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Pakistan Army demolishes Sharada Peeth wall and sets up a coffee home instead

Pakistan is once again engaged in its nefarious activities. The Pakistan Army has forcibly occupied the land and demolished the Sharada Peeth wall in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). Sharada peeth is the historic religious site. After destroying the outer wall of the temple they also have established a coffee shop there. The Pakistan Army has forcefully taken control of the land of Sharada Peeth. The 73 kanals land of the Sharada Peeth has been reduced to merely 10 kanals as Pakistan Army has occupied the rest of land and is continuing to occupy further land.

Residents along with some civil society members objected to it, but their pleas were disregarded. Instead of removing illegal occupation, the military harassed members of the local civil society.

The Chairman of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir has lambasted Pakistan and spoke on the encroachment. He pointedly stated that the boundary wall has been damaged & stones have been carted away.

He also raised an issue of cross border civilians meeting which Pakistan had denied both on Eid and Diwali. Unfortunately, ISI & selected army families get a clear access to the region.

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POJK High Court reaction

In response to a letter, he had written to the POJK high court regarding the demolished Sharada Peeth wall, the HC registrar neglected his grievance of Pakistan Army’s illegitimate control of Sharada Peeth. Through the letter, the puppet Chief Justice of POJK HC advised him to engage with the occupying government of POJK.

Just a day ago, Pakistan authorities demolished a Hindu temple in Sindh and now the Pakistan Army is trying to demolish the sacred Sharda Peeth. No matter who controls the territory and what animosity the controller has harboured for another religion, the controlling army has no right to occupy a religious place. This is a sheer act of violence of religious sentiments.

Since past year the voice for the restoration of Sharda Peeth has been echoing. Hindus across the world are demanding for a corridor akin to the Kartarpur Sahib. And that is why Pakistan is trying to destroy the remains of Sharada Peeth and make the land flat. Pakistan Army that controls the POJK is doing so because it wants to destroy every trace of ancient civilisation.

Pak police kills woman in Noshki, protestors block central highway

In a tragic incident in Noshki, an area in the Kallat district of Pak-occupied-Balochistan, a woman lost her life during a police arrest, leading to a surge of protests and road closures. The relatives of the deceased woman have taken to the streets, expressing their anger and grief.

The unfortunate event occurred during the arrest of a wanted suspect in Kallat. The local residents detailed the incident stating that, SHO Asadullah Mengal of Kili Qadar Abad violated the sanctity of the home by raiding the house of tribal leader Halim Khan Sarparah and firing at the woman inside the house, killing her.

In response, her grieving relatives have staged a protest, choosing to block the Quetta-Taftan central highway. In a symbolic act of demonstration, they placed the deceased woman’s body on the road, creating a roadblock.

On the occasion, Balochistan National Party (BNP) district president Haji Mir Bahadur Khan Mengal, central committee member Mir Khurshid Jamaldini, and other workers were also present with the protesters.

The closure of the central highway has led to a considerable backlog of vehicles, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and facing immense difficulties. The protesters are demanding justice, calling for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the Station House Officer (SHO) responsible for the incident and urging his immediate arrest.

The protesters are demanding that an FIR be registered against SHO Asadullah Mengal and he be arrested. It is worth noting that an inquiry is already underway against SHO Asadullah Mengal for his use of excessive force against innocent citizens of Pak-occupied-Balochistan. This is not the first time that police have been accused of brutality in Balochistan. In recent years, there have been several cases of police firing on protesters and killing civilians.

These incidents paints a grim picture of life under the brutal Pak regime, plagued by the atrocities such as enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings, targeted killings, kidnapping for ransoms, humiliations at gun points .The protesters are resolute in their demand for accountability, pressing for a thorough investigation into the actions of SHO Asadullah Mengal.

The incident is a reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis in Pak-occupied-Balochistan. The Baloch people have long been fighting for their rights and against the injustices they face. The incident has once again highlighted the need for independence of Balochistan from Pak Army.

Bomb blast in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa kills Malik Aslam Wazir

Prominent Pakistani leader Malik Aslam Wazir, known for his anti-India stance, was killed in an explosion in Daza Ghundai, South Waziristan Lower Tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The bomb, planted on a shop rooftop, resulted in the deaths of Malik, his younger son, and another person.

Malik Aslam Noor Wazir, recognized with a presidential award, wielded influence within Pakistani terrorist networks, despite limited international recognition. His death is a significant blow to the terror infrastructure in Pakistan.

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The incident adds to escalating tensions in Pakistan, marked by increased insurgent activity. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, intensified attacks following the breakdown of peace talks and the end of a monthlong ceasefire in December.

The surge in violence extends to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region, with recent incidents in North Waziristan, South Waziristan, and Bajaur resulting in eight fatalities, including two security personnel, and numerous injuries. This upswing in insurgent violence raises both local and international concerns.

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In a recent development, Pakistan Army eliminated four armed fighters, including a sought-after individual named ‘Ibrahim,’ near the northwestern border with Afghanistan. Despite the Army’s success in clearing North Waziristan after the 2014 attack on an army-run school in Peshawar, sporadic attacks persist. This suggests the possibility that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) may have sought refuge in Afghanistan and is rebuilding, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Pakistan Army.

The Pakistani Taliban, while distinct from the Afghan Taliban, is allied with the group that seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 as US and NATO troops completed their withdrawal after two decades of war.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan warns Pak of dire consequences if families of TTP are harmed

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist organization has threatened Pakistan on a possibility of fierce action if the latter does not stop targeting people related to it. Once promoted by Pakistan, TTP has now set eyes on the Pakistan controlled territory bordering Afghanistan. In the latest press release, the terrorist organization has stated “For some time now, the power-hungry state agencies (Pakistan) have started unannounced operations and war against those people, whose relatives are in the ranks of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, especially in Dera Ismail Khan and Peshawar provinces. A number of people have been arrested during these operations, some of them have been forced to leave their homes, some businesses and properties have been confiscated, and some of them are being harassed in different ways to make them leave their areas.”

Precisely, Pakistan is facing an end that was bound to happen given its choice of means. Pakistan has been repeatedly warned that if it would create the monster of terrorism, eventually none but only it will face the ramifications. But Pakistan helped the terror industry to entrench so firm that it has now become near-to-impossible to eradicate these extremist elements, because, if the detail about Pakistani operation mentioned in the TTP release is to be believed, Pakistan is taking these actions to safeguard the territory under its control and TTP, a terrorist organization, which is threatening it to refrain from doing so. This makes the precarious situation evident.

TTP gives stern warning

Nonetheless, mentioning the ongoing Afghan civilian deportation, the release urges that all believers and Muslim people in Pakistan, particularly scholars, political parties, and tribal leaders, need to contemplate the detrimental policy adopted by the current interim government, influenced by the establishment, fostering hatred towards the Afghan people.

Furthermore, TTP has warned all government officials and their relatives that if this dangerous act and behavior is not stopped within one month and this policy is not removed, then the first attack will be taken at the feet of government officials and their relatives.

Pakistan which calls itself a nuclear state used the menace of terrorism to destabilise Afghanistan and India, however, it has ended up being destabilized. A terrorist organization that operates on its soil is challenging its ‘sovereignty’ and it is in no position to give a tough reply. As last time when TTP and Pakistan Army indulged in clashes in Chitral, Pakistan forces suffered significant losses along with utter humiliation.

Radical Islamists demolish another Hindu temple in Sindh

Hindus in Pakistan are one of the most persecuted communities in Pakistan, who constantly face multifaceted challenges from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In a latest development, a Hindu temple in Tharparkar has been demolished. The demolition of the temple of Mata Hinglaj, was ordered by the anti-encroachment court in Mirpurkhas. As per reports, hundreds of Hindus accumulated on the site and cried slogans against the demolition of Mata Hinglaj mandir and raised their voice against their persecution.

Interestingly, Hindu temples are often targeted in Pakistan without any materialising legal action against it. However, this time the so-called law enforcement and judiciary has ordered the penalisation of Hindus. In fact, the dacoits and the so-called law enforcement work on the same lines in Pakistan. A couple of months ago, Mari Mata Mandir, a 150-year-old Hindu temple was vandalized by the dacoits in Sindh. In both the cases, the Hindus were helpless and there was no authority to hear their grievances. On the other hand, both the act got acceptance in the radicalized establishment.

India once again slams Pakistan over Kashmir in the UN meeting

India has once again dismissed Pakistan’s mention of Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council meeting held under China’s presidency. The ongoing debate centered on ‘Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Promoting Sustaining Peace through Common Development’.

During the debate, Munir Akram, Pakistan’s UN envoy made a reference to Kashmir in his remarks, prompting strong reaction from the Indian side. Counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN R. Madhu Sudan gave a stiff reply saying, “I will take not more than a few seconds to dismiss the unwarranted and habitual remarks made by a Permanent Representative earlier against my country and I will not dignify them with a response here.”

Earlier in UNGA, the care taker PM of Pakistan has also raised the Kashmir issue only to get lambasted by Petal Gahlot, India’s first secretary at the United Nations. While she mentioned the malicious motive of Pakistan to hide its own human rights abuses, she also called Pakistan a habitual offender. She further put the Indian stand and said, “We reiterate that the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir are an integral part of India. Matters pertaining to the UTs of J&K and Ladakh are purely internal to India. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on our domestic matters.”

Pakistan persistently raises the Kashmir issue at international platforms, including the UN, seeking attention, yet these efforts have not garnered significant support. India remains steadfast in its assertion that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and will always be the same.

Relations between India and Pakistan have further deteriorated after India revoked Article 370, the law that stopped the full assimilation of Jammu and Kashmir into India on August 5, 2019.

Pakistan extorts ‘Exit Permit Fee’ from Afghan refugees before repatriation

Pakistan’s inhumane face has been uncovered for one more time as it charges hundreds of dollars in Exit Permit Fee from Afghan refugees who settled in Pakistan after the Taliban takeover.

The fee is imposed targeting the refugees that are set to leave for western countries under resettlement schemes. As per these resettlement schemes the western countries, primarily US and UK, have committed to settle the Afghan refugees who fled Taliban’s persecution in Afghanistan. While the US has assured of accommodating 25,000 refugees, UK has committed to a figure of 20,000. Accordingly, United Kingdom has opened its scheme for resettlement from January this year, with an announced intake of about 5,000 refugees per year.

Refugee crisis after the Taliban takeover

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, a huge Afghan refugee crisis has mounted. This happened because of the fear of bigoted government that works on a sole purpose of executive any voice of dissent or supporting democracy, precisely the ones who are either acquainted with the former government and its offices or somehow supported the western countries during long period of struggle against Taliban.

As a result, millions of civilians, both documented and undocumented, fled the country and settled in different parts of the world. Pakistan, for obvious reasons, saw most influx. Notably, the undocumented ones include both, without visas or expired visas. Now, Pakistan has started to repatriate the undocumented persons. It all started with a crackdown and a brutal torture of Afghan civilians before giving a final deadline for voluntary return to Afghanistan, which ended on 31st October. Since then, Pakistan has started to place undocumented Afghan refugees into detention centres for deportation.

Pakistan extorting $830 per person

Pakistan is reported to be extorting about $830 per head in exit permit fee from Afghan civilians waiting to leave for the western countries. After these reports, western countries along with the United Nations have slammed Pakistan for its actions.

Five senior western diplomats in Pakistan said that the exit permit fee in Pakistan was unprecedented internationally and had come as a shock. “I know it is very tough economically for Pakistan but really, to try to make money off refugees is really unattractive,” said one diplomat.

Another diplomat lambasted Pakistan saying, “It is very bizarre, and I personally find it very frustrating. If Pakistan wants to facilitate the process of the settlement of refugees in the West then they should not make it more complicated with such absurd conditions.” “What is the justification for this exit permit fee? To make a lot of money?”

Longstanding mockery of humanity by Pakistan

For the international community, it has come as a shock and unanticipated act of extorting money from the refugees. However, those aware of Pakistan’s real face find no reason to get shocked! Time and again, Pakistan has mocked humanity. Regions like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, POJK and POGB are filled with such living instances. It is well known that Pakistan is going through its worst economic crisis and so it does not want to leave any opportunity to squeeze the money. It knows that the Afghan civilians leaving for western countries are going to get some humane refuge and would easily pay any amount to get rid of their authoritative regime and so It is squeezing the last penny it could.

The worst part is that Pakistan is doing this even though it is the foremost reason, this crisis had unfolded and reached this point. On one side it portrayed itself as the victim of terrorism to appropriate funds from the US and on the other hand it helped Taliban in its destabilising efforts. It was done mainly for two reasons, first to maintain the inflow of funds intact and second to use Afghanistan as its strategic backyard for launching terrorist attacks in India using the same US funds.  

Now that the US led western forces have retrieved from Afghanistan, Pakistan is trying to extort anything possible.

Karakoram University announces temporary closure neglecting student’s protest

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While students protest at the Karakoram International University in Pak occupied Gilgit Baltistan, against the indiscriminate fee hike by the administration, the University has turned a blind eye towards their demand. In the latest development, the University Additional Academics Registrar has ordered a temporary closure of the university for an indefinite period on 21st of October. The Additional Academic Registrar also directed to conduct the classes as per preset routine using online mode.

Order Of Temporary Closure Of University (Photo: News Intervention)

This raises serious questions over the intention of the university administration as it is the university students who are protesting, and it is their obligation to listen and provide solutions to their grievances. Still, there has been no deliberation from the university site. Instead, the administration has closed the university rendering the protesting students in disarray. Evidently, this shows that the administration that is running on the directions of Pakistan is busy licking the boots of the Pakistan Army with no attention towards education and students’ reasonable demands.  

Students have been protesting against the lack of facilities and fee hike in the University for more than a year now. The university’s decision of indiscriminate fee hike is hurting more as the region is already grappling with lots of challenges like hike in electricity prices, wheat prices and capturing of crucial parts of land.

Meanwhile, a couple of days ago, the Gilgit Baltistan Students Council students of Quaid-e-Azam University registered their protest in favour of KIU student sit-in. They also extended support to the ongoing protests against the removal of wheat subsidy in the region.

Nevertheless, the commitment of the KIU students remains unwavering as they continue their sit-in  demonstration at Nad-e-Ali chowk irrespective of the abrupt closure of the university campus.  

Pakistan occupied Gilgit-Baltistan to soon witness major protest against wheat price hike

Rejecting the occupying government’s decision to increase the price of wheat and targeted subsidy, Tehrik-Insaaf (PTI) and Majlis-e-Unity Muslim Gilgit-Baltistan (MWM) announced they would start a major agitation soon. According to local media report, a consultation meeting of Pakistan Movement was held in a local hotel in Skardu, which was chaired by Mohammad Taqi Akhonthada, in which concern was expressed over the recent increase in the price of wheat and this increase was attributed to the drone attack on the people.

It was also decided in the consultation meeting of PTI to launch a big public movement in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan soon against the increase in wheat prices and targeted subsidy and in this regard PTI leaders should contact other political, religious, social and nationalist parties and suggestions will be sought from them to make the movement effective.

On the other hand, an emergency meeting of MWM was held under the chairmanship of Agha Ali Rizvi, in which the sudden increase in the price of wheat and targeted subsidy was rejected, terming it as a cruel decision.

Agha Ali Razvi said that the government is taking wrong decisions, the sudden increase in the price of wheat and targeted subsidy is a big attack on our people, we cannot remain silent on this. If silence is maintained, the price of wheat per bag will be increased to Rs 12,000 in one to two years. The government is checking the public, it wants to know to what extent the public will react, if the public remains silent. If the government will create more atrocities, we have decided that we will go to any extent for the people.

Families in Pak-occupied Balochistan protest against continued enforced disappearances by Pak Army

The families of the victim of enforced disappearances from different areas of Turbat protested by taking out a rally on Friday and organized a demonstration at Shahid Fida Chowk demanding the recovery of all the missing persons.

In the demonstration, regional coordinator of the Human Rights Commission, Professor Ghani Vravaz and founding head of the Balochistan Rights Movement, Maulana Hidayat Rahman, along with leaders of all parties and civil society participated and addressed.

The rally was organized by social personality and leader of the rights movement Yakub Jowski.

For the recovery of victims of enforced disappearances , women and children from different areas came and participated under the leadership of Yakub Joski. The rally was started from Turbat Press Club, which was led by the female family members of the missing persons. Apart from this, the Regional Secretary of HRPC Balochistan Rights Movement coordinator Syed Jan Gichki, BNP’s central leader Dr. Ghafur, Khan Muhammad Jan, Turbat Soul Society coordinator Gulzar Dost, and others also participtated.

The participants, holding banners and placards with pictures of missing persons and slogans on them, reached Shahid Fida Chowk and held a rally.

Haq Do Movement joins

While speaking at the gathering, Haq Do Movement leader Maulana Hidayat Rahman said that forced disappearance of Baloch youth is not a good decision for Pakistan, it will increase hatred and create distance. The people who are doing this are the people of Pak occupied Balochistan.

He said that kidnapping, murder and torture of innocent Baloch youth is not acceptable. “If we are not allowed to live with dignity by abandoning this policy, then complaining against us is also unjustified.”

HRCP’s Regional coordinator Professor Ghani Prawaaz addressed the rally and said that kidnapping and torture of civilians and dumping of dead bodies inside the state is not a good omen nor is there any scope for such a thing in the Constitution and law if disappearances are seen in the state. This is a crime under the laws, therefore, to avoid this, all forced missing persons should be immediately produced before the courts or courts and they should be dealt with as per the legal procedure.

He said that if any of the missing persons has committed any crime then they should be punished as per the laws, kidnapping or forced disappearance of someone is a crime against humanity and the courts should take action against it. Take action because the institutions of justice are the courts. If the courts do not play a role in preventing forced disappearances, then it is the worst injustice to the people.

He said that we will not give up on every kind of peaceful and democratic struggle for the recovery of missing persons.