PM Shehbaz 'strongly denounces' Indian ban on Eid prayer gatherings in occupied Kashmir

Published May 4, 2022
Prime Minister Shehbaz holds his hands up in prayer on Eid day. — PML-N/Twitter
Prime Minister Shehbaz holds his hands up in prayer on Eid day. — PML-N/Twitter

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday "strongly denounced" a ban on Eid prayer gatherings by Indian authorities in certain areas of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In a phone call with Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas earlier today, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to continue to extend moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people until they get the right to self-determination, a report by Radio Pakistan said.

According to Indian online news portal The Print, authorities did not allow Eid prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar after the management committee refused to accept the conditions posed by the administration.

The administration had asked the management committee to hold the prayers before 7 am and give an undertaking for maintaining peace and order during and after the congregation.

Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reported that no prayers were held on Tuesday even at the Srinagar Eidgah, where thousands of people typically converge for Eid prayers.

PM extends Eid greetings to President, Army chief

On Tuesday, the premier telephoned President Dr Arif Alvi, services chiefs, chief ministers of all provinces, leaders of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), and senior politicians and extended them Eid greetings.

A day after holding similar telephone conversations with leaders of the Muslim world, the premier extended warm wishes to the local leadership along with discussing the political situation in the country.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, the PM interacted with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, and exchanged Eid greetings with them.

He also spoke to the chief ministers of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit Baltistan, and the acting governor of Balochistan. PM Shehbaz, however, could not talk to the chief minister of Balochistan as the later was travelling abroad.

The prime minister also telephoned former president Asif Ali Zardari, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Sirajul Haq, and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who reciprocated the greetings.

He, the statement added, also interacted with allies Maulana Asad Mahmood, Mohsin Dawar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Allama Sajid Mir, Khalid Magsi, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Ali Nawaz Shah, Shahzain Bugti, Aslam Bhotani and Chaudhry Salik Hussain.

The premier inquired from Chaudhry Salik about the health condition of PML-Q's Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and expressed good wishes for his early recovery.

Opinion

Editorial

Exceptional Assembly
Updated 01 Mar, 2025

Exceptional Assembly

Both the govt and the NA remained completely unbothered by public perceptions in their first year.
Haqqania bombing
Updated 01 Mar, 2025

Haqqania bombing

If the seminary attack is indeed traced to IS, it would signal a fresh security challenge in KP.
Blood and drugs
01 Mar, 2025

Blood and drugs

FREQUENT news stories about bone-chilling murders show that the face of crime is changing — there is a marked rise...
No remorse
Updated 28 Feb, 2025

No remorse

Disturbingly, the regime seems to grow bolder in its defiance of its obligations with each passing day.
Affordable Ramazan
28 Feb, 2025

Affordable Ramazan

WITH the month of Ramazan commencing in a day or two, a price spiral peculiar to the fasting month has kicked off....
Grotesque vision
28 Feb, 2025

Grotesque vision

THE Trump administration has sunk to a new low in its cavalier approach to the Gaza crisis. It seems all sense has...