Peshawar court unblocks IDs of four May 9 accused

The Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara commemorated Kashmir Exploitation Day with national spirit and dignity, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and their right to self-determination. The event marked seven years since India’s August 5, 2019, decision to revoke the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. Participants reiterated solidarity with the Kashmiri people and called for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. The ceremony was attended by prominent Turkish political leaders, diplomats, academics, members of parliament, representatives of think tanks, members of the diplomatic corps, media personnel, and members of the Pakistani and Turkish communities. The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by special messages from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The messages reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s struggle and urged the international community to play an effective role in implementing UN Security Council resolutions on the Kashmir dispute. Chairman of the Geopolitical Foresight Institute, retired Major General Goray Alpar, highlighted the strategic and geographical importance of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the people of Pakistan and Türkiye share deep historical, cultural, and brotherly ties. He also warned that India’s unilateral actions, constitutional changes, and attempts to use shared water resources as political leverage could threaten peace and stability across the region. SESRIC Director General and former Turkish minister Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk reaffirmed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s principled stance on the Kashmir issue. She said a just and lasting solution could only be achieved by allowing the people of Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination in line with UN Security Council resolutions. She also drew parallels between the situations in Kashmir and Palestine, urging the international community to fulfil its responsibilities in pursuing a fair and durable solution. Turkish parliamentarian and Deputy Chairman of the Felicity Party, Mustafa Kaya, strongly criticised India’s policies in Indian-administered Kashmir, describing them as “demographic terrorism.” He said efforts to alter the region’s demographic composition, deprive local residents of land rights, and implement settlement policies similar to those seen elsewhere would not suppress the Kashmiri people’s aspirations for freedom. In his concluding remarks, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Dr. Yousaf Junaid, thanked the Turkish government and people for their continued support on the Kashmir issue. He alleged that India was pursuing a policy of demographic change in the region by issuing millions of domicile certificates to non-local residents while maintaining restrictions on independent media and continuing state repression. The ambassador said India’s unilateral constitutional measures could not change the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed that lasting peace, security, and stability in South Asia depended on a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute and reiterated Pakistan’s call for a free, fair, and impartial UN-supervised plebiscite to allow the Kashmiri people to determine their political future.

Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has strongly criticised the government over rising fuel prices, heavy taxation and electricity costs. Addressing participants at the party’s sit-in in Lahore, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the government was putting an increasing financial burden on ordinary citizens. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices. He said the petroleum levy had no direct connection with the actual price of petrol. He questioned the justification for repeatedly increasing fuel prices and said the government was making life more difficult for the public. “The government drops a petrol bomb on us every day,” he said. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also criticised the government’s policies regarding independent power producers (IPPs). He alleged that successive governments had entered into unfair agreements with IPPs in the name of ending load-shedding. According to him, the government was now passing the cost of its own shortcomings on to the people through higher taxes. He said citizens were already struggling with expensive electricity and gas bills. The Jamaat-e-Islami leader said heavy taxes were being imposed on electricity and gas bills. He argued that such charges were increasing household expenses and adding to the difficulties faced by ordinary consumers. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman further said the government had shut down five of the 27 IPPs. He referred to the government’s own claim that the move would provide a benefit of Rs3,360 billion to the national exchequer. He questioned why similar measures could not be taken to provide lasting relief to consumers. He said the government should focus on reducing electricity costs instead of continuously increasing taxes and other charges. The Jamaat-e-Islami emir also criticised the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). He alleged that corruption within the tax collection system remained widespread. He called for greater transparency and accountability in government institutions. He said economic policies should be designed to provide relief to the public rather than increase their financial difficulties.