News Briefs for 03 April 2022

Pakistan Ready To Move Forward On Kashmir If India Agrees, Says General Bajwa

Islamabad 02 Apr: Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said that his country is ready to move forward on Kashmir if India agrees, Dawn reported.'Pakistan continues to believe in using dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute and is ready to move forward on this front if India also agrees to do so,' he said.He had made similar comments at the Islamabad Security Dialogue last year when he had said it was time for both countries to 'bury the past and move forward'.

Kashmir being drained of its wealth: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar April 02 02 Apr: (KNS) A delegation of Kashmir Distributors Association (KDA) office bearers today called on People`s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti and apprised her about the reports of government facilitating the opening of Reliance Jio-Marts across Kashmir valley. According to a statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS) said that, the delegation highlighted the ramifications of the said move which can systematically decimate their sales, destroy their market share and pulverize the local economy. " Competing with behemoths like Reliance having deep pockets, logistical advantages and facilitation by the system is simply not possible for us and will eventually destroy us.

NC, PDP have inked a "secret deal" to save their two family rule: Vakil

Sopore April 02 02 Apr: (KNS) Sr. Vice President of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil said that the time has come for Muftis and Abdullahs to pack their bags, as they have only exploited sentiments of people in the name of autonomy and self-rule to grab the power. Vakil accused the National Conference and PDP of befooling common people by lies, deceit and fallacy in lieu of power and conveniently turn their backs when they are entrusted with it. Vakil was addressing public meeting at Haritara sopore.

Moon Sighted, Ramazan Begins Today

Srinagar 02 Apr: With the Ramazan moon having been sighted devout Muslims will follow a new routine from today for the next 30 days, shunning all intake of food and water from sunrise to sunset. "The moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan has been sighted. The holy month will begin from April 3," Grand Mufti Nasir al Islam announced on Saturday.

Assets worth Rs 4.69 crore attached in illegal arms licence case

New Delhi 02 Apr: Assets worth Rs 4.69 crore have been attached under the anti-money laundering law in a case related to issuance of alleged illegal arms licenses in Jammu and Kashmir between 2012 and 2016, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Saturday. A provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been issued for attaching bank deposits, plots, flats and residential houses, it said in a statement. After carrying out raids against an IAS officer, some Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officers and government officials, and arms dealers last month, the agency had said it seized incriminating documents that allegedly indicate transactions between weapon dealers and bureaucrats in issuance of illegal arms licenses in Jammu and Kashmir between 2012 and 2016.

Forget Article 370, it will never return: Subramanian Swamy

Srinagar 02 Apr: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Saturday said it was not the then chief minister Farooq Abdullah, but the then prime minister VP Singh and his home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, that were responsible for the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley. Swamys remarks come in the midst of a controversy over the movie The Kashmir Files. Muslims and Pandits are alike.

Amarnath Yatra- All Security Arrangements In Place: DGP

Says Absconding Ex 02 Apr: Minister Babu Singh Will Be Traced Soon Jammu- Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Saturday said all necessary security arrangements will be put in place for the successful conduct of the pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath, scheduled to begin on June 30. On the sidelines of a function in Udhampur district, the DGP also told reporters that absconding former minister Jatinder Singh alias `Babu Singh`, wanted in connection with the recent seizure of Hawala money that was meant for subversive activities, will be traced soon and questioned. The police chief said a tight vigil is being maintained on social media which is being misused by Pakistan and its stooges to keep militant eco-system alive in the Union Territory.

VP Singh, Mufti Responsible For KP Exodus: Swamy

Srinagar 02 Apr: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Saturday said it was not the then chief minister Farooq Abdullah, but the then prime minister VP Singh and his home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, that were responsible for the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley. Swamy`s remarks come in the midst of a controversy over the movie `The Kashmir Files`, which depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley. Several BJP-ruled states have made it tax-free.

Kashmir's Main River Shirking At Alarming Rate

Srinagar 02 Apr: Lifeline for people living across the divided line in Jammu and Kashmir - the River Jhelum is shirking at an alarming rate due to heavy siltation, unabated pollution, and encroachments, say experts. The river known as Vyeth in the local Kashmiri language is the main waterway of the Kashmir region that originates from a spring in the southern town of Verinag and navigates through the capital city of Srinagar and North Kashmir, before crossing the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistani administered territory.