September 22, 2006	Friday	Sha'aban 28, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Pakistan has rejected as ‘biased’ a Human Rights Watch statement on the country and termed the allegations of patronising banned militant groups and meddling in and controlling politics of Azad Kashmir through the GHQ as baseless.

“Pakistan has neither allowed the use of its soil for terrorist activities against any country nor will it let it happen in the future,” Minister of State for Information Senator Tariq Azim told a press conference on Thursday.

He said Azad Kashmir had its own government and own constitution. He rejected as baseless the accusation of Islamabad’s interference in the recently held polls in the AJK and said it had become a routine for the losers to claim that elections had been rigged.

Challenging the authenticity of the HRW statement, he said it was full of factual errors with pre-dominantly Indian researchers helping to prepare it.

He said those who helped in preparation of the report included Asma Jehangir from Pakistan who no more represented an independent voice after regularly attending opposition meetings.

He rejected the claim that the statement had been prepared through contacts with the people of Azad Kashmir through telephone and e-mails.

Senator Azim said according to the statement only, one newspaper was published from Azad Kashmir whereas in fact the number of dailies published from the state was nine, in addition to two weeklies and one fortnightly.

Asked if some banned organizations had taken part in relief activities in the quake-hit areas, he said the government had not mandated or supported any group. He added it was not possible for the government to check the credentials of every individual before allowing them entry into Azad Kashmir.

He said the policy remained unchanged, banned outfits were still banned and not allowed to take part in even relief and rehabilitation as an organization. However, he said there was no such ban on individuals.

He said Pakistan also allowed unrestricted access to Azad Kashmir to the foreign media and it was an ample proof that ‘we have nothing to conceal from the world’.