ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Ijaz Ahmad Shah on Wednesday said that the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief would not come to Islamabad in the same month when India annexed Kashmir in October 1947.

Speaking to reporters, he said doing this would be “suicide” and asked how could Maulana Fazlur Rehman launch the march on the same day (Oct 27).

Responding to a question, Mr Shah said the situation in India-held Kashmir was very critical as the lockdown and communication blackout had entered its 65th day.

Ijaz says over 1,200 cops being recruited for Islamabad

Though the local leadership of held Kashmir was biased towards the Indian government, it had also started raising voice against Indian brutalities in the valley, he added.

The minister said that the Modi government was under pressure due to effective diplomatic efforts of Prime Minister Imran Khan, and hoped that the curfew would be lifted in near future and normality would return to the occupied region.

He said that the Islamabad police had initiated the process of hiring 1,260 new recruits that would improve the security situation in the coming days.

After a pause of nine years, more than 1,200 personnel in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police would be recruited to improve law and order.

In reply to a question, he said the government was not imposing any kind of restrictions on seminaries and had no plans to change their syllabus.

However, the government was bringing reforms in madressahs and adding new subjects like Maths, Science, English and History in syllabus that would help them become a constructive part of society, the minister said.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2019