Sartaj says efforts on to recover ex-Col Habib

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the prime minister on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz informed the Senate on Thursday that the government is making continued and concerted efforts in highlighting Indian brutalities in held Kashmir at all international forums.

Responding to a calling attention notice by Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, the adviser said the government has written to all forums, including the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Countries, other countries and international organisations on human rights violations by India in held Kashmir. 

He further said diplomatic efforts were being made to set free Dr Afia Siddiqui from the US detention.

Replying to a supplementary question during the Question-Hour, the adviser said steps were also being taken to provide counselor access to Dr Afia.

He said in the United States, the respective US authorities provide defence lawyer/attorney to the individuals under trial. Some of them who already have a legal status in the United States like green card, etc, or pending asylum cases, hire their own attorneys, he added.

However, the Pakistani missions provide immediate consular access and regular consular visits to the detainee besides telephonically in contact with the Pakistani nationals.

The missions also provide possible legal assistance, if requested, he said.

The adviser said expeditious verifications were undertaken where required to prepare the Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) for repatriation of Pakistani nationals. 

Sartaj Aziz also informed the Senate that the government was in constant touch with the Nepalese authorities as part of concerted efforts to recover missing ex-Col Habib Zahir.

In a statement in the Senate in response to a question of an adjournment motion by senator Ateeq Sheikh, the advisor said, ex-Col Habib Zahir had travelled to Kathmandu from Lahore for a job.

However, after leaving the airport he went missing as he had lost contact with his family after reaching Nepal.

“Ex-Col Habib has applied online for a job and after the modalities were finalised, he travelled to Kathmandu.

He and his family had all the record of correspondence with the employer”.

He said according to preliminary investigation till his travelling to Kathmandu on April 6, 2017, ex-Col Habib was in constant touch with his family.

He lost connection on April 7 when he reached Kathmandu. He said investigations have also revealed that all those who offered him job, received him at airport and booked air ticket and hotel for Habib, are Indians.

Sartaj said when Habib went missing his family informed the GHQ as the government raised this matter with Nepalese government through Pakistani mission in Kathmandu. The incident was also reported to UN Working Group on forced disappearances.

He said an FIR has also been lodged about his disappearing in Pakistan and with authorities in Nepal and the government is in constant touch with Nepalese authorities to trace whereabouts of ex-Col Habib Zahir.

Senator Ateeq Sheikh had raised the matter in the House emphasising that it could have been an intrigue of India’s RAW to pressurise Pakistan on Kulbhushan Yadav issue.

“If it is an Indian conspiracy, we should come out with emphatic and clear stance,” he said as he emphasised to admit his adjournment motion for discussion in the House. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani admitted his motion and set it for discussion today (Friday).