Lahore/Srinagar/New Delhi, August 23 (PTI): Pakistan’s Punjab Provincial Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan and asked the federal government to take up the issue in international forums, including the UN.
Tabled by Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, the unanimously adopted resolution said the House strongly condemns Modi’s statement as it is tantamount to interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
“The federal government should raise this matter at international forums including the United Nations. The world should be told about the Modi government’s interference in Pakistan’s affairs,” the resolution said.
Pakistan Peoples’ Party legislator Khurram Wattoo asked the chair to also request the federal government to sever trade ties with India.
Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rashid alleged that Modi’s statement manifested his policy of intolerance and interference into affairs of other states.
Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day speech, had said that he was thanked by the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, for flagging their problems.
Meanwhile in Kashmir, at least 17 people were injured by pellets fired by the security forces to quell stone-pelting mobs in Shopian district on Tuesday, police said.
Thirteen of them were discharged after being administered first aid at a local hospital.
Hundreds of people were protesting against the recent civilian killings in the valley at Vehil village this afternoon when some “miscreants” among them started pelting stones at security forces, a police official said.
Security forces retaliated by firing tear smoke shells and pellet guns, the official said, adding 17 people received pellet injuries.
“Four of the injured have been referred to hospitals in Srinagar for specialized treatment,” he added.
Reports of stone pelting were also received from Nowgam area of the city, Khushhaalpora in Sopore area of Baramulla district and Bandipora town, the official said
Indian Home Minister To Visit Kashmir on Wednesday
Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley beginning on Wednesday. He will review the situation and may hold talks with a cross section of people, a move which comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed “deep concern and pain” over the situation there.
This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the Valley which has been witnessing unrest since July 8 when Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with the Security Forces. So far, 65 people, including two policemen, have been killed and several thousands have been injured in the continuous violence.
The Home Minister has said that the Central government wants an “emotional relationship with the state and not just a need-based relationship.” Singh said the central government will talk to the stakeholders once peace and normalcy are restored in the state.
“As far as Government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don’t just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir,” he said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state.
Yesterday, while meeting a joint opposition delegation led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed “deep concern and pain” over the situation in Kashmir and asked all political parties to work together to find a “permanent and lasting” solution to the problems of Kashmir.
