Pakistan's truce violation during Ramadan is intolerable: Mehbooba

Jammu, May 25 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire with impunity during the holy month of Ramadan resulting in loss of precious lives during the month of prayer and penance.

The Chief Minister visited families in R.S. Pura sector of Jammu district to condole the deaths of their kith and kin in recent shelling by Pakistan Rangers.

"What Pakistan has been doing during the holy month of Ramadan is becoming increasingly intolerable. It has been violating the ceasefire when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared a ceasefire in respect to the holy month.

"It appears that despite being a Muslim country, Pakistan has scant respect for the holy month which Muslims spend in prayer and penance".

She said the ceasefire agreement signed in November 2003 between India and Pakistan had brought in a modicum of normalcy in the lives of thousands of residents of border areas on both sides of the border.

"But, that atmosphere of peace and tranquillity has been shattered because of frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan", the Chief Minister said.

State Public Health Engineering Minister Sham Choudhary and Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Javed Mustafa Mir accompanied the Chief Minister during her border visit.