ISLAMABAD / MUZAFFARABAD: The Foreign Office lodged a protest with the Indian government on Saturday over the death of a civilian in a ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.

A protest note on the death of the man was sent by the Foreign Office to the Indian high commission, acting spokesperson Riffat Masood said.

“The government of Pakistan, today, has lodged protest with the government of India through diplomatic channels over the casualty of a 60-year-old civilian, Muhammad Aslam, in the Rawalakot sector,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.

Mr Aslam, a resident of Polas village, was killed near the LoC. The victim was collecting firewood and fodder for animals almost 150 metres from the LoC in Azad Kashmir.

He received three bullets in his abdomen, the military’s public relations wing, ISPR, said.

The protest note said: “Pakistan called upon India to restrain its security forces from firing on the civilians, and stop the ceasefire violations across the Line of Control and the Working Boundary.”

Our Correspondent in Sialkot adds: The Indian Border Security Force resorted to unprovoked and intensified mortar shelling on border villages in Charwah sector from across the Working Boundary in the evening.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2015

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