Srinagar, June 19: Awami Itihaad Party president and former MLA of Langate constituency in north Kashmir, Er Rasheed on Wednesday said that Peoples United Front (PUF)- an alliance formed by Er Rasheed and JKPM chairman Shah Faesal, will never allow regional parties of J&K to stab the masses again.

Rasheed said that people have a lot of hope with the joint leadership and AIP will do everything required to strengthen the alliance as the lone objective of the alliance is to give people what they want.

Not only AIP but the entire leadership of People’s United Front (PUF) are aware of its duties and by no way will allow traditional parties to stab the masses yet again”.

Er. Rasheed appealed citizens all across the state to join AIP and said that party will always be open to healthy debates, positive criticism and fruitful suggestions”.

In his address at Handwara, Rasheed appealed local administration to not to forget its duties towards masses and assured people that AIP will not only continue to represent aspirations and sentiments of people of J&K but will also focus on providing masses a better Governance and will try to ensure time-bound redressal of their grievances.

Earlier, Javed Mustafa Mir, a four-time lawmaker from Chadoora, made the announcement that parties – AIP of Engineer Rasheed and JKPM of DR Shah Feasal, have decided to enter into a pre-poll alliance in the backdrop of the prevailing situation and political uncertainty in the state. He said there are assaults on the special position of the state and there is a lack of credible political alternative and there is no political force that can give good governance and fill the political vacuum.

Mir said the PUF will engage all sections of the people across the state and will work on the agreed agenda. Mir will head the alliance’s 3-member coordination committee.

Meanwhile, many prominent figures including Showkat Ahmad Zargar (KAS), Manzoor Ahmad Khan, Nazir Ahmad Wani and many others joined Er Rasheed led AIP party today.

Srinagar, June 19: Traffic Police Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday ordered enquiry after pictures of a signboard with a message, “don’t use mobile phone while drinking”, installed at Peer Ki Gali on the historic Mughal Road went viral.

“Traffic Police Rural Jammu has installed a signboard at Peer Ki Gali on Mughal Road recently with the nomenclature that ‘Don’t use mobile phone while driving’ in order to ensure general awareness among the concerned drivers,” reads the order issued by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic Rural Jammu, Mohan Lal Kaith.

“However, it has been brought into the notice of SSP Traffic Rural Jammu that some disgruntled elements have changed the aforesaid signboard with the nomenclature that “Don’t use a mobile phone while drinking”, which is a matter of serious concern and requires to be enquired thoroughly,” it reads.

“As such, in order to identify and fix the responsibility of defaulters, a preliminary enquiry is hereby ordered with immediate effect and entrusted to Mohd Rafiq DySP, Rajouri-Poonch. The enquiry officer shall enquire the matter into covert and overt and furnish his report/recommendations to the office of Traffic Police Rural Jammu immediately for further course of action,” reads the order issued by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic Rural Jammu, Mohan Lal Kaith.

Srinagar, June 19:  Governor Satya Pal Malik flagged off a new motorcycle squad of the Traffic Police, launched in order to ensure better compliance of road safety measures by the commuters.

Advisors to Governor K Skandan and K K Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, Financial Commissioner to Governor Umang Narula, Principal Secretary Transport  Department Asgar Hassan Samoon, Transport Commissioner Dr. S P Vaid were among the dignitaries present on the  occasion.

Pertinent to mention that during the financial year 2018-19, Rs 567.92 lakh from the Road Safety Fund was spent on procurement of Road Safety Equipment which inter-alia included Laser Speed Cameras with Automatic Number Plate Recognition, Combined Pollution under Control Equipments, Speed Radar Guns with Laser Camera, Hill Recovery Cranes, 110 Motor Cycles for Motor Vehicle and Traffic Departments for increasing mobility of enforcing agency and also to curb traffic violations and ensure road safety for all.

Appreciating the initiative of the Transport Department, Governor observed that the Departments associated with ensuring road safety should  formulate good practices for ensuring safety of people on the roads and extended full support of the administration in all their endeavours in this direction.

Governor emphasised the vital importance of following traffic rules and road safety measures for reducing the increasing incidents of road accidents. He observed that strict action should be taken against the violators of traffic rules and only trained persons should be allowed to ply vehicles on the roads. He noted that many accidents take place due to untrained drivers and because of their carelessness many innocent lives are lost.

Governor stressed that officials entrusted with the responsibility of controlling traffic should strictly monitor two wheeler drivers who drive dangerously without any regards for the traffic rules and asked to make good quality helmets mandatory for its drivers.

Governor stressed the importance of educating people particularly youth to generate awareness for following all road safety regulations.

Advisor Skandan lauded the initiative and stressed the need for bringing reforms in road safety management and informed that the government has devised an effective Action Plan for ensuring safety on roads and soon people will see the results of government’s efforts in this direction.

BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary highlighted various steps taken by the government in the domain of traffic management, like constitution of the Jammu and Kashmir Road Safety Fund, which is utilised for meeting expenditures on Road Safety. He advised setting up of sufficient signages along the highways and launching awareness campaigns for reducing the incidence of serious road accidents especially amongst school students.