ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning the recent atrocities perpetrated on innocent Kashmiri people by the Indian security forces in Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK).
The resolution moved by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Barjees Tahir demanded international community to implement the UNSC resolutions that promise right of self-determination to Kashmiri people.
The resolution demanded the government to request the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva to send a fact-finding mission to the IHK to investigate the human rights violations there.
It said that the UNMOGIP should return to the Valley till holding of plebiscite. The resolution appreciated and expressed solidarity with the brave people of Kashmiri in their popular, spontaneous and peaceful struggle against illegal Indian occupation.
It said that Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for right to self-determination as enshrined in the UNSC resolutions.
The resolution noted that the blatant human rights violations by the Indian forces could not deter the firm resolve of valiant Kashmiri people. The resolution called upon the international community including inter-governmental and parliamentary organisations, the civil society and the media to play their role to stop Indian atrocities in the Valley.
Meanwhile, responding to a question about the US air and defence attaché who recently hit and killed a motorcyclist in the federal capital, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said the US diplomat is still in Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister said that the US Embassy has assured full cooperation in the investigation. He said action will be taken in accordance with rules and regulations. In a reply to another question, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that five Pakistani nationals are currently detained at Guantanamo Bay.” Two of them are facing charges while the remaining three have not been charged of any crime. He said efforts are being made to bring the three detainees back to the country,” he told the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly passed two bills — The COMSATS University Bill, 2018 and The Institute of for Art and Culture Bill, 2018. Meanwhile, the government tabled the recently promulgated ordinances of Tax Amnesty Scheme in the National Assembly.
The opposition rejected the ordinance and questioned the government for introducing the scheme in its last 45 days of 5-year tenure while saying that it is direct abetment of tax evaders, asset concealers and money launderers.
The opposition refused to accept the Tax Amnesty Scheme and also questioned the government move of presentation of the budget for the next fiscal year asking how the government whose tenure is about to complete present the budget for the whole year.
However, responding to the concerns of the opposition members over the recently announced tax reforms package, Adviser on Finance Miftah Ismail said it is a historic and fantastic package in which unprecedented relief has been given to the salaried class by substantially reducing the tax rates.
Minister of State for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan laid before the National Assembly The Foreign Assets {Declaration and Repatriation) Ordinance, 2018 (No, 111 of 2018, The Voluntary Declaration of Domestic Assets, 2018 (No 1V of 2018) and The Income tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 (No V of 2018).
Defending the tax amnesty scheme, Adviser to Prime Minister Ismail Miftah wondered why the PPP and the PTI are protesting the tax reduction which has given raise of 10 percent to 15 percent in salaries to the employees.
The adviser also clarified that proceeds of criminal activities or corruption cannot benefit from the tax amnesty scheme. He said that tax amnesty scheme would be helpful against corruption by stopping various unfair means to generate black money.