Direct flights from Quetta approved to facilitate Arbaeen pilgrims: Khawaja Asif

The federal government has authorized the Balutchistan government to exploit direct flights from Quetta to facilitate that Shiite pilgrims going to Iran and Iraq for Arbaeen, defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asifies in the National Assembly said on Tuesday.

“To alleviate these risks, the federal government authorized the government of Balutchistan to operate direct flights from Quetta,” he said, “allowing pilgrims to travel safely by plane to their destinations”.

He informed the room that land trips along the 800 -kilometer road from Quetta had been limited due to serious security problems, in particular the threat of terrorist attacks targeting pilgrims’ convoys.

Asif said that one of these flights had already been launched and that the government is rivaling two flights per day or at least one regular service to meet growing demand. He said that arrangements have also been taken for transport to airports in Iran and Iraq at the expected pilgrims’ sites.

The Minister added that advertisements had been published in the past four days, inviting private airlines to operate on the route and that all approved carriers have obtained authorization. Assouring flights have also been approved to maximize travel capacity safely.

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“These measures aim to offer a maximum of facilities while avoiding the safety risks of travel on the road,” he said, urging potential operators and the market to take full advantage of the authorizations granted.

He said the case was also discussed during the Iranian president’s recent visit to Pakistan, after Iran had authorized an additional flight to support the Pakistani pilgrim movement.

“I want to insure the house and people of Pakistan that the government is fully determined to ensure safe, comfortable and appropriate transport for all Arbaeen pilgrims,” he added.

Resolution on Youm-E-Tistehsal

The National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution for Mark Youm-E-ÉT-ÉHSHSAL-E-KASHMIR (Cashmire Exploitation Day), condemning the actions of India in the Jammu and the cashmere of Indian origin (IIOJK), in the midst of the demonstrations and the heated sloganering by the members of the opposition.

During the session, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, on an order point, said: “Today is observed as youm-e-àhsal-e-kashmir, but you observe youm-e-àhsal-e-Imran (Imran Operating Day).”

He added that the latter “could have been observed another day.”

Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the opposition played an equal role in maintaining the dignity and the proper functioning of the house. The opposition organized a protest against the fact of not being authorized to speak.

“The Prime Minister went to the headquarters of the opposition chief and said:” Come, let’s talk “.”

He said that under the guise of peaceful demonstrations, armed groups had launched attacks. He wondered if the day of cashmere or the operating account of PTI was more important, which caused another series of opposition bulls.

President Sardar Ayaz Sadiq urged his calm and asked the House to allow the Minister of Cashmere Affairs Amir Muqam to first present a resolution on the cashmere. Muqam called on the opposition to allow the passage of the resolution, assuring them that they could protest later. The opposition interrupted their protest to allow the resolution.

Amir Muqam, presenting the resolution, said that India continues to trigger atrocities on the cashmere people. “India has repealed unilaterally and illegally articles 370 and 35A,” he said, adding that thousands of young people had been martyred, orphaned children and widowed women.

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“Despite these atrocities, the love of Pakistan in the hearts of the Kashmiris has not decreased,” he said.

The resolution, moved by Muqam, condemned the actions of India of August 5, 2019, described them as violation of the Geneva conventions and denounced the Indian declarations concerning the Azad Cashmere and the Gilgit-Baltistan. He called for the implementation of United Nations resolutions and asked for access to UN observers in Iiojk.

Later in the session, the PTI Mna Aamir Dogar criticized the government by saying: “You condemned our members to ten years each.”

He added: “If everyone is thrown, what kind of house is it?” And said ten MNA were “raised” from the room without any speaker action. President Ayaz Sadiq replied by asking, “Have I not issued production orders?”

Dogar said that Sheikh Waqas Akram’s requests were submitted to the speaker’s office.

“You have submitted MNA to political victimization,” he said. “The founder of the PTI is in prison because he refused to bow. If he had bowed, he would have been in this house,” he said. “If all of this should be done, lock the house.”