CMYK
26 September, 2021 I 18 Safar, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 87 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition
Pakistan rejects indian claims at UnGa, says kashmir not ‘internal matter’ Qureshi meets UN chief, calls for ‘urgent action’ on humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan
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AKING issue with New Delhi’s contention that Indian-occupied Kashmir is an internal issue, Pakistan reminded its archrival the Himalayan territory was an internationally recognised region. “Jammu and Kashmir neither is a socalled integral part of India nor is it India’s internal matter,” Saima Saleem, a counsellor at Pakistan’s mission to the world body, said in response to Sneha Dubey, a first secretary at India’s UN mission. “India remains in occupation of an internationally recognized disputed territory whose final disposition needs to be decided in accordance with the democratic principle of a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices, as provided for under numerous resolutions of the Security Council.” Dubey, while exercising her right of reply to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement, also made sweeping allegations about Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism, claiming Islamabad has adopted a “policy of harbouring, aiding and ac-
tively supporting terrorists”. But Saleem observed India’s use of the “canard of terrorism, regurgitating stale arguments are typical of all occupiers”. “Let me emphasise that India itself is the principal perpetrator, sponsor, financier and abettor of terrorism in the region,” she said, adding New Delhi was involved in at least four different types of terrorism. “Resorting to “state terrorism” to suppress the people of Kashmir; funding and supporting terrorist organisations like the TTP which conducts numerous crossborder terrorist attacks against Pakistan; financing and organizing mercenary terrorist organisations against Pakistan to impede economic growth and prosperity of the region, and it’s supremacist ideology has mainstreamed Islamophobia and bigotry against minorities, particularly Muslims.” India’s violations of human rights in occupied Kashmir, Saleem said, were well documented in the two reports of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, as
coronavirUs in
Pakistan
CONFIRMED CASES:
1,236,888
LAST UPDATED AT 8:40 AM ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2021
DAY'S DEATH TOLL:
NEW CASES:
42
2,060
RECOVERED:
DEATHS:
SINDH:
PUNJAB:
1,157,322 27,524
454,510 427,583 KPK:
BALOCHISTAN:
AJK/GB:
ISLAMABAD:
172,766
32,837
33,990/10,289 104,913
also by major human rights organisations, but New Delhi has failed to respond to their findings. Pakistan has recently released a comprehensive and well-researched dossier containing the entire range of gross, systematic and widespread violations of rights being perpetrated by Indian security forces in the occupied region, she said. “We call upon the international community to take cognizance of the compelling evidence and hold India accountable for the heinous crimes. “If India has nothing to hide, it must accept a UN Commission of Inquiry and agree to implement the Security Council resolutions stipulating a plebiscite to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination,” the diplomat added. “The Indian delegation would do well to reflect on the deeply troubling trajectory their state is embarked upon, rather than indulging in patent falsehoods about Pakistan,” she said. news Desk
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, urged for an “urgent action” to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, “Qureshi underscored the need for urgent action to address the prevailing dire humanitarian situation in [the] country, calling for the continued political and economic engagement of the international community to end [the] decades-long conflict.” Qureshi mentioned Pakistan’s role in addressing the situation. The foreign minister also commented on the Kashmir issue and hoped that the UN would address the situation in Kashmir. Furthermore, Qureshi also demanded to make the UN Security Council (UNSC) more representative, democratic, transparent, effective and accountable to address the multiple challenges. Qureshi summarised his meeting in a tweet and said, “Great to meet Antonio Guterres at UNGA and share Pakistan’s key priorities: equitable socio-economic development, stabil-
Shehbaz urges govt not to increase gas prices ISLAMABAD Mian abrar
The opposition has outrightly trashed the government’s plan to hike gas tariff by up to 35 per cent for domestic consumers for the upcoming winter season as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday strongly condemned the reports of 35 per cent increase in gas prices and demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision. It should be noted that the Petroleum Division has prepared a summary of the increase in tariffs for gas consumers. Reportedly, the government’s proposed inverse gas tariff plan seeks to massively increase prices for 43pc of sale volumes to partially finance the cost of gas supplies to “protected” lower-end consumers. This is part of the fresh crosssubsidy mechanism for gas prices under consideration of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) to force shifting of space and water heating to electricity instead of natural gas in four peak winter months (NovemberFebruary). It is yet to be seen, however, if enough electricity ef-
isation of Afghanistan and just resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute. We look to the UN to play a central role in addressing and overcoming these challenges.” According to the FO, the foreign minister also met the president of the 76th session of the general assembly, Abdulla Shahid, on the day and congratulated him on his election to the position. Qureshi expressed the hope that Shahid’s presence in this important office would help with making progress on important issues on the UN agenda. PM’S UNGA ADDRESS: Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan sought to cast Pakistan as the victim of American ungratefulness and an international double standard in his address to the UNGA. In his speech, the prime minister touched on a range of topics that included climate change, global Islamophobia and “the plunder of the developing world by their corrupt elites” — the latter of which he likened to what the East India Company did to India. news Desk
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more inside
India hunts for fault as Pakistan urges world to work with Taliban STORY ON BACK PAGE
JCSC chief for enhanced defence cooperation with Russia, China STORY ON BACK PAGE ficient space and water heating appliances are available in the market to facilitate this transition at a cost affordable and acceptable to consumers. The petroleum division has reported that about 47pc (over 5.3224 million) gas consumers in the first slab consumed about 32pc of gas volumes. They are charged at the rate of Rs121 per Million British Thermal Unit (MMBTU) and their monthly bill works out at Rs308. Another 30pc of 3.424 million consumers in the second slab (up to 100 cubic metres) burn about 25pc of gas sales. They are charged at Rs300 per MMBTU and their monthly bill cur-
rently stands at Rs957. This means that 57pc gas is consumed by 77pc (or 8.7464m) consumers that the petroleum ministry seeks to protect with no price change. The third slab (200 cubic metres per month) pertains to almost two million consumers with 18pc of gas consumption. They are currently charged at Rs553 per unit and their monthly bill works out at Rs3,733. The petroleum division has sought their rate to go up by about 24pc to Rs683 per unit, showing an increase in the monthly bill to Rs4,300.
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