All democratic norms violated in Held Kashmir

LAHORE:Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, ministers, MPAs, PTI leaders, workers and a large number of citizens expressed solidarity with the Kashmiris at a public gathering held at Faisal Chowk on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day here on Wednesday.

Thousands of people lodged a strong protest against Indian brutalities. People held flags of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and chanted slogans of ‘long live Pakistan’ and ‘Kashmir will become Pakistan.’ On this occasion, anthems of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were also aired. Later, the siren was blared and one-minute silence was observed. Khateeb Badshahi Masjid Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad led a special prayer for the success of freedom struggle of Kashmiri people and an end to Indian occupation.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed by the whole nation and added that purpose of observing this day is to show Indian wicked face to the world. Over 185 days have passed for a lockdown in Occupied Kashmir and the whole of Pakistan is agitating against this brutality, he added. He regretted that India, which claims to be the biggest democracy in the world, blatantly violated all democratic norms in Occupied Kashmir. India badly demeaned its democratic and secular identity by abrogating articles 35A and 370 of the Indian constitution, he added. The nation has given a strong message to the world that Pakistan firmly stands with the Kashmiris. Pakistan and Kashmir are Siamese twins and this peaceful agitation is writing on the wall for the Modi government, he added. Usman Buzdar said that victory will be the fate of the Kashmiris. Prime Minister Imran Khan fought the case of Kashmir with absolute courage and no other leader fought this case as like Imran khan who raised a strong voice in support of the Kashmiris, he said and added Quaid-e-Azam termed Kashmir the jugular vein of Pakistan and ‘we cannot deviate from the Kashmir cause’.

Pakistan will always be standing with the Kashmiris and all out support will continue, he added. The chief minister emphasised that Kashmiris will succeed in their just struggle very soon, adding Pakistanis’ hearts beat in unison with their Kashmiri brethren. Lahore has a special relation with Kashmir and the strong relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir is unbreakable, he said. PTI president Central Punjab Ejaz Ch, Zaheer Abbas Khokhar and member legislative assembly of Azad Kashmir Ghulam Mohyuddin Dewan also spoke on this occasion.

Ministers Raja Basharat, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chauhan, MPAs including Uzma Kardaar, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, Sadia Sohail, Nadeem Bara, Mahinder Pal Singh, chief secretary, additional chief secretaries, administrative secretaries, PTI leaders including Imtiaz Warraich, Amir Gujjar, Mian Akram Usman, Mehar Wajid, Ejaz Diyal, Shoaib Siddiqui and others were present as well.

recruitment of 3,600 polio workers: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting at his office here on Wednesday to review anti-polio steps and arrangements for safety from coronavirus.

At the outset, the chief minister directed for utilising every possible resource to make Punjab polio-free and added that surfacing of polio cases in some cities is a very serious issue. Role of the community is very important for making polio-free Punjab and administrating anti-polio drops to the children at entry points of the province should be ensured.

He directed that special focus be paid to high-risk districts. Recruitment of 3,600 anti-polio workers has been allowed and action will be initiated where polio case is reported, he said and reiterated that saving children from deadly diseases, like polio, is an important obligation and added that organised efforts are needed because children’s safe future is important. The chief minister asked the parents to vaccinate their children and no child should remain deprived of anti-polio vaccination.

He emphasised to work with renewed vigour to achieve anti-polio targets as there is no room for any leniency.

Similarly, every possible precaution should be adopted for safety from coronavirus threat and the health department should keep a vigilant eye on the situation, he said and directed an isolation ward for suspected patients in PKLI and announced visiting the health department’s control room set up for coronavirus.

Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare briefed about steps taken for safety from coronavirus and eradication of polio.