MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly condemned the “incessant and unprovoked” ceasefire violations by Indian troops across the Line of Control (LoC) this Monday.

The assembly called upon the United Nations (UN) and the international community to pressure India to respect international law and mutual agreements, and to halt the bloodshed along the de facto border.

It also urged the Pakistani government to raise the issue at the relevant international forums as soon as possible.

The demands were made through several resolutions tabled by members from both sides of the divide.

The session, chaired by deputy speaker Shaheen Kousar Dar, was convened at the requisition of the combined opposition, made up of 12 members of the Pakistan Muslims League-Nawaz (PML-N) and five members of the Muslim Conference (MC).

The members said that Indian troops have been targeting civilians, particularly in Nakyal, Madarpur and Neza Pir, and have caused casualties and property damage.

“It is painful to record that even weddings and funerals are not invulnerable to the trigger-happy Indian soldiers,” the house observed.

Paying tributes to residents of the border region for their remarkable resilience in the face of the shelling, the house said that their courage was a message to the enemy that repression and aggression would not subdue Kashmiris living on either side of the LoC.

The house also stated that the “recent provocative statements by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi” had jeopardised peace in South Asia, and asked world leaders to use their influence to contain the situation.

The house added that while the Indian government brags about its desire to build peace, its security apparatus has left no stone unturned in its goal to sabotage the peace process.

The house also paid tribute to the Pakistani armed forces for defending the country’s geographical frontier, and stated that the Kashmiri nation stood united behind them as they accomplish their national duty.

Those who moved the resolutions include Minister of Law Syed Azhar Hussain Gillani, Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Matlood Inqilabi, Minister for Food Javed Iqbal Budhanvi, Leader of the Opposition Raja Farooq Haider, and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Sardar Farooq Tahir, Chaudhry Yasin Gulshan, Chaudhry Mohammad Ismail, Mehr-un-Nisa, and Sardar Mir Akbar Khan.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2015

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