1. The Senate Standing Committee on Defence paid a visit to the Line of Control (Nakial Sector) on 16th November, 2015 under the Chairpersonship of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed.

2. The composition of the Committee was as follows:-

• Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed               Chairman      
• Senator Farhatullah Babar                           Member
• Senator Atta ur Rehman                              Member
• Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi                Member
• Senator Brig (R) John Kenneth Williams        Member

3. The Committee was received by Brigadier Tufail and other officers of the Pakistan Army, after which the Committee was briefed over the prevailing situation along LOC.  Captain Mansoor informed the Committee over the check posts located at the LOC. The Committee was informed that the Indian Army has been violating the Geneva Convention and targeting the innocent civilians residing near LOC.

4. Brigadier Tufail briefed the Committee regarding development projects being undertaken by the Army, in the fields of education, health, and infrastructure. The Chairman Committee while appreciating the efforts of the Pakistan Army stated that Pakistan Army has always contributed towards welfare of the civilian population residing near LOC.

5. The Committee also met the former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Mr. Sikandar Hayat Khan and the victims of Indian firing / shelling at LOC. The former Prime Minister also highlighted problems of the community residing near LOC.

6. The Senate Standing Committee was apprised that approximately Pkr 37.5 to 40 million would be required as the cost of construction of community bunkers for civil population residing near LOC. The Committee was also briefed about the resettlement of civil population ahead of Army check posts.

7. The Committee unanimously recommended that the compensation amount being paid in the other provinces of Pakistan to the heirs of the victims of terrorism also be paid at par in Azad Kashmir to the victims of Indian firing / shelling.

8. Towards the end of the briefing, Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Defense, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed expressed solidarity with the troop’s deployed and civil population residing near LOC, and assured that the committee would act as the voice of the troops deployed at Nakial Sector and civilian population in the Parliament.

9. The Committee then departed for Islamabad from Jangjoo Camp, Nakial Sector.