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Kashmir Unrest
More than 50 Kashmiris, including teenagers and young men have been killed while hundred others have been injured in clashes with Indian security forces following the killing of Kashmiri freedom fighter Burhan Wani earlier this month. Pakistan has strongly condemned the brutal use of force by Indian forces appealed to the world to interfere.
Pakistan has also vowed to continue to provide moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris and to undertake all possible efforts to inform the world about Indian atrocities. This week in Senate session adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told that Pakistan had decided to approach the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to investigate human rights violations and the recent wave of violence against civilians in India-held Kashmir. He also rejected Indian assertion that the situation in the valley was an internal matter of India, describing it as complete violation of the UN Security Council resolutions.
Meanwhile Kashmiris, on Wednesday, observed “black day” to mark the atrocities of Indian troops. The black day was also observed in Pakistan to express solidarity with the Kashmiris and protest rights violations in the valley. Rallies and functions were arranged all over the country and Azad Kashmir to draw attention of the world community towards the issue of Kashmir. Officials of federal and provincial governments wore black armbands to denounce Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir and express solidarity with the Kashmiris. Pakistani missions abroad briefed the media as well as caucuses about the Kashmir issue.
Local Politics
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has finally joined his office in Islamabad. After undergoing heart surgery on May 31, the premier arrived in Pakistan last week and stayed in Lahore since then. He is expected to chair several meetings and sessions the coming week. Earlier this week PM’s doctors had advised him against travelling following a medical checkup as he was suffering from a fever after contracting an infection in his leg.
Meanwhile the latest developments in former minister Dr Asim case heated up the political climate, as the police arrested four main leaders belonging to the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and Pakistan People’s Party after the Anti-Terrorism Court-II (ATC-II) rejected their bail pleas.
The arrested leaders were facing charges of allegedly asking former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain to provide treatment and shelter to alleged terrorists and gangsters at Ziauddin Hospital in Karachi. Dr Asim, a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari, had been booked on the complaint of Sindh Rangers for allegedly treating and harbouring suspected terrorists, militants and gangsters at his hospital at the behest of some MQM and PPP leaders. According to the prosecution, four different parties had allegedly asked Dr Asim to provide medical treatment to ‘political militants’, Lyari gangsters as well as activists of banned militant outfits after they sustained wounds in shootouts with police and Sindh Rangers.
Meanwhile in yet another successful operation, Pakistan Army on Monday night managed to recover Awais Ali Shah, the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who was abducted from outside a supermarket in Karachi on June 21. According to reports, Awais Shah had been kidnapped by members of a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) splinter group and al Qaeda.
Turkey Coup Attempt
Following the failed coup attempt that took more than 250 lives, Turkey has imposed a three-month state of emergency this week. After several meetings of his national security council, Erdogan declared Turkey’s first state of emergency since 2002. The Emergency was announced almost a week after the rebel soldiers surged into the streets with tanks, bombing parliament and shooting protesters. Erdogan said it would allow Turkey to be cleared of ‘terrorists’ linked to US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom he accuses of orchestrating the failed coup. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the special measures may only last up to 45 days, insisting the state want to end the state of emergency as soon as possible. He also said that Turkey will suspend the European Convention on Human Rights, saying France had done the same after being targeted by a string of attacks.
So far Turkey has detained a total of 112 generals and admirals and thousands of judges besides suspending 8,000 policemen in the wake of the failed coup. Those detained are accused of seeking to violate the Turkish constitution and attempting to overthrow the authorities by force. They are also accused of belonging to what the authorities call the Fethullahci Terror Organisation (FETO) led by Fethullah Gulen, the exiled US-based preacher who Erdogan blames for the coup.
The latest turbulence has also raised concern about the stability of Turkey, a key Nato member and a part of the international coalition against Islamic State militants in Syria.
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