dallas conference backs
| |

Dallas conference backs UN-led Kashmir settlement

ByJustpaste.in

DALLAS: A conference in Dallas, Texas, has called for a peaceful and lasting settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

The conference was organised by Friends of Kashmir to mark the anniversary of India’s 2019 decision to revoke the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora, community leaders and representatives of Sikhs for Justice attended the event.

Pakistan’s Consul General in Houston, Aftab Chaudhry, was the chief guest. Friends of Kashmir International Chairperson Ghazala Habib presided over the gathering.

Speakers expressed solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). They also voiced concerns about the situation in the region following the revocation of Article 370 and Article 35A.

Addressing the participants, Chaudhry said Pakistan would continue providing diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri people.

He said India’s decision to revoke the region’s special status had added further complexity to the long-running Kashmir dispute.

Ghazala Habib urged the international community to pay greater attention to the concerns and rights of Kashmiris. She also highlighted cooperation between Kashmiri and Sikh communities in raising issues related to justice and human rights.

Other speakers, including Aftab Siddiqui, Syed Fayaz Hasan, Ghulam Jahangra and Dr Fareeha Qazi, called for stronger international efforts to address the Kashmir dispute through peaceful means.

Gurvinder Singh, who represented the Sikh community, stressed the importance of involving younger generations in campaigns focused on justice and human rights.

At the conclusion of the conference, participants adopted a resolution calling for an internationally supported and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue in line with relevant UN resolutions.

The resolution also urged the international community to help protect the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people and maintain attention on the disputed region.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Senate erupts over Imran Khan’s medical treatmen…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: The Senate witnessed a heated exchange between the opposition and government benches on Tuesday over the medical treatment of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. The dispute centred on the implementation of an August 18 Supreme Court order concerning Imran Khan’s treatment. The court had directed authorities to shift him to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad and form a medical board that would include his sister and personal physician. The government, however, took Imran Khan to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), citing security concerns. He was later returned to Adiala Jail after doctors declared him medically fit. The opposition accused the government of failing to comply with the Supreme Court’s directions. The government rejected the allegation and maintained that the authorities had acted within the framework of the court order. The issue came up after PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar sought permission to move a resolution regarding the Supreme Court’s directions. Presiding Officer Shahadat Awan did not allow the resolution, ruling that the matter was sub judice. Opposition senators were instead allowed to raise the issue through points of order. Zafar argued that Parliament must uphold the Constitution and ensure compliance with decisions of the Supreme Court. He claimed that Imran Khan had neither been shifted to Shifa International Hospital nor examined by the medical board mentioned in the court’s order. He also alleged that the required facilities for examining the PTI founder were not available at PIMS. Zafar said political differences should not affect a person’s access to medical care. He urged the government to separate Imran Khan’s political status from his health and medical needs. PTI Senator Azam Swati also criticised the government, accusing it of adopting different standards in dealing with political figures. He cited previous instances in which government institutions had facilitated political leaders. The government defended its position through Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah. He said the state had complied with the Supreme Court’s directions while taking security considerations into account. Sanaullah said the court had also allowed the administration to assess security arrangements. He maintained that Imran Khan was therefore taken to a government hospital where qualified doctors were available. According to Sanaullah, a panel of doctors examined Imran Khan and found his condition satisfactory. He said the PTI founder was subsequently returned to jail. The adviser said the matter was already before the Supreme Court and a report would be submitted on September 16. He argued that the court itself should determine whether its order had been properly implemented. Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas urged the government to demonstrate political maturity and implement the Supreme Court’s order in letter and spirit. He also proposed forming a Senate committee to visit Imran Khan in jail and assess the situation.

  • |

    Senate seeks review of IPP deals over rising power costs

    ByJustpaste.in

    Islamabad: Independent Power Producers (IPPs) faced strong criticism in the Senate after lawmakers raised serious concerns over billions of rupees paid as capacity payments to power plants that are not fully operational, calling the practice an unnecessary burden on electricity consumers. The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, where members questioned the impact of IPP agreements on electricity prices and demanded a complete review of power generation contracts. The committee expressed concern that consumers are paying for electricity capacity even when some power plants are not producing electricity according to expectations. Members said such payments increase the cost of electricity and place additional pressure on ordinary citizens already facing high power bills. The committee directed the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to provide complete details of all Independent Power Producers, including their electricity tariffs, generation capacity, installation costs and rate analysis. The committee chairman stressed that electricity prices must be reviewed and unnecessary costs should be removed to provide relief to consumers. The committee also discussed whether some IPPs had affected the government’s solar energy policy. Members observed that certain power producers had, apparently, created difficulties for the promotion of solar energy initiatives and questioned whether existing agreements were supporting or limiting cheaper energy options. The committee demanded transparency in tariff decisions and questioned why NEPRA had not provided complete tariff determination details despite repeated directions. Lawmakers said clear information was necessary to understand how electricity prices are decided and why consumers continue to face expensive power bills. The committee also discussed imported coal and RLNG based power plants installed in Punjab instead of coastal areas. Officials explained that these plants were established near major electricity demand areas to improve supply efficiency. However, the committee directed NEPRA to provide a detailed comparison of all power projects so that lawmakers could examine costs, benefits and long term impact. The chairman said the government should consider renegotiating IPP agreements where necessary and review contracts of projects that are no longer useful. He said reducing electricity prices requires serious decisions and better management of power sector agreements. The meeting was chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood Ul Hassan and attended by Senators Mohammed Abdul Qadir and Aimal Wali Khan, while other members participated in person and online. The committee also reviewed issues related to circular debt, which remains one of the biggest challenges facing Pakistan’s power sector. Members said increasing electricity costs and financial problems in the energy sector require immediate attention because they directly affect households, businesses and the national economy. The committee’s discussion highlighted concerns over the relationship between power generation costs, IPP agreements and electricity bills paid by consumers. Members called for accountability, transparency and a detailed examination of agreements to ensure that the electricity system works in the public interest. The committee will continue reviewing IPP agreements and related energy sector issues in upcoming

  • | |

    Nirmal Purja’s body recovered after deadly Broad Peak avalanche

    ByJustpaste.in

    Renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja’s body has been recovered from Broad Peak in Pakistan, days after a devastating avalanche claimed the lives of members of his international climbing team. Rescue officials confirmed that Purja’s remains were found at an altitude of around 5,700 metres on Sunday. Search teams also located three additional bodies on the mountain, although their identities have not yet been officially confirmed. The fatal avalanche struck the 8,047-metre Broad Peak in the Karakoram mountain range during a climbing expedition. Authorities earlier confirmed that at least 10 climbers from different countries lost their lives in the tragedy. Purja, 43, was leading the multinational expedition when the avalanche occurred. Before his body was recovered, rescue teams had already retrieved the remains of American climber Mallory Geis, Omani mountaineer Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, and Nepalese climber Pur Bahadur Gurung. Rescue operations continue in the difficult high-altitude terrain, with officials working to recover the remaining victims. The recovered bodies are being transported to a nearby base camp before further arrangements are made. Purja was regarded as one of the world’s greatest mountaineers. Born in Nepal, he later served in the British Army and spent several years with the elite Special Forces before pursuing a career in high-altitude climbing. He gained global recognition in 2019 after completing the ascent of all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in just 189 days, breaking the previous world record by several years. His remarkable achievement was later featured in the widely acclaimed Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. At the time of the accident, Purja was attempting another historic milestone by becoming the first climber to summit all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres twice without supplemental oxygen. His death has prompted tributes from leaders and members of the international mountaineering community. Britain’s Prince William expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing Purja as an outstanding soldier and one of the world’s finest climbers. Nepalese officials also praised his courage, determination and lasting contribution to mountaineering.

  • Chinese National Arrested in Chiang Mai Over Altered Passport

    ByJustpaste.in

    CHIANG MAI – Immigration officers in Chiang Mai arrested a Chinese male national on July 17, 2026. The suspect allegedly tried to extend his stay in Thailand by using a heavily altered fake passport. Local officers discovered the forged travel document during a routine review at the local office. The suspect quickly admitted to changing the […]

  • | |

    Ammad Ali honoured with KP youth excellence award …

    ByJustpaste.in

      HARIPUR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has honoured Ammad Ali, founder and Chief Executive Officer of RankingGrow, with the Youth Excellence Award for his contributions to youth development, digital skills training and efforts to create greater opportunities for young people, particularly those living in underserved areas of the province. The award was presented by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Taj Muhammad Khan Tarand during a ceremony organised by the Directorate of Youth Affairs to mark International Youth Day. Ali founded RankingGrow, a digital marketing and IT services company that has been involved in initiatives aimed at equipping young people with practical digital skills and improving their access to professional training and employment opportunities. Through RankingGrow and other youth-focused initiatives, Ali has supported training programmes, workshops and community-based activities in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These programmes have particularly targeted areas where young people have fewer opportunities to access modern technology, professional education, career guidance and exposure to the digital industry. The training initiatives have focused on practical and market-oriented skills that can help young people become financially independent and participate in the growing digital economy. Areas covered by these programmes include digital marketing, search engine optimisation, social media marketing, graphic design, video editing, web development, artificial intelligence, freelancing and entrepreneurship. The programmes aim to bridge the gap between traditional education and the skills increasingly demanded by employers and clients in the digital marketplace. By providing young people with relevant technical and professional skills, the initiatives seek to help participants explore employment opportunities, start freelancing careers or establish their own businesses. Ali has also received recognition for his work on other occasions. He was previously awarded the Pride of Pakistan Award under the patronage of the President of Pakistan in acknowledgement of his services and contributions. In addition, he has received other recognitions for his efforts in youth empowerment, digital skills development and community-oriented initiatives. Speaking at the award ceremony, Ali said the recognition would encourage him and his team to expand their efforts to provide young people with skills that are relevant to the changing job market. He expressed his commitment to continuing initiatives that can help young people gain access to professional opportunities and participate more effectively in the digital economy. Ali emphasised the importance of ensuring that young people from smaller cities and underserved communities are not left behind as digital technology continues to transform the employment landscape. According to him, access to digital skills and professional opportunities should not be limited to young people living in major urban centres. The Youth Excellence Award also highlights the growing importance of cooperation between government institutions, private-sector organisations and community-led initiatives in addressing challenges related to youth employment, entrepreneurship and skills development. With Khyber Pakhtunkhwa having a large and growing youth population, initiatives focused on digital education and employable skills can provide young people with alternative pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. The recognition of Ali’s work reflects the contribution of such initiatives towards creating opportunities for young people and strengthening their participation in the province’s economic and social development.

  • Greenland: Trump’s predatory mood

    ByJustpaste.in

    US President Donald Trump’s attempt to “grab” Greenland constitutes a neo-colonial effort by a global “sheriff” who clearly does not respect the island’s national sovereignty and fundamental human rights. Swedish seismographs recorded explosions in the Nord Stream area shortly before the leaks emerged: ‘It’s an act of sabotage’ Thus, demonstrations took place in the capital […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *