Both the Hurriyat have called for a strike on July 13. However, public transport has been exempted from the strike. The Hurriyat (G) delegation was represented by Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Masrat Alam, General Musa and Ayaz Akbar while Shabir Shah, Faz-ul-Haq Quershi, Sheikh Aziz, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Shabir Ahmad Dar represented Hurriyat (M). “The meeting lasted for more than two hours and apart from July 13 Programmes, modalities for unity were also discussed,” sources added. Confirming that the meeting was held at his residence, Shah said, “It was held in a cordial environment and leaders from both sides expressed their views freely.” The Hurriyat unity efforts started after Mirwaiz Umar appealed Syed Ali Shah Geelani, JKLF chairman Muhammad Yaseen Malik and Peoples Conference leader Sajjad Ghani Lone from Martyrs Graveyard on May 21, 2008 to form a united platform. On June 19, Geelani and Mirwaiz held a marathon six-hour meeting after which both the leaders jointly briefed the media and announced the formation of a committee to hammer out the modalities for unification of the two factions, which had parted ways in September 2003.

Both Hurriyat then jointly fought against forest land transfer to SASB. Both the factions supported the Action Committee against Land Transfer. Last Friday Geelani and Umar were expected to address people at Hazratbal, but were put under house arrest by the authorities. Today’s meeting, observers say, was significant in the backdrop of recent developments. “There is tremendous pressure from people on both the factions to unite after the recent popular uprising against the land transfer to SASB,” a senior pro-freedom leader said.

The committee constituted by the Hurriyat Conference regarding the unity of the two factions of Hurriyat, has made progress in its assignment and it is likely to submit its findings and format for the united Hurriyat very soon. Meanwhile both the factions of Hurriyat have decided to observe the martyrs’ day on July 13 together.

Sources in Hurriyat said that the committee has made a lot of progress and the announcement about the unity will be made very soon. Hurriyat Conference had constituted a six-member committee to work out the modalities for the reunification of Hurriyat Conference and the set-up which the united Hurriyat would adopt.

Both the factions of Hurriyat had nominated three members from their respective sides and the committee is headed by Shabir Ahmad Shah, senior pro-freedom leader. This became possible after the transfer of land to SASB in the valley generated enough resentment thereby bringing the two factions closer in an effort to oppose the move in a united manner. Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar addressed a joint press conference following a seven-hour long meeting during which the formation of the committee was announced. Since then the two factions of the Hurriyat Conference are in constant touch even as the committee is doing its job assigned to it.

Meanwhile both the factions of Hurriyat have decided to observe the martyrs’ day on July 13, together. Senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said that Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq would together go to Martyrs’ Graveyard and would address the gathering there.
It is in place to mention here that the two Hurriyat leaders, Geelani and Mirwaiz were supposed to address the people after Friday congregation at Dargah Hazratbal, but the government thwarted that effort by putting both the leaders under house arrest. Some Hurriyat leaders, however, managed to reach the Dargah. Mohammad Ashraf Sehrayee and Shabir Shah later addressed the people.

The seminar was launched by a short motivating skit by children on conditions of street working and street living children. The skit revolved around the theme of torture highlighting the discriminatory behavior of society in general. It was followed by a presentation on the rehabilitation work done for the torture victims by SACH. Ms. Ishrat Rizvi, National Information Officer of the UN Information Centre, read out the message of the UN Secretary General, issued for the Day.

Mr. Jan de kok, Ambassador European Commission, spoke about the importance of the day and European Union’s firm commitment to upholding the absolute prohibition of torture and cruel inhuman treatment. He congratulated government of Pakistan on it being a signatory to the CAT convention and now looked forward to it being ratified and implemented.

He stated that “the EU currently provides more than EUR 680,000 of funding too few projects, aimed both at creating a favorable environment for speedy ratification of CAT and at supporting victims of torture and their families.” Regretting the absence of Mr. Gardezi – IG Islamabad Police, Mr. Zubair Hashmi SSP Islamabad Traffic Police, said that as a representative of a law enforcement agency, he recognized the necessity to speak on the subject of torture.

He said that along with making the accountability procedures more efficient, human rights officers had been appointed in almost all police stations of Islamabad with a strict adherence to the principles of no inhumane treatment. Mr. Fareed Khan Secretary, Human Rights and Law highly appreciated the organizers for commemorating the Day in respect of elimination of torture. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Khan highlighted upon the ideal code of human rights as given by Islam and the Government’s awareness of the need to curb human rights violations.

He said that “the Government has recently elevated Human Rights Wing of Ministry of Law, Justice& Human Rights as Human Rights Division, which is fully devoted to the cause as far as possible within its limited resources.” He spoke about the sensitivity and responsiveness of Pakistan to its International obligations and commitments and highlighted various actions taken. He informed that the subject of ratification of CAT had been dealt by the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs and the ground work has almost been done and would soon be handed over to the Human Rights Division. Mr.Nasir Zaidi – Director General of Islamic Ideology Council, strongly advocated that Islam is against torture and does not even allow ill treatment of captives. He discussed the need to understand the universal principals of Islam and undermine the negative propaganda.

The seminar ended with a interactive Q&A session among the participants and panelists. In the end Mr. Jan de kok distributed certificates among participants of a human resource development program in support of victims of torture conducted by SACH. Prominent Senators, officials from the Government, European Commission, and United Nations, media, street children and guests attended the seminar.

ISLAMABAD: The General Assembly, in 1997, on the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council (decision 1997/251), proclaimed 26 June United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (resolution 52/149 of 12 December). The Day aims at the eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which entered into force on 26 June 1987. The UN Secretary-General issued the following message on this Day:

“Torture is a profound abuse of human rights and a horrific aberration of the human conscience. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the foundation of international human rights law, strictly prohibits it, under any and all circumstances: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

And yet, 60 years since the adoption of the Declaration, torture persists, devastating millions of victims and their families. In each case, the psychological and emotional scars are deep and difficult to repair. The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is an occasion to remember those who have suffered torture and even died. It is also a call to speak out and take action on their behalf and against all those who commit torture and all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

Despite a comprehensive legal framework against torture, Member States must do more to ensure that the torture-protection framework is applied in a gender-sensitive manner. Certain forms of gender-specific violence amount to torture as it is defined in the Convention against Torture. I call on the international community to strengthen the international legal framework to ensure better protection for women, including access to international assistance.

I strongly urge the remaining Member States who have not yet done so to accede to the Convention against Torture, and to consider joining the 35 Member States who have ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention, which includes checks on torture through international and national visits to places of detention.

I also call on all Governments to continue their support of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. The Fund is one of the largest United Nations humanitarian trust funds and assists many non-governmental organizations in providing victims with medical and psychological care, legal and social aid, and financial support. I thank the donors for their continued support and encourage the entire international community to contribute generously.

On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, in a year in which we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us reaffirm our commitment to the inalienable rights and inherent dignity of all women and men. Let us build together a more humane world for all people everywhere, free from torture and all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”

UN Secretary-General issued the following message on this Day
“Ten years ago, in response to the seriousness of the world drug problem, Member States of the United Nations convened a Special Session of the General Assembly, where they committed themselves to a vigorous plan of action to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs.

Today, drugs continue to destroy lives, generate crime and threaten sustainable development. But we also have a better understanding of how to confront drug abuse and trafficking. Policymakers can draw on a growing body of evidence about drug dependence and drug-use trends.

International cooperation and technical assistance are improving law enforcement capabilities. Increased development assistance is helping to reduce poverty and the sale of illicit crops by giving farmers sustainable alternatives. A stronger focus on prevention and treatment is putting health at the centre of drug-control strategies and helping to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS. And there is a growing consensus, both within communities and among states, that drug control is a shared responsibility in which we all play a part.

We still have much work to do to reduce our vulnerability to drugs. States with weak criminal justice systems and limited law enforcement capabilities need assistance to reduce illicit drug trafficking, which spreads crime, corruption and instability, and which ultimately endangers the successful realization of the Millennium Development Goals.

As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I remind all Member States of their responsibility to fully respect the rights of prisoners who are drug dependent or are in custody for drug-related crimes, especially their rights to life and a fair trial. I also call on Member States to ensure that people who are struggling with drug addiction be given equal access to health and social services. No one should be stigmatized or discriminated against because of their dependence on drugs.

Pakistan has prepared a Master Plan for Drug Abuse Control envisaging a three billion rupee programme for drug reduction activities in the country. This was stated by a senior official of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) at a ceremony held in Islamabad today to launch 2008 World Drug Report of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

He said the ANF last year seized 15355 kilograms of Opium, 13865 kilos of heroin-morphine and 14928 kilograms of Hashish. He said there are around 628,000 drug addicts in Pakistan, 77 percent of which are heroin users. An alarming trend is that the estimated number of injecting drug users has doubled since 2000. The highest prevalence of opioid use is in Balochistan, followed by NWFP, Punjab and Sindh.

Launching the World Drug Report, a UN official said the total area under opium cultivation globally rose to 235,700 hactres last year, 17% high from 2006. This was almost entirely due to the 17% expansion of cultivation in Afghanistan where area under opium cultivation is 193,000 hactres. Afghanistan alone accounted for over 92% of global opium production.

He said approximately 208 million people or 4.9% of the world’s population aged 15 to 64 have used drugs at least once last year. Secretary Narcotics Control Division K.B. Rind said all nations of the world have to cooperate regionally and internationally to eradicate the menace of drugs for ever. He said Balochistan has been made poppy free province due to effective coordinated efforts of the government and international agencies and all segments of the population.

He said that this day provides an opportunity to focus worldwide attention on the importance of the environment and stimulate political attention and action, adding that the event seeks to give a human face to environment issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development.

The President said that it promotes an understanding among the citizens to ensure that people enjoy a safer and prosperous present and future on the planet earth. “Fossil fuels have paved the way for the developed world’s industrial progress and developing countries are now treading on the same path in search of equal living standards. The dependence on carbon-based energy has caused a significant build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere” he added.

He said that the theme of the year calls for an action to change our habit towards a low carbon economy. If the measures are not taken to address the issues at this stage, it will lead to global warming, energy crisis, low crop productivity and associated environment hazards.“Government of Pakistan is making concerted efforts to address this issue and has developed a National Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Policy, which provides comprehensive guidelines for addressing the energy issues on sustainable basis” he added.

He said” the Government of Pakistan is also playing a proactive role to ensure protection of regional and global environment. It is our common duty that we work together for the conservation of our habitat from the ill effects of climate change”.-SANA

The report further says that the number of smokers is on the rise in Pakistan mainly due to easy availability of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes in the open market. In the year 2007, total 77.92 billion cigarettes were manufactured in the country. Out of which about 16.64 billion cigarettes were illegal and fabricated due to which the government exchequer is facing a loss of Rs. 7 billion annually, market estimates said.

The World Health Organization also in a report has pointed out that the use of substandard cigarettes is the main source of various human diseases including respiratory disorder, cancer and TB that cause rising number of deaths. A number of factories situated in Azad Kashmir, Sargodha, Chakwal, Okara and Bahawalnagar are involved in excessive production of counterfeit cigarettes, and the use of such cigarettes are causing multiple lungs diseases among smokers, the report says.

Smoking at public places including bus stands, railway stations, parks, trains, hospitals, markets and offices has been witnessed as routine issue. The government of Pakistan promulgated the Ordinance 2002 to ban smoking at public places and is considering slapping ban on use of ‘sheesha’.

The report also says that publishing the health warning on every cigarette pack is mandatory; however, a big consignment of cigarette packs carrying no such warning is available in the open market for sale, which is a glaring violation of the law. The Health Ministry has yet not taken any action to control this illegal trade of cigarettes.

The UN Secretary-General issued the following message on this Day

“This year, the annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers also marks the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping. Six decades ago today, the Security Council established our first peacekeeping mission. Most of the peacekeepers came from a handful of European and American countries and they were mostly unarmed military men observing and monitoring cease-fire lines.

Since then, peacekeeping has developed into a flagship enterprise of our Organization. Today, we have more than 110,000 men and women deployed in conflict zones around the world. They come from nearly 120 countries — an all-time high, reflecting confidence in United Nations peacekeeping. They come from nations large and small, rich and poor — some of them countries recently afflicted by war themselves. They bring different cultures and experiences to the job, but they are united in their determination to foster peace. Some are in uniform but many are civilians and their activities go far beyond monitoring.

They train police, disarm ex-combatants, support elections and help build State institutions. They build bridges, repair schools, assist flood victims and protect women from sexual violence. They uphold human rights and promote gender equality. Thanks to their efforts, life-saving humanitarian assistance can be delivered and economic development can begin.

In the past year, I have visited peacekeepers in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. I have seen refugees returning home, children heading back to school, citizens once again secure under the rule of law. I have seen whole societies moving, with the help of the peacekeepers, from devastation to rejuvenation. In Haiti, in Liberia, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the blue helmets have provided breathing space for a fragile peace to take hold.

We could not do this job without our partners in regional organizations. The African Union and the UN are deploying our first hybrid force in Darfur. And we are working with the European Union in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic. More than half of all our Member States contribute troops and police to peacekeeping operations. We are grateful to every one of them. Our special thanks go to the top contributors: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Nepal. Together, these nations of the south contribute nearly half of the UN’s peacekeepers.

This anniversary is an occasion to celebrate, but also to mourn our fallen colleagues. Over these six decades, more than two thousand and four hundred men and women who have died serving the cause of peace. Just last year alone, we lost 87 brave individuals. Each one is a hero. Today, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten, and the vital work of the blue helmets continues as long as they are needed. ”

With advancement in the field of Science and Technology, drug mafia have hit the world drug market with improvised drugs to cater to the needs of the millions of the frustrated lot who do not find a happy corner inside their house join the fold of black addiction that lead them to a silent death.

Health experts said there are two types of viral hepatitis in Pakistan, one is short lived and self-limited hepatitis A and E usually spread through feco-oral-route while hepatitis C and B is a blood borne disease and usually chronic. According to health professionals hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water while hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids like from blood transfusions or invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment.

They said hepatitis B is transmitted by sexual contact. The symptoms of hepatitis include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. HBV is the most serious type of viral hepatitis and the only type causing chronic hepatitis for which a vaccine is available. Injection drug use is the major risk factor for HBV and HCV infections. The main reason for such a high incidence of hepatitis is that treatment becomes complicated because injected drug users suffer from other conditions such as HIV, mental illness, alcoholism and they have little or no contact with the health care providers.

Functions will also be held across the country to mark this historic occasion. Pakistan Muslim League (N) Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will participate in this function for the first time after returning to Pakistan. During the functions a remarkable salute will also be paid to the meritorious services to the founder of Pakistani nuclear programme and renowned nuclear scientist, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and government will be stressed to release him immediately.

Mrs. Muhammad Ali, mother of MTFA’s President Mian Rizwan, conducted cake-cutting ceremony at Model Town Football Academy (MTFA) which celebrated Mothers Day at MTFA Ground Sunday night to honor the mothers. The Academy, claimed to be highly-attended Academy of Asia, is consisting of 600 players boys while the Women Wing of MTFA, launched on 5 May, likely to see registration of 200-plus girls by the end of 2008.

On this occasion, the children danced to the tunes of various songs, and recited poems for their mothers. The mothers, mostly residents of Model Town, had great fun playing games organised for them, and hugged their children. The children had made cards by pasting their hand prints on them, decorating them it with petals, leaves and flowers, and colouring them with crayons. MTFA President Mian Rizwan Ali, thanked the mothers and the children for their whole-hearted support in celebrating this day. MTFA have the honor of hosting Calendar events, coaching, refereeing courses of Pakistan Football Federation, Punjab Football Association while FIFA/AFC had picked the Academy’s facilities for providing Training Session to Asian Champion Iraq and participants of AFC President’s Cup.

“Mothers Day is celebrated in an entirely different time of the year in various nations. But what ever may be the date of Mother’s Day around the world, the spirit is the same everywhere. MTFA used to join their hands on this great occasion on second Sunday of May every year,” said Rizwan who added that everywhere in the world mothers are respected for their extreme devotion towards their kids. And on Mother’s Day children pay their humblest tribute to their mothers and thank them for giving them birth and providing them with the best of care and upbringing