KHAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl workers on Monday held separate protest rallies against Indian army’s brutalities in Kashmir.

PTI activists arranged the demonstration in Inayat Kallay Bazaar, while the JUI-F workers held the rally in Nawagai area.

The protesters chanted slogans against India and in support of Kashmiris.

The participants of the PTI rally strongly condemned the Modi government’s move to revoke the special status of India-held Kashmir.

Addressing the rally, PTI leaders said that Indian government had no right to withdraw the special status of Kashmir as it was an internationally-recognised disputed territory.

They lauded the PTI-led federal government’s stance over the Kashmir issue and said holding of the special session of the UNSC on Kashmir dispute was a great victory for the government.

They said the day was not far when the Kashmir issue would be resolved as per the aspirations of the people.

The speakers said the people across the tribal districts were ready to render all sorts of sacrifices for their Kashmiri brethren.

In its rally, the JUI-F workers flayed the PTI government for what they said failing to get support of Muslim world over the Kashmir issue.

They said the ‘silence’ of the Muslim world over the Kashmir issue since the Indian government revoked the special status of the occupied state reflected on the PTI government’s failed foreign policy.

They also slammed the members of the UNSC for not issuing a joint statement after the recent meeting on Kashmir.

TWO DIE ON ROAD: Two youths were killed and five others critically wounded when two motorcycles collided head-on on Khar-Munda Road on Monday evening.

Officials of Bajaur Levies and witnesses told Dawn that the accident occurred in Raggan Dag area of Khar tehsil.

The victims were identified as Osma, 20, and Irsahd Khan, 19. The wounded were identified as Inayat Rehman, Aimal Khan, Hasna Bibi, Hasnain and Yasra Bibi.

Doctors at the district headquarters hospital said two of the injured were being shifted to a hospital in Peshawar owing to their precious condition.

PLANTATION DRIVE: Forest officials on Monday said more than 250,000 saplings had been planted in the region during the four-day ‘Plant for Pakistan’ drive launched on Aug 16.

Talking to reporters, divisional forest officer Hayat Ali said the plantation campaign was successfully completed in Bajaur district. He said employees of the forest department, officials of the district administration, police, Levies, education and agriculture departments and tribal elders took part in the drive.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2019