AMMAN, 6 April 2020, TON: His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordon on Sunday directed the government to examine the gradually resumption of operations in productive sectors, especially in the export sector to support the economy.
 
Chairing a National Policies Council (NPC) meeting which was also attended by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein, adviser to the King, urged creative solutions that create balance between public health and economic plans. He stressed on studying small and medium sized enterprises with focus on  public-private partnerships.  
King Abdullah also discussed progress of remote learning and the measures being taken to sustain the educational process.

ISLAMABAD, 6 April 2020, TON: Pakistan’s Ministry of Health released latest figure of COVID-19 positives and deaths. It has been reported that the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is 3,059 including 45 deaths in Pakistan. However, the officials at provincial hospitals claimed that the figures are exaggerated as they have admitted many cases who had fever and some of the symptoms with the apprehension that they are COVID-19 positive. Dr Naveed disclosed that the list prepared in each hospital show names of many individuals who had previous history of multiple respiratory diseases and presently some hospitals show admissions and deaths to have occurred due to COVID-19 but actually, no tests have been carried out to confirm they actually contracted the viral disease.  

The Heath Ministry’s statistics presented by the ministry showed that at least 512 people were tested positive while eight deaths were registered from Friday to Sunday.

In Punjab province 1,319 confirmed cases were reported while in Sindh province 881 cases have been reported. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province 372 cases were reported while 206 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 189 Balochistan and 78 in the capital Islamabad. The death gigures show that 12 people died in Punjab, 15 in Sindh, 14 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 4 elsewhere. Overall, 170 people across the country recovered.

BANDIPORA, 5 April 2020, TON: Another Indian Army soldier committed a suicide. A case has been registered against unknown persons. As per the initial reports the ill-fated Soldier belonged to 14 Rashtriya Rifles at Army camp in Pannar, and had brawl with his Commanding Officer over leave but later declined and sent him to operation area,

As per Police authorities, he committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at an Army camp in Bandipora district of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. Police has claimed that they have registered a case, however, cause of suicide could not be ascertained.

KUPWARA, 5 April 2020, TON: Elements of 3 Division, 70 Infantry Brigade and other Infantry Battalions were reported to have also deployed at Kupwara district for special operations. Despite bad weather, operations against Kashmiri youth continued on Saturday, 4 April 2020. A defence spokesperson later on Sunday, claimed that troops carried out combing operation and killed five Kashmiris militants. However, a villager who was an ex-serviceman and also witness to the operation said, he saw eight dead bodies of the civilian youth being evacuated by Indian Army to Base hospital. He claimed that that some soldiers told him that they have come from Leh and Karu have joined the security forces to eliminate all those who dare to violate curfew.

Meanwhile three Indian soldiers were killed in Keran sector as the result of firing by Pakistani troops. Military spokesman confirmed that the soldiers were guarding Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district.

SRINAGAR, 4 March 2020, TON: The Indian Government amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (adaption of state laws) order 2020, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Section 96 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, Indian Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman said. The law would be termed as “Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (adaption of state laws) second order 2020.

The new domicile law of Jammu and Kashmir provides that Jammu and Kashmir domiciles include anyone who has resided in Jammu and Kashmir for 15 years or has studied in Jammu and Kashmir for seven years.

In Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization) and Recruitment Act 2020 following sections were amended: “under section 3A (i) in sub-section (1) omit word “deemed to be” and “Carrying a pay scale of not more than level-4 (25500)” and in sub-section (2) omit “Deemed to be and in clause (a) for “have served” substitute “shall have served”. Section 5A has also been amended:“A post carrying a pay scale of not more than level-4 (25500)” substitute “any post”. In Section 8 before clause (ii) add: “(i) is a domicile of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Anyone who is registered as a migrant by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) will also be deemed to be a domicile. The others who can be deemed to be a domicile include children of those central government officials, all-India services officers, officials of public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies of the central government, public sector banks, officials of statutory bodies, central university officials and those of recognised research institutes of the central government who have served in Jammu and Kashmir for 10 years.

As per the notification, children of those who fulfill any of the conditions or children of such residents of Jammu and Kashmir as reside outside Union Territory in connection with their employment or business or other professional or vocational reasons but their parents fulfill any of the conditions provided in sub-section are also deemed to be domicile of Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Kashmiri leadership including Syed Ali Geelani rejected the Indian government conspiracy to change the demography of disputed State of Jammu and Kashmir and demanded United Nations Organization (UNO) to intervene. They also demanded from the Pakistani leadership and the masses to do something including approaching International Court of Justice to stop India from its nefarious designs before it is too late.

 Kashmiri leadership and general public are not being allowed to come out of their houses and protest against the illegitimate Indian law that violates United Nations Security Council Resolutions. The Indian Army and security forces are deployed everywhere in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and if someone comes out he is declared COVID-19 positive and afterwards his whereabouts are not know.

WASHINGTON, 4 April 2020, TON: The United States of America has agreed in principle to relax sanctions imposed on Iran to allow the country fight COVID-19 related import, said a Pentagon official on the condition of anonymity. It may come as surprise but independent reports speaks that Washington has already provided aid and material to Iran to fight Corona virus.

The senior official having remained deployed in Baghdad, Iraq said Pentagon feels that it is time to engage Tehran if it agrees to new terms and conditions.

US sanctions has disallowed world’s companies and individuals from carrying out even lawful trade with Iranian companies. Reportedly, China and Moscow are supplying medicine to Iran.

In the past, President Donald Trump administration’s refused to halt its economic war on Iran saying it is against US’s national interests.

SRINAGAR, 3 April 2020, TON: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today demanded immediate withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir domicile law to pave the way for widespread consultations with all the stakeholders to evolve a robust safeguard mechanism in the larger interests of the bona-fide locals. He said, the law is unjust and betrayal with educated unemployed youth, saying this should be withdrawn forthwith

Devender Singh Rana said, “All political parties should rise above politics and commit themselves to the just cause of our youth and speak against the law in one voice” He said, “Our youth are second to none and have proven their worth in various national level competitive exams but when it comes to jobs, it should be understood that those coming from far-off areas or belonging to weaker sections, scheduled castes and tribes, the level play field is not the same as elsewhere in the country due to poor infrastructure and education system”.

Asking if a special provision could be envisaged in various states like Himachal Pradesh and North East with regard to exclusive rights of local youth over all category of jobs why the same is being denied to J&K youth. The avoidable deprivation could lead to alienation of youth, irrespective of region, religion or caste,

He cautioned, saying the bonafide residents are feeling terribly let down and betrayed beyond imagination.  Rana also referred to the timing of announcement of the new law and said the people, grappling with the pandemic of corona virus like other parts of the country and the world, are shell shocked and dumb struck over the “insensitive, illogical and irresponsible move, which has bellied all their hopes”, especially in the backdrop of assurances held out and promises made by central leaders from time to time in recent months.

Rana said, “What could be more irony than that those looking for special dispensation to overcome the burgeoning unemployment problem in Jammu and Kashmir are finding themselves pushed to the wall and nowhere to go, he said and urged the Centre to revisit the law in deference of the overwhelming wishes of the people.” He questioned the rationale behind opening the jobs for outsiders when the local youth were struggling for sustenance in the wake of meager job avenues available here in the absence of organised corporate sector and big business houses.

KARACHI, 3 April 2020, TON: US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells said, “We welcome Pakistan’s decision to appeal the verdict,” after the Home Department of Pakistan’s Sindh Province issued an order against Sindh High Court’s decision that Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh will remain at least for another 90 days on the grounds of “public safety.” Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh was acquitted from the charges of murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.

The ruling came on 3 April 2020, a day after the High Court of Sindh Province overturned conviction of death sentence on the grounds of Daniel Pearl ‘s murder due to lack of evidence. Criticizing the High Court’s decision, Alice Wells on 2 April said, "The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearl's murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere." 

The order said, “The government of Sindh has sufficient reason that Ahmed Omar Sheikh and Fahad Nasim Ahmed, Syed Salman Saqib, Sheikh Muhammad Adil be arrested and detained for a period of three months from the date of arrest (April 2, 2020).” It is important to mention here that the latest High Court decision awarded the accused 7 years imprisonment, however, all the accused, especially Ahmed Omar Sheikh is in prison since 20022 and has already spent 18 years in prison.

Defense lawyer Khawja Naveed said that decision of the Court in converting death sentence for murder to seven years in prison for kidnapping has been viewed by international media-freedom watchdogs as a "denial of justice."

The provincial Prosecutor-General, Faiz Shah said that he intended to appeal the ruling, however, under Article 185 of Constitution of Pakistan, Sindh Government has no right to file an appeal exercising Appellate Jurisdiction of Supreme Court unless leave to appeal is filed as the decision of Sindh High Court has neither reversed an order of acquittal of  accused persons and sentenced him to death or to transportation for life or imprisonment for life nor the revision has enhanced a sentence.

It is important to recall, in January 2011, a report released by the Pearl Project at Georgetown University following an investigation into his death claimed that the wrong men were convicted for Pearl's murder.

DUBAI, 3 April 2020, TON: Commerce ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held an extraordinary virtual meeting to discuss the economic impact of the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), citing the role of their ministries to guarantee the provision and flow of basic and necessary commodities to citizens and residents in their countries, assist the private sector to enable it fulfill its role in the economy amid the current extraordinary circumstances and assess the developments as well as the precautionary measures being implemented by the GCC countries to curb the epidemic.

The meeting was headed by the Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al-Mansouri in the attendance of his GCC counterparts in addition to the GCC Secretary General Dr. Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajraf.

During the meeting, the ministers of commerce reviewed the recommendations submitted by the undersecretaries of their ministries of commerce, focusing on the importance of cooperation to guarantee the flow of basic goods and commodities to citizens and residents in the GCC countries, got informed of the precautionary measures being taken by their countries to prevent the spread of the disease and reviewed the urgent initiatives taken by the GCC countries to provide support for the private sector, particularly the small and medium enterprises as well as the economic activities affected by the epidemic.

The ministers underscored the importance of goods smooth flow among the GCC countries so that no contradiction could take place between measures allowing goods to move and precautionary measures barring humans from moving as both measures constitute a common goal to curb the epidemic. They also asserted the importance of keeping their airports, sea ports and land exits open to transport commodities among the GCC countries.
The ministers formed a task team from their ministries to coordinate with each other in an endeavor to follow up and eradicate any obstacle that might face the flow of goods among the GCC countries.

SRINAGAR, 2 April 2020: Kashmiris have launched a strong protest against the Indian occupying forces and the puppet administration at Jammu and Kashmir for ugly attempt to change the rules.

The Kashmiris voiced against Indian plans to illegally settle thousands of Indian in disputed Jammu and Kashmir State. They said that New Delhi is constructing hundreds of blocks of flats at Jammu and elsewhere for the non-Kashmiris so that they can be settled in the disputed State while for original inhabitant of Jammu and Kashmir identification parades, humiliation and only class fourth jobs have been reserved..

Top Kashmiri Pakistani leader under house arrest by the Indian forces said that he clause of extending domicile to everyone and anyone who has lived in Jammu and Kashmir for the past 15 years” is an attempt to bring demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir. “Even those who have been posted as central government employees, labourers or migrants in Jammu and Kashmir can now enjoy their share of jobs getting a domicile.  The Kashmiris rejected Indian conspiracy and warned adverse consequences.

Meanwhile, new wave of labourers from different Indian States have been asked to settle in Jammu and Kashmir on permanent domiciles. This week, 200 plus new labourer arrived in Jammu and Kashmir. They are in addition to 58,500 non-local labourers who have been exposed in  Jammu after the coronavirus outbreak. However, they are being prevented to go to their home stations.