ISLAMABAD: The Lower House of Parliament on Wednesday unanimously passed a supplementary resolution expressing its solidarity with Kashmiris and condemning the Indian atrocities in Held Kashmir. The resolution was moved by Minister for Kashmir Affairs Chaudhry Barjees Tahir, which demanded the international community to implement the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on right to self-determination for Kashmiris. The resolution urged the government to request the Human Rights Council in Geneva to send a fact finding mission to the occupied valley to investigate human rights violations. The resolution expressed complete solidarity with the people of Indian-held Kashmir in their struggle against illegal occupation by Indian armed forces and reiterated Pakistan’s political, moral and diplomatic support. The resolution called upon the government to urge international community to play its role to stop human rights violation in the occupied valley, repeal the black laws and release political prisoners, including Hurriyat leadership. The resolution came as a response to recent atrocities perpetrated on innocent Kashmiris by Indian security forces, in which more than 20 people were martyred and over 100 injured. Meanwhile, the House also passed two bills, including COMSATS University Islamabad Bill, 2018 and the Institute of Art and Culture Bill, 2018. The National Assembly deferred the presentation of three presidential ordinances promulgated to give effect to the tax amnesty scheme announced by the prime minister last week. However, responding to the concerns of the opposition members over the recently announced tax reforms package, Adviser to PM on Finance Miftah Ismail said it wsa a historic and fantastic package in which unprecedented relief had been given to the salaried class by substantially reducing tax rates. He wondered why the PPP and the PTI were protesting over the tax reduction which had given a raise of ten to fifteen percent in salaries to employees. The adviser said that the scheme was aimed at increasing the tax base and it would help attract more investment and spur industrial activity in the country. Published in Daily Times, April 12th 2018.