Mir Farhat
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National Panthers Party (NPP) today demanded that a resolution should be passed in the Legislative Council to impress upon India and Pakistan not to use the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) for their “tactical games” and “studio discussions”.
“We impress upon both the countries, India and Pakistan not to use the issue of ceasefire violations along LoC and International Border (IB) for their tactical games and studio discussions. The Legislative Council shall pass a resolution in this regard,” PDP MLC, Naeem Akhter said in the Council today.
The demand was supported by NPP member, Rafiq Shah.
Akhter said, “Let’s send a clear message to both these countries that the people of Jammu and Kashmir want peace. It is the people of Kashmir, who are paying the price of ceasefire violations along LoC and IB.”
National Conference MLC, Davinder Singh Rana also said that it is the people of the state who are suffering due to the cross-border shelling between India and Pakistan. “India and Pakistan exchange fire on the LoC and IB but it is we, who are suffering by the shelling and firing,” he said.
The reaction from the members of the Legislative Council came after MLC, Dr. Shehnaz Ganai moved a notice in the Legislative Council and called upon the attention of Government towards the situation that has arisen due to difficulties being faced by the villagers situated near LoC in district Poonch due to cross firing and fencing of fields belonging to farmers.
Chairman Legislative Council, Amrit Malhotra allowed the discussion on the cross LoC border firing and the consequent hardships faced by the Poonch residents after completion of the Question Hour tomorrow.
The Legislative Council will hold a discussion on the cross LoC shelling as all the members unanimously requested the chairman to allow a comprehensive discussion on the issue.
While the Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra was replying to the calling attention notice, he informed the Upper House that there has been an increase in the incidents of cease fire violations along LoC during the year 2014.
“During the current year upto August 23, 36 ceasefire violations have been reported along the LoC only in Poonch district,” he said.
However, the minister said that there has been no loss of life or injury to any civilian or any major damage to the private property has been reported in Poonch as a result of these ceasefire violations.
There are 42 villages along LoC in district Poonch with a population of around 28,464 souls. District Poonch has 103 kilometers running LoC.
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