RAWALPINDI: Faryal Talpur, the sister of former president Asif Ali Zardari, was taken from Polyclinic to Central Jail Adiala at midnight by the Islamabad police, not the Punjab Police, Punjab Law Minister Mohammad Raja Basharat Raja said on Wednesday.

In response to a question about whether it was a violation of the jail manual to move a woman to jail at midnight, raised during a press conference at Punjab House, Mr Raja said the provincial police were not involved and it was the capital’s police force that moved her to the jail.

“The Islamabad police did the job on the directives of the court and it had nothing to do with the Punjab police,” he said.

Accompanied by Punjab Minister for Colonies Fayazul Hassan Chohan and Minister for Informal Education Raja Rashid Hafeez, Mr Raja said the 72nd Independence Day was celebrated at the government level, in solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir.

Divisional Commissioner Saqib Zafar, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Ehsan Tufail, Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali Randhawa, City Police Officer (CPO) Faisal Rana and other senior officials were also present.

The ministers denounced Indian action in Kashmir and urged the United Nations and the international community to come forward and free Kashmiris. They said Kashmiris should be given the right to self-determination as per the resolution passed by the UN.

Mr Raja also praised the cleanliness campaign launched by the Rawalpindi Waste Management Corporation in the city. He said 7,000 tons of animal remains were removed in the first two days of Eid, and 1,000 tons were removed on the third day by sanitation workers and dumped in the proper places.

He said the cleanliness operation has been completed across the district.

The law minister also said Rawalpindi residents celebrated Eid peacefully due to elaborate security arrangements made by police and other law enforcement organisations.

“Eid congregations were held in more than 1,500 mosques under tight security,” he added.

To a question, Mr Raja said the government received 444 applications for no-objection certificates (NOC) to collect animal hides in the province.

“We have issued NOCs to 383 applicants, while 51 applications in this regard were rejected,” he said.

“Police have also taken stern action against those found involved in collecting hides without NOCs and registered 24 cases against violators,” he added.

To another question, he said the PTI government was working to execute the Ring Road, Leh Expressway and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology mega-projects, which were delayed by due to the policies of the last government.

He also called the metro bus service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad a “white elephant” and said it consumed funding in the shape of subsidies. He said that “despite all odds” they would complete all of the previous government’s projects even though the previous government left little money in the provincial exchequer.

When asked about the future of Jamaatud Dawa head Hafiz Saeed, Mr Raja said that would be decided by the court, as his case is pending with the Lahore High Court.

On fireworks and celebratory gunfire outside Lal Haveli on Tuesday night, he said fireworks are allowed for Independence Day celebrations but not at weddings. He said the government would take action on firing into the air.

When asked about action against police encounters, he said the provincial government does not support any action against the law and would punish those involved in the torture and death of a man in Gujar Khan in police custody a few days ago.

Mr Chohan said at the press conference that the government and nation have expressed solidarity with the people of Kashmir on Independence Day.

He denounced the Indian president and prime minister for revoking Article 370, and said the people of Kashmir would pour into the streets if the Indian prime minister lifts the curfew in the valley.

Mr Hafeez said the people of Pakistan and the government stand with Kashmiris.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2019