Sialkot/Islamabad - Two women were killed in Indian cross-border firing on Sialkot Working Boundary Thursday, prompting Pakistan to summon Indian envoy to register its protest against civilian deaths.
Six people also sustained serious wounds when Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) fired heavy mortar shells in Sucheetgarh, Chaprar, Harpal, Bajra Garhi, Charwah and Zafarwal-Shakargarh sectors in the morning, said Punjab Rangers.
The deceased were identified as Parveen Bibi, 45-year-old wife of Muhammad Aslam from village Rurki Awanaa (Harpal Sector) and Aysha, 22-year-old daughter of Abdul Rasheed from village Gandiyaal-Kingra (Charwah Sector).
The injured were Muhammad Asghar (18), Rasheed Ahmed (50), Naseem Bibi (45), Natasha Bibi (21), Saima Bibi (24), and Sameena Bibi(25). The citizens were in their homes when Indian forces unleashed aggression, also killing dozens of cattle.Rescue 1122 ambulances shifted the injured to the Sialkot Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in critical condition.
The Punjab Rangers retaliated instantly and effectively and gave the answer in befitting manners to the enemy, making the Indian guns silent.
Laid to rest
The Indian shelling victims Parveen Bibi and Aysha Rasheed were laid to rest in their native graveyards in villages of Rurki Awanaa-Harpal and Gundiyaal-Kingra-Charwah. A large number of the people from all walks of life attended their funerals.
Public protest
The relatives of deceased staged a strong protest over Indian firing. They put the bodies in the village’s square and chanted anti-India slogans. Panic gripped the area and locals started moving to safer places with their cattle in Sialkot and its surroundings from most of these affected areas. Sialkot District Council Chairperson Hina Arshad Warraich showed solidarity with victim and urged the world to take notice of this Indian aggression.
Registering resentment
In Islamabad, Director General of South Asia Dr Mohammed Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh to protest against the ceasefire violations, said a foreign ministry statement. The Indian forces along the Working Boundary started indiscriminate and unprovoked firing with heavy mortars and automatic weapons since last night on the civilian populated villages in Sialkot, it said.
“Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations. In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 110 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary in just 18 days, resulting in the death of three civilians, while injuring 10 others. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1900 ceasefire violations,” said the statement.
It said the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas was indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. “The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation,” it added.
The DG urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary. He asked the Indian side to allow UN observers to play the mandated role as per the Security Council resolutions.