Pakistan summons Indian diplomat, lodges protest over ceasefire violations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Foreign Office and lodged strong protest over ceasefire violations at the Working Boundary.

Foreign Office Spokesman said three Pakistani civilians were martyred when Indian security forces opened unprovoked firing at Shakargarh Zafarwal Sector of the Working Boundary on October 23, 24 and 25.

"The Indian Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. J.P. Singh, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs... to protest over the unprovoked ceasefire violations by India during the nights of 23rd, 24th and 25th October," foreign office spokesman Qazi M.Khalilullah said in a statement.

He said that as a result of the firing, "three civilians including a teenage girl, embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and 23 others (were) injured".

More than 50 houses were also damaged in the unprovoked heavy mortar shelling by the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) targeting the civilian population.

According to a spokesperson of the Punjab Rangers, border villages near Sialkot including Sugmaal, Kothey Chak, Mallu Chak, Boorey Chak, Bhopalpur, Agor, Lambriyaal, Saambli, Makkuwal, Mangu Chak and Chattar were badly hit by the heavy mortar shelling by the Indian BSF.

The Foreign Office statement said it had also informed the Indian diplomat of a "threatening phone call" made from New Delhi late last Friday to Sindh Governor House in Karachi.

"Details of the call were also shared with him," Khalilullah said, adding that India was asked to investigate.