The Senate Standing Committee on Interior in its meeting strongly condemned the ongoing longest curfew in Kashmir on its 190th day and urged the international community to take notice of gross human rights violation and humanitarian crisis in Indian occupied Kashmir.
The Committee also observed one minute silence for the Chinese victims of Coronavirus and expressed solidarity with the people and government of China.
The meeting was chaired by Senator A. Rehman Malik and was attended by Senator Kulsoom Parveen, Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi, and Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen and officials from Ministry of Interior, Law and Justice, FIA, PTA and other concerned departments.
At the outset, Senator A. Rehman Malik strongly condemned the ongoing Indian forces brutalities against oppressed Kashmiris and the 190 days longest curfew in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. He said that the committee will continue to condemn the brutal curfew by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir and will express solidarity with people of Kashmir who are struggling for their legitimate right of self-determination under UNSC resolutions. The committee also condemned the ongoing ceasefire violation by Indian Forces across Line of Control and targeting the civilian population. Senator A. Rehman Malik said that to divert world’s attentions from Indian Forces brutalities in Kashmir and from the countrywide protests against discriminatory citizenship law, PM Modi is creating chaos on LoC. He said, “The Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populations with artillery fire and automatic weapons, which is highly condemnable and sheer violation of international human rights and the UN laws.” He urged the Government to take the case of continuous unprovoked ceasefire violation and targeting civilian population by India to the United Nations General Assembly and International Court of Justice (ICJ). He advised the government to request the United Nations Secretary General during his upcoming visit to Pakistan, to appoint a special commission to investigate all ceasefire violations by India and increase the strength of Military Observers across LoC.
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior also observed a minute’s silence for victims of Coronavirus in China. Senator A. Rehman Malik said “We (Pakistanis) express our sorrows over the loss of many lives because of deadly Coronavirus and full solidarity with the people of China”. He said that in these difficult moments we stand by the brave people of China and hope they will combat the deadly Coronavirus soon and successfully. He said that he had taken notice of the Pakistani students stranded in China after the breakout of Coronavirus in different provinces of the China and has asked the Ministry of Interior to take all the measures for their safe return. He said that the spread of the Coronavirus in China has created chaos and scare throughout the world and Pakistani citizens are equally at risk. He said that many Pakistani students stranded in China have contacted him and has received many messages on social media from them demanding their safe return at the earliest.
He showed his serious concern over the matter as other countries have already evacuated their citizens and students from China but Pakistani students have not yet been rescued. He said that in this regard he talked with Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan who assured his full support to the Pakistani students stranded in China. He said that Chinese Ambassador told him that they have successfully discovered the antidote of the Coronavirus and will be eliminating it fully soon. He directed the Ministry of Interior to establish isolation centres at each Pakistani airport and thoroughly check all the international passengers for Coronavirus. Committee observed that passengers arriving from China are not being checked up properly for Coronavirus at airports as there is no such arrangement.
Senator A. Rehman Malik directed that the travel history of all passengers arriving Pakistan through international flights should be checked for the origin of their journey as many from China are arriving Pakistan through transit flights. He asked the Ministry of Interior that all the Airlines should be asked to provide the list of the passengers, their origin of flights with details and all should be screened for coronavirus at their arrival at airports throughout the country. He said that all measures should be taken to stop the spread of Coronavirus in Pakistan. Committee directed that all Chinese working on CPEC should be checked up and medical clearance certificate should be issued to them.
In the meeting Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi raised the matter of converting the house of former finance minister Ishaq Dar in Lahore into a Panahgah (shelter home). The Committee strongly condemned the act of converting Senator Dar’s house into Panahgah and termed it an act of political victimization. The Chairman Committee Senator Rehman Malik said that there is thin line between accountability and victimization and such act of victimization should be discouraged and condemned by all.
