Pak parliamentary panels condemn "assassination" of Abdul Aziz

Islamabad, Aug 16 (PTI) Two Pakistani parliamentary committees Friday passed unanimous resolutions condemning the "assassination" of Kashmiri separatist leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz and 22 others by Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed led joint sitting of the Senate's Standing Committee on Foreign and Kashmir Affairs and the Functional Committee on Human Rights took "strong notice of the loss of precious lives due to use of brute forceby the Indian security forces against civilians".

The resolutions came in the wake of India's assertion that such comments on the situation in Jammu and Kashmiramounted to "clear interference" in its internal affairs.

The Indian government has also asked Pakistani leadersand spokesmen to "desist" from issuing such statements.

The Senate committees expressed their concern at the "alarming human rights situation" in Jammu and Kashmir "emerging from the continued economic blockade of the valleyand attacks on Muslims by extremist pro-Indian elements".

They also called for immediate steps to stop "stateterrorism and prevent human rights violations".

The panels "reaffirmed Pakistan's political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir" and called for a "just settlement of the core issue of Kashmir in accordancewith U.N. resolutions".

The committees also urged international community, U.N.

and international human rights organisations to persuade India to "end the use of brute force against the civilians of Kashmir". PTI RHL