PML team leaves for India today

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) led by its president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain will leave for India today (Monday) to strengthen party level contacts with the Indian leadership.

Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the Indian National Congress, invited her Pakistani counterpart to enhance links between the mainstream political parties of the two counties and to discuss bilateral issues.

PML Information Secretary Senator Tariq Azeem told Daily Times that in 2003 the party president had sent letters to the heads of eight political parties in India – including Ms Gandhi’s.

The PML president had suggested maintaining stronger party-to-party contacts. He said government-to-government contact might be counterproductive because governments changed regularly while political parties remained intact.

The PML information secretary said a change in government of both countries had made it difficult for both sides to continue their previous working relationship. He said the visit was scheduled for last year but was postponed because of general elections in India.

Among others, the PML delegation includes PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Senator SM Zafar. Prominent journalists could also accompany the delegation.

Senator Azeem said the delegation would meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the chairperson of the Congress Party. The two sides will hold informal discussions on bilateral issues.

The PML will invite Ms Gandhi and other senior Indian politicians to visit Pakistan. The delegation will also visit Agra and Ajmer Sharif. shahzad raza

AI criticises Kashmir govt

ISLAMABAD: Amnesty International (AI) criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government for failing to punish an Indian Army officer involved in the murder of Jalil Andrabi, a noted human rights activist and lawyer, who was killed on March 26, 1996. “The continued failure of the government to bring justice to those responsible for the death of human rights lawyer Jalil Andrabi reinforces the sense that human rights defenders in the state cannot count on the state’s protection,” said Amnesty International in a statement. Amnesty International believes that justice must be done to ensure that human rights violations end. app

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