. 
 
The strategy for the Muslim-majority region contested by nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan has worked in part. 
 
The number of militants crossing into Jammu and Kashmir state from Pakistan to launch attacks against India has dropped in the last few years, and home-grown fighters are estimated to number only around 100, according to one security official. 
 
Last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is closely aligned to the Hindu nationalist right, also pledged 800 billion Rupees ($11.9 billion) in investment there. 
 
That has not prevented violent protests and rioting from breaking out when security forces killed Burhan Wani, a separatist militant commander and a Kashmiri, last Friday. 
 
At least 34 people were killed - almost all shot by Indian security forces - and more than 1,500 people wounded in the worst violence in Kashmir since 2010, underlining how the crackdown on militants is not enough to solve a conundrum that has frustrated India since independence in 1947. 
 
The government must also find a way to persuade local people that it is on their side, observers said, something it has failed to do since winning a landslide election in 2014. 
 
&quot;There is no denial in Delhi ... that a problem exists,&quot; said retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, an Indian army corps commander in the area from 2010 to 2012 who was deployed there seven times during his career. 
 
&quot;But no one seems to be clear on how to get into engagement with the people on the ground.&quot; 
 
Under Modi, whose BJP is also in a coalition government in Kashmir, the federal government has taken a harder stance on engaging in political dialogue with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a separatist alliance. 
 
While Hurriyat leaders travelling to Delhi and meeting Pakistani officials had been accepted before, Modi&#39;s government has objected to such interactions, saying Pakistan should not interfere in Indian affairs. 
 
&quot;Why this hatred?&quot; 
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the head of the alliance, said separatist political leaders felt isolated. 
 
&quot;The government of India cannot continue to deal with Kashmir with a clampdown,&quot; he said. 
 
The state&#39;s deputy chief minister, Nirmal Singh of the BJP, said the government was ready to engage with the Hurriyat under a legal framework.&quot;They are not ready, but they try to exploit every situation,&quot; Singh said. 
 
A senior BJP mandarin in New Delhi also said the government was open to talking to the Hurriyat, but did not appreciate it when they spoke with Pakistan. 
 
He added that the government will continue to go after militants, but with time it hoped the people in Kashmir would &quot;realise that their anger is misdirected.&quot; 
 
&quot;Be it jobs, education, health or any other amenities, the Kashmiri population gets all the same opportunities and benefits as any other Indian,&quot; said the BJP official. 
 
&quot;Why this hatred against the Indian government?&quot; 
 
A senior government official in New Delhi said Wani was a criminal facing 14 separate cases, including the murder of elected politicians and security forces, and that popular support for him was beside the point. 
 
&nbsp;Cycle of violence&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;In Wani&#39;s case, the security crackdown appears to explain his path towards militancy, and raises the possibility that other Kashmiri youths may follow. 
 
His father, school headmaster Mohammad Muzaffar Wani, told Reuters in an interview last year that Wani&#39;s decision to take up arms was linked to an incident in which he and his brother were beaten by Indian police. 
 
The brother, not known to be a militant, was killed by Indian security forces last year in circumstances that remain unclear. 
 
Wani, who was 22 when he died, grew in popularity through videos posted on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp in which he would appear without a mask. 
 
Authorities have been accused by some of using excessive force to control the protests that followed his death. 
 
The Doctors&#39; Association of Kashmir said in a statement that security forces launched tear gas shells into a hospital where victims were being treated, and officers beat hospital staff and damaged ambulances. 
 
Asked whether police and paramilitary forces used excessive force to control crowds after Wani&#39;s killing, BJP&#39;s Singh replied: &quot;It is a matter of concern: this should not have happened. It is a worry as the anti-national forces will try to exploit the situation.&quot; 
 
The inspector general for operations at the Central Reserve Police Force, a paramilitary organization with some 60,000 troops in Kashmir, said his men had been told: &quot;Don&#39;t get into confrontation with locals, defuse the anger.&quot; 
 
The official, Zulfiqar Hasan, said 300 of his men were injured in four days. 
 
(Reuters)

The Indian government is betting that force coupled with development will quell rebellion in the restive state

India will go on hunting militants in the state of Jammu and Kashmir despite widespread protests over the killing of a young separatist commander, officials said, as the government bets that force coupled with development will quell rebellion in the restive state. The strategy for the Muslim-majority region contested by nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan has worked in part. The number of militants crossing into Jammu and Kashmir state from Pakistan to launch attacks against India has dropped in the last few years, and home-grown fighters are estimated to number only around 100, according to one security official. Last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is closely aligned to the Hindu nationalist right, also pledged 800 billion Rupees ($11.9 billion) in investment there. That has not prevented violent protests and rioting from breaking out when security forces killed Burhan Wani, a separatist militant commander and a Kashmiri, last Friday. At least 34 people were killed - almost all shot by Indian security forces - and more than 1,500 people wounded in the worst violence in Kashmir since 2010, underlining how the crackdown on militants is not enough to solve a conundrum that has frustrated India since independence in 1947. The government must also find a way to persuade local people that it is on their side, observers said, something it has failed to do since winning a landslide election in 2014. "There is no denial in Delhi ... that a problem exists," said retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, an Indian army corps commander in the area from 2010 to 2012 who was deployed there seven times during his career. "But no one seems to be clear on how to get into engagement with the people on the ground." Under Modi, whose BJP is also in a coalition government in Kashmir, the federal government has taken a harder stance on engaging in political dialogue with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a separatist alliance. While Hurriyat leaders travelling to Delhi and meeting Pakistani officials had been accepted before, Modi's government has objected to such interactions, saying Pakistan should not interfere in Indian affairs. "Why this hatred?" Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the head of the alliance, said separatist political leaders felt isolated. "The government of India cannot continue to deal with Kashmir with a clampdown," he said. The state's deputy chief minister, Nirmal Singh of the BJP, said the government was ready to engage with the Hurriyat under a legal framework."They are not ready, but they try to exploit every situation," Singh said. A senior BJP mandarin in New Delhi also said the government was open to talking to the Hurriyat, but did not appreciate it when they spoke with Pakistan. He added that the government will continue to go after militants, but with time it hoped the people in Kashmir would "realise that their anger is misdirected." "Be it jobs, education, health or any other amenities, the Kashmiri population gets all the same opportunities and benefits as any other Indian," said the BJP official. "Why this hatred against the Indian government?" A senior government official in New Delhi said Wani was a criminal facing 14 separate cases, including the murder of elected politicians and security forces, and that popular support for him was beside the point. Cycle of violence In Wani's case, the security crackdown appears to explain his path towards militancy, and raises the possibility that other Kashmiri youths may follow. His father, school headmaster Mohammad Muzaffar Wani, told Reuters in an interview last year that Wani's decision to take up arms was linked to an incident in which he and his brother were beaten by Indian police. The brother, not known to be a militant, was killed by Indian security forces last year in circumstances that remain unclear. Wani, who was 22 when he died, grew in popularity through videos posted on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp in which he would appear without a mask. Authorities have been accused by some of using excessive force to control the protests that followed his death. The Doctors' Association of Kashmir said in a statement that security forces launched tear gas shells into a hospital where victims were being treated, and officers beat hospital staff and damaged ambulances. Asked whether police and paramilitary forces used excessive force to control crowds after Wani's killing, BJP's Singh replied: "It is a matter of concern: this should not have happened. It is a worry as the anti-national forces will try to exploit the situation." The inspector general for operations at the Central Reserve Police Force, a paramilitary organization with some 60,000 troops in Kashmir, said his men had been told: "Don't get into confrontation with locals, defuse the anger." The official, Zulfiqar Hasan, said 300 of his men were injured in four days. (Reuters)

India vows more tough action, and aid, to tackle Kashmir conundrum

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a special Cabinet meeting in Lahore on Friday to discuss the &quot;deteriorating situation&quot; in violence-hit Kashmir and chalk out a &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 overall situation in Kashmir after the brutal assassination of Burhan Wani,&quot; the Prime Minister&#39;s Office said in a statement. 
The meeting at Governor House in Lahore will discuss the &quot;rapidly deteriorating situation&quot; in Kashmir and the Prime Minister will chalk out a &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 the Indian high commissioner to the foreign office and conveyed the &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)

It will discuss the 'oppressive actions of Indian security forces' and the overall situation after the 'brutal assassination of Burhan Wani'

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a special Cabinet meeting in Lahore on Friday to discuss the "deteriorating situation" in violence-hit Kashmir and chalk out a "future course of action" on the issue. "The Cabinet will discuss the oppressive actions of Indian security forces against innocent civilians and the overall situation in Kashmir after the brutal assassination of Burhan Wani," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. The meeting at Governor House in Lahore will discuss the "rapidly deteriorating situation" in Kashmir and the Prime Minister will chalk out a "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 the Indian high commissioner to the foreign office and conveyed the "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)

Pakistan PM calls special Cabinet meeting on Friday to discuss Kashmir situation

Posters begging Pakistan&#39;s powerful army chief to launch a coup appeared in major cities including the capital Islamabad overnight, raising eyebrows in a country that has been ruled by the military for more than half its history. 
 
The posters, which also appeared in Lahore, Karachi and the garrison city of Rawalpindi as well as several army-run cantonment areas, were placed there by &#39;Move on Pakistan&#39;, a largely-unknown political party founded in 2013. 
 
&#39;Talk of leaving has become old, for God&#39;s sake come now&#39;, scream the posters, referring to General Raheel Sharif&#39;s decision to step down at the end of his tenure this year.&nbsp;They feature a large photograph of the mustachioed general.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Dictatorship is much better than this corrupt government,&quot; Ali Hashmi, chief organiser behind Move on Pakistan, said on Tuesday. 
 
&quot;The way General Raheel Sharif has dealt with terrorism and corruption, there is no guarantee that the next man would be as effective as him,&quot; he said. 
 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is said to be preparing to name a successor to the wildly popular general, who is no relation and whose three-year tenure expires in November. 
 
Widely credited with Pakistan&#39;s improved security situation, he is the frequent subject of hashtags such as #ThankYouRaheelSharif and #PakLovesGenRaheel.&nbsp;The Prime Minister and his government, in contrast, have been plagued by accusations of corruption and inefficiency. 
 
But, despite his popularity, the army chief&#39;s announcement in January that he would step down at the end of his tenure won him praise for respecting democratic institutions - unlike three of his predecessors. 
 
There was no immediate reaction to the posters from the federal government.&nbsp;The military denied it had anything to do with the posters. 
 
&#39;Reference Posters with #COAS pic being displayed across various cities; Army or any affiliated organisation have nothing to do with it&#39;, military spokesman Lieutenant Asim Bajwa tweeted on Tuesday night. 
 
Political analyst Hasan Askari said he did not foresee any threat to the current political system in Pakistan. &quot;There cannot be an organised movement unless there is a popular sentiment present,&quot; he said, dismissing the posters.&nbsp; 
 
Hashmi said that authorities in Islamabad and Punjab province, the Prime Minister&#39;s power base, had removed the posters - but that they continue to attract attention in other provinces.&nbsp; 
 
Military dictatorships have ruled Pakistan for more than half its 69-year history, and the armed forces are widely seen as controlling defence and foreign policy.&nbsp; 
 
Whoever takes over Raheel Sharif&#39;s role will face an array of daunting challenges, including keeping homegrown militants in check, vexed relations with India and the role Pakistan wants to play in promoting peace in Afghanistan.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

They ask army chief General Raheel Sharif, credited with cleaning up Pakistan's security situation, to take over

Posters begging Pakistan's powerful army chief to launch a coup appeared in major cities including the capital Islamabad overnight, raising eyebrows in a country that has been ruled by the military for more than half its history. The posters, which also appeared in Lahore, Karachi and the garrison city of Rawalpindi as well as several army-run cantonment areas, were placed there by 'Move on Pakistan', a largely-unknown political party founded in 2013. 'Talk of leaving has become old, for God's sake come now', scream the posters, referring to General Raheel Sharif's decision to step down at the end of his tenure this year. They feature a large photograph of the mustachioed general. "Dictatorship is much better than this corrupt government," Ali Hashmi, chief organiser behind Move on Pakistan, said on Tuesday. "The way General Raheel Sharif has dealt with terrorism and corruption, there is no guarantee that the next man would be as effective as him," he said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is said to be preparing to name a successor to the wildly popular general, who is no relation and whose three-year tenure expires in November. Widely credited with Pakistan's improved security situation, he is the frequent subject of hashtags such as #ThankYouRaheelSharif and #PakLovesGenRaheel. The Prime Minister and his government, in contrast, have been plagued by accusations of corruption and inefficiency. But, despite his popularity, the army chief's announcement in January that he would step down at the end of his tenure won him praise for respecting democratic institutions - unlike three of his predecessors. There was no immediate reaction to the posters from the federal government. The military denied it had anything to do with the posters. 'Reference Posters with #COAS pic being displayed across various cities; Army or any affiliated organisation have nothing to do with it', military spokesman Lieutenant Asim Bajwa tweeted on Tuesday night. Political analyst Hasan Askari said he did not foresee any threat to the current political system in Pakistan. "There cannot be an organised movement unless there is a popular sentiment present," he said, dismissing the posters. Hashmi said that authorities in Islamabad and Punjab province, the Prime Minister's power base, had removed the posters - but that they continue to attract attention in other provinces. Military dictatorships have ruled Pakistan for more than half its 69-year history, and the armed forces are widely seen as controlling defence and foreign policy. Whoever takes over Raheel Sharif's role will face an array of daunting challenges, including keeping homegrown militants in check, vexed relations with India and the role Pakistan wants to play in promoting peace in Afghanistan. (AFP)

Pakistan flooded overnight with posters seeking military coup?

Pakistan has strongly condemned the continued killing of innocent Kashmiris in Indian Kashmir and said that solving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is only possible through an impartial plebiscite with the United Nation&#39;s (UN) support.&nbsp; 
 
The statement comes as the Indian security forces shot dead Hizbul Mujahideen&#39;s 22-year-old leader Burhan Muzzafar Wani, along with two of his accomplices in Kokernag area, earlier on Friday. 
 
The statement released by the foreign ministry said the extrajudicial killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and scores of other innocent Kashmiris is deplorable and condemnable. 
 
&quot;Pakistan reiterates that 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; the statement said. 
 
&quot;Such acts are a violation of fundamental human rights of Kashmiris and can not deter the people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand for the realisation of the right to self determination,&quot; it said. 
 
Islamabad also expressed its concern over the detention of Kashmiri leadership and called upon New Delhi to fulfill the human rights obligations as per the United Nation. 
 
&quot;Pakistan also has serious concerns over the detention of Kashmiri leadership in Indian Occupied Kashmir and calls upon the Indian government to fulfill its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions,&quot; the statement said. 
 
The Kashmir valley has been on the boil as widespread protests were carried out over Wani`s killing with many separatists calling for a shutdown.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

'Pakistan also has serious concerns over the detention of Kashmiri leadership in Indian Occupied Kashmir,' said a foreign ministry statement

Pakistan has strongly condemned the continued killing of innocent Kashmiris in Indian Kashmir and said that solving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is only possible through an impartial plebiscite with the United Nation's (UN) support. The statement comes as the Indian security forces shot dead Hizbul Mujahideen's 22-year-old leader Burhan Muzzafar Wani, along with two of his accomplices in Kokernag area, earlier on Friday. The statement released by the foreign ministry said the extrajudicial killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and scores of other innocent Kashmiris is deplorable and condemnable. "Pakistan reiterates that 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," the statement said. "Such acts are a violation of fundamental human rights of Kashmiris and can not deter the people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand for the realisation of the right to self determination," it said. Islamabad also expressed its concern over the detention of Kashmiri leadership and called upon New Delhi to fulfill the human rights obligations as per the United Nation. "Pakistan also has serious concerns over the detention of Kashmiri leadership in Indian Occupied Kashmir and calls upon the Indian government to fulfill its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions," the statement said. The Kashmir valley has been on the boil as widespread protests were carried out over Wani`s killing with many separatists calling for a shutdown. (ANI)

Pakistan condemns Burhan's 'extrajudicial killing', says only way to solve Kashmir dispute is via plebiscite

Famed philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, who set up one of Pakistan&#39;s biggest welfare organisations and was revered as a &quot;living saint&quot; by many in the South Asian country, died in hospital late on Friday. 
 
The announcement of his death triggered a wave of accolades on TV and social media. Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid tribute to him as &quot;a great servant of humanity,&quot; and said he would receive a posthumous presidential medal and a state funeral. 
 
The 88-year-old&#39;s reputation for austerity and generosity resonated deeply in Pakistan, a country of 190 million people whose government is riddled with corruption and where public health and welfare services are weak. 
 
&quot;There are few men who have done as much good, and made as much a difference to the lives and livelihoods of the Pakistani people as Abdul Sattar Edhi,&quot; Sharif said hours before Edhi&#39;s death. 
 
Edhi, a short man with a long white beard who often wore a traditional cap, had been ill for several years after suffering kidney failure, Edhi&#39;s son Faisal told journalists in Karachi.&nbsp; 
 
Sharif&#39;s government had offered to fly Edhi abroad for treatment, but he refused, saying he wanted to be treated at a public hospital in his own country. 
 
The Edhi Foundation runs a vast fleet of ambulances, orphanages and medical clinics across the country.&nbsp; 
 
Last year when a devastating heat wave struck Karachi, a city of about 20 million people, the foundation was at the forefront of the response: its ambulances tended to the sick, the Edhi morgue was used to store the dead and many of the poor buried their family members in the Edhi cemetery for free. 
 
Edhi&#39;s funeral on Saturday is expected to be one of the biggest in Pakistan&#39;s history.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;He was a noble soul who dedicated his life in service of mankind,&quot; said Sushma Swaraj, the foreign minister of India. 
 
&quot;PAKISTAN&#39;S MOTHER TERESA&quot; 
In a nation often riven by social, ethnic and religious strife, Edhi won respect from every strata of society for an ascetic lifestyle that was devoted to helping the poor regardless of their background. 
 
Edhi lived in a bare room in Karachi, alternating between his two suits of black clothes and occasionally listening to recordings of Koranic verses on a battered old tape recorder. 
 
&quot;When my ambulance takes a wounded person who is in pain to the hospital, when people reach the hospital, I find peace in knowing I helped an injured person who was in pain,&quot; Edhi told Reuters in an interview in 2013. 
 
&quot;My mission is to love human beings. Each day is the best day of my life.&quot; 
 
Edhi was well-known for berating Islamist groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for their attacks on civilians, criticising the government for incompetence and corruption and denouncing the elites for dodging taxes. 
 
His wife, Bilquis, a nurse, oversees the women&#39;s shelters and the adoption of orphans. They have found homes for about 25,000 children. 
 
Edhi&#39;s foundation has provided relief in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Croatia, Indonesia and in the United States after Hurricane Katrina. 
 
Pakistanis took to Twitter to mourn the death of a national hero many call a &quot;living saint&quot; and &quot;Pakistan&#39;s Mother Teresa&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;In his death he has united all of Pakistan, across all affiliations, in mourning. That in itself is a measure of his greatness,&quot; said a Twitter user named Imran Khan. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

In a country of 190 million where public health and welfare services are weak, Edhi ran a vast fleet of ambulances, orphanages and clinics

Famed philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, who set up one of Pakistan's biggest welfare organisations and was revered as a "living saint" by many in the South Asian country, died in hospital late on Friday. The announcement of his death triggered a wave of accolades on TV and social media. Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid tribute to him as "a great servant of humanity," and said he would receive a posthumous presidential medal and a state funeral. The 88-year-old's reputation for austerity and generosity resonated deeply in Pakistan, a country of 190 million people whose government is riddled with corruption and where public health and welfare services are weak. "There are few men who have done as much good, and made as much a difference to the lives and livelihoods of the Pakistani people as Abdul Sattar Edhi," Sharif said hours before Edhi's death. Edhi, a short man with a long white beard who often wore a traditional cap, had been ill for several years after suffering kidney failure, Edhi's son Faisal told journalists in Karachi. Sharif's government had offered to fly Edhi abroad for treatment, but he refused, saying he wanted to be treated at a public hospital in his own country. The Edhi Foundation runs a vast fleet of ambulances, orphanages and medical clinics across the country. Last year when a devastating heat wave struck Karachi, a city of about 20 million people, the foundation was at the forefront of the response: its ambulances tended to the sick, the Edhi morgue was used to store the dead and many of the poor buried their family members in the Edhi cemetery for free. Edhi's funeral on Saturday is expected to be one of the biggest in Pakistan's history. "He was a noble soul who dedicated his life in service of mankind," said Sushma Swaraj, the foreign minister of India. "PAKISTAN'S MOTHER TERESA" In a nation often riven by social, ethnic and religious strife, Edhi won respect from every strata of society for an ascetic lifestyle that was devoted to helping the poor regardless of their background. Edhi lived in a bare room in Karachi, alternating between his two suits of black clothes and occasionally listening to recordings of Koranic verses on a battered old tape recorder. "When my ambulance takes a wounded person who is in pain to the hospital, when people reach the hospital, I find peace in knowing I helped an injured person who was in pain," Edhi told Reuters in an interview in 2013. "My mission is to love human beings. Each day is the best day of my life." Edhi was well-known for berating Islamist groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for their attacks on civilians, criticising the government for incompetence and corruption and denouncing the elites for dodging taxes. His wife, Bilquis, a nurse, oversees the women's shelters and the adoption of orphans. They have found homes for about 25,000 children. Edhi's foundation has provided relief in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Croatia, Indonesia and in the United States after Hurricane Katrina. Pakistanis took to Twitter to mourn the death of a national hero many call a "living saint" and "Pakistan's Mother Teresa". "In his death he has united all of Pakistan, across all affiliations, in mourning. That in itself is a measure of his greatness," said a Twitter user named Imran Khan. (Reuters)

Famed Pakistani philanthropist, 'national hero' Edhi dies in Karachi

Pakistan&#39;s lonely elephant Kaavan has become the subject of a high-profile rights campaign backed by music icon Cher, but efforts to improve the pachyderm&#39;s lot appear limited. 
 
The 32-year-old Asian elephant is suffering from &quot;mental illness&quot;, and without a better habitat his future is bleak even if a long-promised new mate finally arrives, experts told AFP. 
 
Outrage over Kaavan&#39;s treatment went global with a petition garnering over 200,000 signatures after it emerged he was being chained at the Islamabad Zoo in Pakistan&#39;s leafy capital. 
 
Zoo officials have said this is no longer the case, and that Kaavan just needs a new mate after his previous partner died in 2012. 
But his behaviour, including signs of distress such as bobbing his head repeatedly, demonstrates &quot;a kind of mental illness&quot;, said Safwan Shahab Ahmad, the vice chairman of Pakistan Wildlife Foundation. 
 
Ahmad, who has conducted detailed research on Kaavan since the 1990s, also slammed the lack of trained experts to care for the elephant, saying he needs more space and a pen better adapted to his natural forest habitat.&nbsp; 
 
Activists say he has insufficient shelter from Islamabad&#39;s searing summer temperatures, which can rise to above 40 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit). 
 
Asian elephants can roam thousands of kilometres through deep tropical and subtropical forests, according to the World Wildlife Fund. 
In contrast, Kaavan&#39;s 90 by 140 metre (100 by 150 yard) pen has almost no foliage, and only limited shade is provided. 
 
&quot;Give Kaavan deep bushes and artificial showering and you will see him enjoying the environment,&quot; said Ahmad, who has written several research papers on the elephant. 
 
Ahmad was backed by mammalogy expert Dr Wasim Ahmad Khan, who said captivity &quot;will shorten his life if we don&#39;t take care of his environment&quot;. 
 
Arriving as a one-year-old in 1985 from Sri Lanka, Kaavan was temporarily held in chains in 2002 because zookeepers were concerned about increasingly violent tendencies, but he was freed later that year after an outcry. 
 
His mate Saheli, who arrived also from Sri Lanka in 1990, died in 2012, and last year it emerged that Kaavan was regularly being chained once more for several hours a day. 
 
Scores of people signed a petition sent to zoo authorities and Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in protest, and the zoo told AFP during a visit earlier this month that the elephant is no longer being restrained. 
 
A second petition circulated earlier this year and backed by over 200,000 animal-lovers from across the globe, demanded Kaavan&#39;s release to a sanctuary.&nbsp; 
 
Cher, who for months has been speaking out about Kaavan&#39;s plight, tweeted a series of images on June 29 showing Kaavan standing by an artificial pond, part of a new moat encircling his enclosure. 
 
&quot;KAAVAN UNCHANED &amp; WALKING TO WATER, WE ARE CLOSE TO SAVING HIM&quot; the singer tweeted. 
 
But the zoo, run by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), hit back at the accusations, saying Kaavan was just lonely and in need of a new mate.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It was in November last year that we unchained Kaavan after allocating a much bigger space for him in the zoo and developing necessary infrastructure for his free movements,&quot; the CDA&#39;s deputy director general Iftikhar Awan, who is responsible for the zoo, told AFP. 
 
The zoo is in negotiations with Sri Lanka over a new mate for Kaavan, he added, though he could not give a timeline. 
 
Pakistani media have also upped the pressure on zoo authorities after an ostrich died there in May. 
 
&quot;We are waiting for a report that will disclose the reasons for ostrich&#39;s death,&quot; the zoo&#39;s deputy director Dr Muhammad Bilal told AFP. 
Kaavan&#39;s keeper maintains that the pachyderm is not being mistreated -- but just longs for company.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Bring a female elephant and you will see very positive changes in Kaavan,&quot; keeper Jalal-ud-din Ahmad told AFP. 
 
(AFP)

Not even a petition signed by 200,000 people and backing from music icon Cher can lift Kaavan's mood

Pakistan's lonely elephant Kaavan has become the subject of a high-profile rights campaign backed by music icon Cher, but efforts to improve the pachyderm's lot appear limited. The 32-year-old Asian elephant is suffering from "mental illness", and without a better habitat his future is bleak even if a long-promised new mate finally arrives, experts told AFP. Outrage over Kaavan's treatment went global with a petition garnering over 200,000 signatures after it emerged he was being chained at the Islamabad Zoo in Pakistan's leafy capital. Zoo officials have said this is no longer the case, and that Kaavan just needs a new mate after his previous partner died in 2012. But his behaviour, including signs of distress such as bobbing his head repeatedly, demonstrates "a kind of mental illness", said Safwan Shahab Ahmad, the vice chairman of Pakistan Wildlife Foundation. Ahmad, who has conducted detailed research on Kaavan since the 1990s, also slammed the lack of trained experts to care for the elephant, saying he needs more space and a pen better adapted to his natural forest habitat. Activists say he has insufficient shelter from Islamabad's searing summer temperatures, which can rise to above 40 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit). Asian elephants can roam thousands of kilometres through deep tropical and subtropical forests, according to the World Wildlife Fund. In contrast, Kaavan's 90 by 140 metre (100 by 150 yard) pen has almost no foliage, and only limited shade is provided. "Give Kaavan deep bushes and artificial showering and you will see him enjoying the environment," said Ahmad, who has written several research papers on the elephant. Ahmad was backed by mammalogy expert Dr Wasim Ahmad Khan, who said captivity "will shorten his life if we don't take care of his environment". Arriving as a one-year-old in 1985 from Sri Lanka, Kaavan was temporarily held in chains in 2002 because zookeepers were concerned about increasingly violent tendencies, but he was freed later that year after an outcry. His mate Saheli, who arrived also from Sri Lanka in 1990, died in 2012, and last year it emerged that Kaavan was regularly being chained once more for several hours a day. Scores of people signed a petition sent to zoo authorities and Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in protest, and the zoo told AFP during a visit earlier this month that the elephant is no longer being restrained. A second petition circulated earlier this year and backed by over 200,000 animal-lovers from across the globe, demanded Kaavan's release to a sanctuary. Cher, who for months has been speaking out about Kaavan's plight, tweeted a series of images on June 29 showing Kaavan standing by an artificial pond, part of a new moat encircling his enclosure. "KAAVAN UNCHANED & WALKING TO WATER, WE ARE CLOSE TO SAVING HIM" the singer tweeted. But the zoo, run by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), hit back at the accusations, saying Kaavan was just lonely and in need of a new mate. "It was in November last year that we unchained Kaavan after allocating a much bigger space for him in the zoo and developing necessary infrastructure for his free movements," the CDA's deputy director general Iftikhar Awan, who is responsible for the zoo, told AFP. The zoo is in negotiations with Sri Lanka over a new mate for Kaavan, he added, though he could not give a timeline. Pakistani media have also upped the pressure on zoo authorities after an ostrich died there in May. "We are waiting for a report that will disclose the reasons for ostrich's death," the zoo's deputy director Dr Muhammad Bilal told AFP. Kaavan's keeper maintains that the pachyderm is not being mistreated -- but just longs for company. "Bring a female elephant and you will see very positive changes in Kaavan," keeper Jalal-ud-din Ahmad told AFP. (AFP)

Pakistan's lonely elephant suffering from 'mental illness', say experts

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