MUBASHAR NAQVI
MUZAFFARABAD AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan has demanded to the Indian government to lift its inhuman prolonged curfew imposed in the Occupied Valley since August 5, last year and immediately release all the political detainees in view of the outbreak of coronavirus. Addressing a news conference along-with cabinet ministers at Prime Minister Secretariat here on Monday, he expressed grave concern over fast spreading COVID19 pandemic in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK). Raja Farooq Haider Khan said that his government and people of the liberated territory were extremely concerned about the hundreds of innocent prisoners, especially the aged and ailing ones, languishing in Indian jails. “While the prisoners are being released worldwide to protect them from the rising cases of coronavirus, the Indian authorities, instead of releasing the Kashmiri detainees are keeping them in the overcrowded Indian jails, exposing them to the serious health threats”, Haider added. Terming Indian propaganda, which, claimed, that Pakistan Army forcibly moving Covid-19 positive patients to AJK as baseless, Raja Farooq Haider said that Indian allegations are totally wrong and unfounded. “Pakistan Army is extending invaluable support to the state government in combating the corona pandemic in the region”, He commented. The Prime Minister pointed out that a corona positive person belonging to Hajira, AJK died in Lahore, even his dead body was not sent to the state. He said state government has taken unprecedented steps to respond to the pandemic with proactive approach to protect the health and safety of its citizens. “So far, there is no death of corona positive patient in AJK while six persons had been confirmed positive in which four are under treatment in Mirpur and two in Bhimber districts’ isolation wards .”, he informed. Raja Farooq Haider said that lockdown as precautionary measure, declaring health emergency, and converting newly constructed PM house and Officer’s Club buildings into quarantine centers, establishing corona test labs in all three divisions, 37 quarantine centers throughout the state, corona alert control room to compile the data of foreign returned state subjects and pilgrims were the government immediate response to deal with the global epidemic. He added that through PM Corona Combat Fund, the government would also provide special assistance to the poor, laborers, daily wagers and other marginalized segments of the society. “One month basic pay as special bonus announced for the doctors and other health staff in the state while magistrates have been deputed to take strict action against the hoarders and profiteers during the lockdown period”, PM added.
