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Poll boycott in Held Kashmir was eye opener for world

ISLAMABAD The poll boycott in Indian Held Kashmir was an eye opener for the world, said the Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Major General (r) Sardar Anwar Khan. He told journalists on Sunday that those who gave importance to “Indian propaganda” of cross-border terrorism must understand that it was evident that the people of Kashmir did not want to live under Indian occupation. Mr Khan said by holding the Lok Sabha elections in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian government proved its intentions to occupy the valley illegally. He said the people of Kashmir wanted a solution to the issue and the government of Pakistan was ready for peace talks, but India was not ready to include the people of Kashmir in the talks. Sardar Khan also said that the Kashmir issue could not be solved without involving the people of the area. Mr Khan congratulated the people of Indian Held Kashmir for boycotting the Indian elections and said that their efforts would not go to waste. About the Muzzafarabad-Srinagar bus service, Mr Khan said that the Kashmiri people on both sides of the border supported the bus service without the visa and passport conditions. SANA

NEM to create awareness of cultural heritage

ISLAMABAD To display and explain the history of the traditions and civilizations of Pakistan, the National Ethnology Museum (NEM) will be established at the Lok Virsa Centre, said the Sports, Culture, Tourism, Minorities and Youth Affairs Minister Rais Munir. He said this would be the first state museum of ethnology in Pakistan, and that the objective of the project was to depict the living traditions and regional ethnological heritage to project both the craftsmanship and the lifestyles of the population. Mr Munir said the establishment of the museum would add to the attraction of the city and would create awareness of Pakistan’s cultural heritage. online

Terrorists cannot destroy Sino-Pak friendship

BEIJING The people involved in the bomb blast that killed three Chinese engineers are the open enemies of Pakistan and China, according to Communications Minister Babar Khan Ghauri. “We are determined to expose them,” said Mr Ghauri in an interview in Beijing. He said some people were working against the construction of the Gwadar seaport because they did not want bilateral economic relations between Pakistan and China to grow. Mr Ghauri accompanied the bodies of the Chinese engineers back to China. He said the people of Pakistan would not allow terrorism to affect the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. In a meeting on Saturday, Mr Ghauri assured his Chinese counterpart Zhang Chunxian that the government of Pakistan would provide security to Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. Security measures have already been upgraded in Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan. The law enforcement agencies are looking for the people responsible for the bomb blasts, he said, adding that the criminals would be given exemplary punishment. Mr Ghauri said a special monument would be built to pay tribute to the Chinese engineers who contributed to the Gwadar seaport. APP

Construction of at least one dam must start this year

ISLAMABAD Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said the construction of one dam should start this year. He said two committees would report to expand water reservoirs. He said the feasibility report of Bhasha dam would be completed by the end of June. He said, adding that the feasibility report of Kalabagh dam is ready. Mr Sherpao said on television that the Skardu dam feasibility report was in its initial stages. He said the decision to build one major water reservoir would be taken after viewing all reports. He said if the final reports were delayed, the decision would be taken after viewing the initial reports but construction would not be put off. APP

We must control propaganda against madrassas

TAXILA Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Ejazul Haq said on Sunday that Western propaganda against madrassas was baseless and that it must be countered. He said the government realised the importance of these religious institutions. At the Budhana Khurd Madrassa Jamia Madeenatul Uloom award ceremony Mr Haq said his father General Ziaul Haq announced that religious degrees were equivalent to bachelors and masters degrees. He said that General Ziaul Haq inculcated the spirit of jihad, faith and piety. Mr Haq said it was because of his father’s efforts that many religious scholars and leaders were included in the government today. He said the students of these madrassas had a right to sit for competitive examinations. Mr Haq said the erroneous textbooks were removed from the market and the people who committed these mistakes would be tried and punished. He said that with the collaboration of Wafaqul Madaris, the government has prepared a comprehensive policy to promote a modern science education. Mr Haq said the Jamali government would complete its constitutional tenure and brushed aside all rumours about a change in government. NNI

Present government is working for the US

KALABAGH Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf and a member of the National Assembly, Imran Khan, said he would rather die than join the cabinet. At a public gathering in Tabi Sar on Sunday he said, “Time and again incumbent rulers have asked me to join their ranks but I have rejected these proposals because I will never side with a government that works under the patronage of the United States.” He condemned the president’s policies in South Waziristan. Mr Khan said these policies have turned Pakistan into an American state. “General Musharraf has enslaved the nation and put it under direct US control. He should be ashamed of his polices because they are against the national interest,” he said. The present government’s claims of a stable economy have fallen to the ground, he said. online

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