NA Body For Holding Visits Of Foreign Dignitaries To Kashmir Valley

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Feb, 2017 ) : The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Human Rights Monday directed that special visit of officials of international embassies and high commissions in Pakistan should be organized to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for comparison of human rights situation in Kashmir valley across the border.

Chairing committee meeting Member National Assembly Baber Nawaz Khan directed foreign office to conduct press conference on regular basis for apprising the ground realities to national and international media.

Besides that international delegations would be invited to Pakistan for analyzing situation of human rights across the border in Pakistan and India. The committee members discussing violations of Human Rights in Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) by Indian Forces, were apprised that the government has sent its envoys to Geneva, New York (United Nations), Washington, Brussels, London, Turkey, Paris and China to raise human rights atrocities in the IOK.

They officials of foreign officials informed that in Geneva it was decided that a fact finding commission should be sent to IOK but India has not allowed the visit. The said the delegations informed that international community that almost 200 person were completely blind due to pellet gun shots by the Indian forces on innocent Kahsmiri civilians while eye sight of almost 1200 people were partially damaged.

Among these victims, they said, majority of them are women and children and they have urged the international forums to allow these people to send Pakistan or other countries for their proper treatment.

In response, the committee members recommended to invite the foreign delegates and embassy officials to visit AJK areas so that they realize the factual situation. The officials further informed that an international conference is also being scheduled in AJK in April to raise the Kashmir issue.

The committee rejected the bills of "Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (Amendment), Bill, 2014 moved by MNA Asia Nasir and "The Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2016" moved by Dr.

Fouzia Hameed with the comments of law ministry officials that section 509 of PPC addressing these issues in detail and there is no need of further amendment. The committee also rejected "The National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill, 2016 moved by MNA Saman Sultana Jafri however, it directed National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW), to submit quarterly report on Violence Against Women (VAG) to the NA body for analyzing implementation of HR laws in the country.