Washington, DC — (Azadi Times): Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Poonch Division (Pakistani-administered Jammu Kashmir) Sardar Zaheer Ahmed has been awarded the TIP Hero 2023 by the US Department of State. He is the first Kashmiri to receive this honor.

The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Hero Award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the fight against human trafficking. DIG Ahmed was selected for the award in recognition of his work as the Director of the FIA Human Trafficking Unit.

During his five-year tenure as Director, DIG Ahmed worked tirelessly to stop human trafficking in Pakistan. He led the development of anti-trafficking laws, and he oversaw numerous arrests and convictions of traffickers.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that DIG Ahmed is “a true hero in the fight against human trafficking.” He added that Ahmed’s “tireless work has made a real difference in the lives of victims of trafficking in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.”

DIG Ahmed is a well-respected figure in the Azad Kashmiri Pakistani law enforcement community. He is known for his dedication to his work and his commitment to fighting human trafficking. His award is a testament to his hard work and dedication.

DIG Ahmed’s work has made a real difference in the lives of victims of human trafficking in Pakistan. He is a true hero in the fight against this crime.

About the TIP Hero Award

The TIP Hero Award is given annually by the US Department of State to individuals who have made significant contributions to the fight against human trafficking. The award is named after the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which is an annual report that assesses the efforts of countries around the world to combat human trafficking.

The TIP Hero Award is a prestigious award that recognizes the work of individuals who are making a difference in the fight against human trafficking. DIG Ahmed is a deserving recipient of this award, and his work has had a real impact on the lives of victims of human trafficking in Pakistan.

Hattian Bala, June 16, 2023: Sahibzada Muhammad Ashfaq Zafar Advocate, Central Senior Vice President of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Azad Kashmir, has demanded that the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar Haq, immediately meet the legitimate demands of the people of Khilana Valley.

Hattian Bala, June 15, 2023: Thieves stole cash and jewelry worth lakhs of rupees in a daylight theft incident in Jhelum Valley’s Khatai (Sidhani) village near Chinari.

The incident took place on June 14, when unknown thieves took advantage of the absence of family members at the house of Farooq Ahmed Khan, a resident of the village. The thieves entered the house through the window and stole jewelry, including a pair of hooks, a locket, an iPhone, and lakhs of rupees in cash.

Farooq Ahmed Khan’s wife reached home with her children and found the window of the house open and the belongings scattered. She immediately reported the matter to her husband, who then filed a complaint with the police.

The police have registered a case against the unknown thieves under Sections 14 EHA and 454 PC. The police have also started an investigation into the matter and are hopeful of arresting the thieves soon.

The local dignitaries and the people of the area have assured the police of their full cooperation in arresting the thieves. They have also demanded the strictest action against the perpetrators of the theft.

SP Jhelum Valley Expresses Anger

SP Jhelum Valley has expressed deep anger over the incident and has demanded the police arrest the accused as soon as possible. He has also warned the criminals that they will not be spared and will be dealt with strictly.

The SP has also appealed to the people to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.

Mirpur: (Azadi Times) The Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court (AJKHC) has accepted a writ petition filed by senior journalist Zafar Mughal on the issue of access to information in Azad Kashmir.

The petition, which was filed in the Mirpur circuit of the AJKHC, states that the government of Azad Kashmir has not fully implemented the constitutional provisions of the Right to Information Act, including the establishment of Information Tribunals/Commissions and the appointment of Public Information Officers in government and semi-government institutions.

The petition further states that Azad Kashmir lags behind in implementing its own Right to Information Act despite the presence of access to information laws at the federal and provincial levels in Pakistan.

As a result, journalists, lawyers, and the general public face difficulties in getting accurate information and disseminating it to the public due to non-compliance with constitutional and legal requirements.

Officials often refuse to provide accurate information, thereby violating the Constitution. This lack of access to accurate information hampers the work of journalists and deprives the public of important information.

The AJKHC has issued notices to the government of Azad Kashmir, the Information Commission, and the Public Information Officers, and has directed them to file their reply by July 18, 2023.

The court has also ordered the respondents to submit written statements, affidavits, and relevant documents to ensure the implementation of the Right to Information Act in Azad Kashmir.

The petition is a welcome step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in the government of Azad Kashmir. It is hoped that the court will issue a judgment that will help to improve the flow of information in the region and promote good governance.

Background

The Right to Information Act is a law that guarantees the right of citizens to access information held by the government. The act was passed by the Parliament of Pakistan in 2016, and it has been implemented in all four provinces of Pakistan. However, the government of Azad Kashmir has not yet implemented the act.

The lack of implementation of the Right to Information Act in Azad Kashmir has been a major concern for journalists, lawyers, and civil society activists. They argue that the lack of transparency in the government is hindering good governance and promoting corruption.

The writ petition filed by Zafar Mughal is a significant step towards ensuring the implementation of the Right to Information Act in Azad Kashmir. It is hoped that the court will issue a judgment that will help to improve the flow of information in the region and promote good governance.

Hattian Bala, June 15, 2023: (Azadi Times) The protest in Union Council Khilana has ended, but the people of the area are not satisfied with the outcome.

Muzaffarabad: (Azadi Times) The two senior leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Azad Kashmir, Mushtaq Minhas, and Sahibzada Muhammad Ashfaq Zafar, have traded barbs in the wake of the recent elections.

Minhas, who was defeated in the elections, has been using abusive language against the PPP leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari. Zafar has condemned Minhas’ language and has demanded that he apologize.

Speaking to journalists in Hattian Bala, Zafar said that Minhas’ language does not befit any political worker. “After the defeat, Minhas is constantly using market language against the leadership of the People’s Party, which is unbearable for the workers of the People’s Party,” he said.

Zafar said that Minhas’ language is not even used by an uneducated person. “When the PPP workers come out, then Minhas will not even have a place to hide his face,” he said.

Zafar also questioned Minhas’ achievements as a politician. “What are they themselves and what have they done for the people of Bagh?” he asked. “All the construction and development took place during the era of Sardar Qamar-ul-Zaman,” he said.

Minhas has not yet responded to Zafar’s allegations.

The dispute between Minhas and Zafar is a reflection of the deep divisions within the PPP in Azad Kashmir. The party has been out of power in the region for the past two terms and is struggling to regain its lost ground.

The dispute is also a reminder of the importance of civility in political discourse. The use of abusive language can only serve to divide people and make it more difficult to find common ground.

Muzaffarabad, June 9, 2023 (Azadi Times): Pakistan Peoples Party Azad Kashmir (PPPAJK) candidate Sardar Zia Qamar has been elected to the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly, winning 5270 votes in the by-election for Constituency LA-15 Bagh-II.

The by-election was held on Thursday to fill the seat that fell vacant after the disqualification of former Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas by the High Court of Azad Kashmir.

Qamar defeated his nearest rival, PML-N candidate Mushtaq Ahmad Minhas, by a margin of 20485 votes. PTI’s Colonel Retired Raja Zameer Khan came in third with 4942 votes.

The turnout in the by-election was 55%.

Qamar’s victory is a major boost for the PPP in Azad Kashmir. The party is currently in opposition in the assembly.

Qamar is a former minister in the Azad Kashmir government. He is also the son of former Prime Minister Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan.

In his victory speech, Qamar thanked the people of Bagh for their support. He said that he would work hard to fulfill the promises he made during his campaign.

Qamar’s victory is a setback for the PML-N and PTI. Both parties had been hoping to win the by-election and gain a foothold in the Azad Kashmir assembly.

The by-election was seen as a test of strength for the three major political parties in Azad Kashmir. The result shows that the PPP is still a major force in the region, despite being in opposition.

The PML-N and PTI will need to do more to win back the support of the people of Azad Kashmir if they want to be successful in the next general elections.

Lahore, June 9, 2023 (News Desk): Jahangir Tareen, a former PTI leader, has announced the formation of a new political party, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP). The announcement was made at a press conference in Lahore on Saturday.

Tareen said that the IPP would be a “party of the people” and that it would work to provide stability and prosperity to Pakistan. He said that the party would be open to all Pakistanis, regardless of their political affiliation.

Several prominent politicians have announced their support for the IPP, including former PTI ministers Imran Ismail, Ali Zaidi, and Fawad Chaudhry. Former MPs Zaheeruddin Alizai, Javed Ansari, Tariq Abdullah, Fayyaz Chauhan, Nouman Langriyal, Noreez Shakoor, Rafaqat Ali Geelani, and Mumtaz Mehravi have also announced their support for the party.

Tareen said that the IPP would contest the next general elections and that it would work to bring about a “change” in Pakistan. He said that the party would focus on issues such as poverty, unemployment, and corruption.

The formation of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party is a major development in Pakistani politics. It remains to be seen how the party will perform in the next general elections.

Here are some additional details about the IPP:

• The party’s manifesto has not yet been released, but Tareen has said that it will focus on issues such as poverty, unemployment, and corruption.
• The party’s leadership is still being finalized, but Tareen has said that he will be the party’s chairman.
• The party’s symbol is a green crescent moon and star.
• The party’s slogan is “Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party.”

The IIP is a new political party, but it has already attracted a lot of attention. It remains to be seen how the party will perform in the next general elections, but it is clear that it is a force to be reckoned with.

Here are some of the key figures who have joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP):

• Imran Ismail, former federal minister for water resources
• Ali Zaidi, former federal minister for ports and shipping
• Fawad Chaudhry, former federal minister for information and broadcasting
• Amir Kayani, former chairman of the National Accountability Bureau
• Mehmood Maulvi, former senator
• Jay Prakash, former provincial minister for health
• Moradras, former provincial minister for education
• Firdous Ashiq Awan, former special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting
• Zaheeruddin Alizai, former MNA from Dera Ismail Khan
• Javed Ansari, former MNA from Multan
• Tariq Abdullah, former MNA from Islamabad
• Fayyaz Chauhan, former MNA from Lahore
• Nouman Langriyal, former MNA from Gujranwala
• Noreez Shakoor, former MNA from Faisalabad
• Rafaqat Ali Geelani, former MNA from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• Mumtaz Mehravi, former MNA from Sindh
• GG Jamal, former MNA from Federally Administered Tribal Areas
• Ajmal Wazir, former MNA from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• Maher Irshad Kathia, former MPA from Punjab
• Usman Ashraf, former MPA from Punjab
• Jalil Sharqpuri, former MPA from Sindh
• Khurram Rokhri, former MPA from Balochistan
• Dewan Azmat, former MPA from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The IIP is a significant development in Pakistani politics. It remains to be seen how the party will perform in the next general elections, but it is clear that it is a force to be reckoned with.

Muzaffarabad, June 9 (Azadi Timed): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) suffered a heavy defeat in the by-election on the seat of former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Tanveer Ilyas.

According to unofficial and inconclusive results of all 189 polling stations of Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly Constituency LA-15 Bagh-II, Zia Qamar of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has won with 22,035 votes.

The candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Mushtaq Minhas, has secured 16,271 votes. Colonel Zameer Khan of PTI was far behind with 13,000 votes.

Two years ago, PTI won this seat by 5,500 votes. The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of former Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan.

The by-election was held peacefully and the turnout was recorded at 55%.

The defeat is seen as a major setback for PTI in Azad Kashmir, where it is the ruling party. The party has been facing criticism over its performance in the region.

The PPP Azad Kashmir and PML-N have welcomed the results and said that it is a victory for the people. They have also vowed to work for the betterment of Azad Kashmir.

The PTI has not yet commented on the results.