Eight civilians martyred in Indian firing

SIALKOT: In the bloodiest violation of the ceasefire at the Sialkot Working Boundary, the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) killed eight innocent Pakistani civilians and injured more than 57, including many women and children, on Friday.
The Indian forces targeted the civilian population through unprovoked and intensified firing and shelling mainly in the Chaprar Sector at short intervals.
According to the Rescue 1122 sources, Waqas (27) and Naseem (48) were martyred on the spot in the Kundanpur village, whereas Muhammad Ali, Saad Tanvir and Irshad Bibi expired later in hospital. It was further stated that 44 persons sustained injuries in Kundanpur, four in Chaprar, three in Bajra Garhi and one in Thathi Kalan.
Other martyred persons included Subedar (retd) Zulfiqar Ali, Shehzad, Aslam and Mehmood, according to the locals. The funeral prayers of some of them were offered in Kundanpur in the afternoon, which was attended by MNA Ch Armughan Subhani, Ch Muhammad Ishaq, MLA, (AJK Assembly) and hundreds of local people.
The injured, some of them in critical condition, included Rasheed, Azra Bibi, Waqas, Zainab, Imtiaz, Haseena Bibi, Samreen (8), Muskaan (13), Fakhar-ul-Hasan (6), Shabana Bibi (38), Waqas (14), Jameela Bibi (48), Tasleem (48), Naseer, Nabeela Bibi (35), Javed (45), Nainan (12), Imran (5), Ali (15) and Zeeshan.
They were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Sialkot, by the Rescue 1122 which established a temporary rescue post in the Dallowali village near the Sialkot Cantonment.
Dozens of houses and other buildings were also damaged with a number of cattle killed in the Indian aggression. The Kundanpur village suffered the most losses in life and property.
The Indian BSF initiated unprovoked firing and shelling on early Friday morning, before dawn, which continued for around eight hours with short intervals. The Chenab Rangers also responded to the aggression in a befitting manner.
It is said that the authorities have ordered the closure of government schools in the villages of Chaprar Sector in the wake of increasing border violations. Similarly, hundreds of residents of the border villages are shifting to Sialkot and other safer areas in an effort to avoid further loss of life.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed concern over the Indian aggression and expressed condolences on the loss of precious human lives. He directed the Foreign Office and defence authorities to take up the matter with their counterparts in New Delhi.
Amid the alarming development, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif arrived in Sialkot and visited the CMH. He met the injured and inquired after them.
General Raheel Sharif, on the occasion, said that India had crossed all the limits.
The army chief also visited the local Rangers HQ and the Working Boundary as well as attended a briefing on the latest situation. He commended the befitting response given to the unprofessional, unethical, irresponsible and cowardly Indian action against the civilians. He added that Pakistan had never targeted the Indian civilian population.
Talking to the villagers, Gen Raheel expressed solidarity with them, besides paying rich tributes to their resilience and spirit. He said the entire nation stood united along with the armed forces in defending the motherland.
Earlier, the army chief took an aerial view of the villages hit by the Indian shelling.
The Indian High Commissioner, Dr TCA Raghawan, was summoned to the Foreign Office by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and what has now become a mere routine, a strong protest was lodged over the latest ceasefire violations.
While condemning the Indian practice of targeting the civilians on purpose, the Government of Pakistan expressed its deep concern at the continued hostility at the LoC and the Working Boundary.
“The Indian government was urged to stop forthwith the ceasefire violations and observe the 2003 Ceasefire Arrangement for restoration of peace and tranquility at the LoC and the Working Boundary,” Chaudhry reminded the Indian diplomat.
Meanwhile, Indian officials claimed firing by Pakistani border guards along the boundary in Kashmir left two Indian civilians dead and at least 16 wounded.
Separately, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also condemned the unprovoked Indian firing on the Working Boundary and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the quick recovery of the injured.
The adviser urged the Indian side to stop these ceasefire violations forthwith and restore peace and tranquility at the LoC and the Working Boundary.
“He has also expressed extreme concern of the Government of Pakistan at the continued ceasefire violations by India on the LoC and the Working Boundary,” said a statement from his office.
Months of informing the UN observers who also visit the areas under attack from India, has never seen any reaction from them nor have these complaints hindered India from killing at will. On Friday, the UN team also met other locals affected by the Indian shelling and sought details from them about the fresh BSF hostilities, which caused heavy losses to their property and livestock.
Senator Sherry Rehman from the PPP hit the nail on the head while sending prayers for those killed and injured in Sialkot today and also asked, “Is India looking for a limited war? But not for a solution to conflict?”
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif too strongly condemned the cross-border shelling and sympathised with the bereaved families. He directed the officials concerned that best treatment facilities should be provided to the injured citizens.
PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in a statement, said, “Unprovoked firing is sabotaging the peace process and has serious implications for the stability of the region.” He said any effort to undermine Pakistan’s national sovereignty would be met with a strong reply.