Umar addresses Islamabad seminar on phone

‘New Pakistan Govt Should Facilitate Kashmir Solution’

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Islamabad, May 21: Stressing the need for a just and peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute, speakers at a seminar in Islamabad Pakistan on Tuesday expressed hope that the upcoming Government of Pakistan would make all efforts to settle the dispute in line with the Kashmiris’ aspiration and in the light of UN resolutions.
The seminar, held in connection with the anniversary of late Moulvi Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone, was presided over by Mirwaiz Muhammad Ahmed. Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) premier Choudhary Abdul Majeed, Jamaat-e-Islami PaK Chief Abdul Rashid Turabi, Moulana Muhammad Yousuf of Jammiat Ulema-e-Islam, MQM legislator Tahir Kokhar, MC leader Sardar Sagheer Chugtai, APHC-M Convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Syed Yousuf Naseem, Faiz Naqshbandi, Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoob, JKLF leader Rafiq Ahmad Dar and several others spoke on the occasion. APHC (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivered a telephonic speech on the occasion from Srinagar.
Highlighting the struggle and sufferings of Kashmiris, speakers on the occasion said it was high time that the world community should play its much needed role to bring an end to the decades-long old conflict in the region.
Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir, Choudhary Abdul Majeed said that Kashmiris believe in right to self-determination and the movement would continue on all fronts unless India gives Kashmiris their promised right. “It is India who pledged to give right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir but it was very unfortunate that India later backed out of its promise,” he said.
Referring to Kashmiris’ commitment and dedication to their cause, Choudhary said that Kashmiris would never compromise on their basic demand for freedom. Expressing his full faith and confidence over the Hurriyat leadership, the Prime Minister said that he had great respect for APHC leaders and was ready to take dictations from them. He, however, stated that there was a dire need that the Hurriyat leadership must ensure a broad-based unity within their rank and files.
Terming unity as paramount for success, the PM said, “No power on earth can deprive you from your rights provided you are one and united.” He said that the Kashmir struggle has entered into “now or never” phase where every Kashmiri would have to play his/her role with utmost sincerity.
Regarding the next Pakistan government, Choudhary Majeed said, “As a democrat I respect and honour the mandate the people of Pakistan have given to Mr. Nawaz Sharif and hope that the new government would shape up future policy on Kashmir in letter and spirit of the unanimously adopted resolution by the National Assembly of Pakistan.” He said the parliamentary resolution was voice of the entire Pakistani nation.
Citing the challenges faced by Pakistani nation, he said that there was no doubt that Pakistan was facing multiple challenges but the economic stability of the country was inescapably linked to just and amicable settlement of Kashmir dispute.
In his telephonic speech, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the time has come when India should accept the ground reality and take concrete measures to resolve the lingering dispute in line with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmir people. Lauding Pakistani nation for holding peaceful polls, he said, “We believe that the next Government of Pakistan will make special efforts to resolve Kashmir dispute taking into confidence the Kashmiri leadership on both sides of the line of control.”
He made it clear that Kashmir was not a territorial or border dispute but it was a human problem relating to the right of self-determination of millions of Kashmiris.
Terming the settlement of K-dispute as vital for durable peace in the region, he expressed the hope that the PML-N government would evolve a mechanism whereby Kashmiris could be made part of the negotiating process.
Paying rich tributes to political, religious and social services of Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq and Khwaja Abdul Ghani Lone, the speakers on the occasion said that the duo played significant and remarkable role in the ongoing struggle for right to self-determination.
Regarding Indo-Pak dialogue, the speakers made it clear that Kashmiris were not averse to talks but peace with India should not be at the cost of Kashmiris’ aspirations. Before entering into any dialogue with India, they said that the Government of Pakistan must keep in mind the struggle, sacrifices and aspirations of Kashmiri people. They were of the view that resolution of Kashmir conflict should be given top priority instead of trade and other issues.
The seminar was organized by All Parties Hurriyat Conference (M) Pak chapter and co-sponsored by Kashmir Liberation Cell. This is for the first time that on the special directives of PaK premier the anniversary of veteran Kashmiri leaders was observed at government level.

Pakistan on the brink of historic transition

Nawaz Sharif poised to lead Pak 
Promises to fulfill his commitments   
Nisar Ahmed Thokar
Islamabad, May 12: After yesterday’s historic polls, Pakistan is heading to what is termed as a “landmark achievement for the country” where a democratic government would hand over power to another elected government.
 The transition of power is likely to take place within a couple weeks. However owing to the fractured-mandate delivered by the masses (electorate) none of the party is in position to form the government on its own. 
 Mian Nawaz Sharif, whose party Pakistan Muslim League (N) made a stunning comeback in the Saturday’s elections, is set to lead the country for the third time. Sharif has invited all the political parties for a dialogue to form the government in the centre. 
 During his first post-election speech, the PML-N chief while thanking the nation for “reposing trust in him and his party”, said that despite many challenges his party would make all efforts to “steer the country out of the current crises.” 
 The former chief minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif on the occasion, said that Nawaz Sharif would be the next prime minister of the country.
 Meanwhile, many upsets were witnessed in yesterday’s elections as many heavy-weights belonging to different political parties failed to make a comeback after being rejected by the people who had voted them in 2008 elections. Of those former Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf was defeated by the PML-N candidate by a huge margin. Former deputy prime minister and central leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Pervaiz Elahi was defeated by his rival candidate from Chakwal and former federal minister and leader of Awami National Party Ghulam Ahmed Billor received a huge defeat and was knocked down by the PTI Chairman Imran Khan from his home constituency in Peshawar. Similarly the PTI leader and former foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi lost his seat from Multan which was won by PML-N candidate Abdul Ghaffar Dogar. PPP central leader and former federal minister for information and broadcasting Qamar Zaman Qaira, former Kashmir Affairs Minister Mian Manzoor Watto, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s two sons failed to make their comeback in the elections.

Record voter turnout in Pak elctions

JI, JWP, SIC boycott polls in Karachi

ECP satisfied with polls’ arrangements, expects high turnout

Nisar Ahmed Thokar

Islamabad, May 11: Notwithstanding the terror threat Pakistani nation on Saturday turned out to cast their vote as large number of people including men, women and particularly the youth were seen queued up out side the polling stations all across the country. 

The polling usually started at the scheduled time however there were complaints of delay in polling process as the polling staff could not reach on the polling stations on time.  The official time for casting vote will end at 5:00 PM however on the request of political parties the ECP later decided to extend the polling time till 6 pm. In Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan, the polling continued peacefully barring some incidents of clashes between the supporters of rival candidates. However, there were reports of massive rigging in Karachi where rival parties leveled serious allegations of poll-rigging on each other. 

Expressing deep concern over the prevailing situation in Karachi, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan announced to withdraw its candidates from all constituencies of Karachi and two constituencies of Hyderabad. The JI claimed that owing to large-scale poll rigging the party has formally decided to boycott the polls. Addressing a press conference, the JI chief Syed Munawar Hussain said that his party would observe a peaceful strike on May 13 as a mark of protest against the rigging. He said that massive rigging was taking place in Karachi and Hyderabad.

Following the suit, Sunni Itehad Council, Muhajir Quomi Movement and Jamhori Wattan Party have also boycotted elections in Karachi saying that free, fair and transparent polls were not possible under the given circumstances. On the other hand Mutahida Quomi Movement leader Farooq Sattar alleged that the MQM mandate and elections were being hijacked. 

Pakistan Peoples Party leader Taj Hyder and PTI leader Dr. Mumtaz Alvi also raised the issue of poll rigging in the Southern port city of Karachi and demanded the election commission of Pakistan to take notice of the issue. Dr. Alvi said that despite repeated requested troops were not deployed inside the polling stations. Regarding the delay in poll process, he said the ECP should extend polling time till 12 pm. Without citing the name of any party involved in the rigging, the PPP’s provincial secretary Taj Hyder demanded that the elections should be held afresh on all polling stations where rigging was reported.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan made a shocking statement wherein the commission has admitted the fact the ECP failed to conduct free and fair election in Karachi. The ECP statement came after some political parties decided to boycott the historic elections.

On the other hand the Secretary Election Commission shtiaq Ahmed Khan while expressing satisfaction with the polling arrangements and the massive public response said that the ECP has been able to conduct peaceful elections in the country. Talking to media men Khan claimed that that the polls have been by large peaceful in Punjab, Khyber Paktunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh and Tribel areas. He however maintained that the ECP received some complaints of rigging from Karachi adding that the election commission was ready to address all complaints whatsoever.

Regarding the polling turn out he said that despite the messy situation in some parts of the country the people came out in huge numbers to cast their votes. 

PAKISTAN’S MOMENT TODAY

Beleaguered Country Set For Historic Elections

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, May 10: On the threshold of change, Pakistan is all set to go for polls Saturday wherein more than 86 million voters would be exercising their franchise to choose the country’s new government for next five years.
The elections to National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies would be held simultaneously. The National Assembly of Pakistan comprises of 342 members, of which 272 are directly elected whereas 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 for religious minorities.
More than four thousand candidates are contesting elections for National Assembly seats and nearly 11 thousand candidates are running for four Provincial Assemblies- Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan - and FATA (Federally administered tribal areas).
As per the schedule, polling will commence at 8:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. The voters are bound to show their National Identity Cards before casting their votes. The counting of votes will commence immediately after the close of polling. Votes will be counted at the polling stations by the Presiding Officers in presence of the candidates, their election agents and polling agents.
This is for the first time in the electoral history of the country that Election Commission of Pakistan has introduced E-Ticket service to facilitate the voters. By using SMS service, registered voters can inquire about the details of their constituency and polling stations.
In the electioneering, Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf have emerged as major contenders. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) failed to show its power during the campaigning.
PML-N president Nawaz Sharif is largely being perceived as favorite candidate to become next Prime Minister of the country. However, no party seems to be in a position to get the majority needed to form the government. Constitutionally, the party gaining 172 National Assembly seats has right to form government in the Center and within a period of 21 days after the general elections, the President is constitutionally bound to summon the National Assembly session wherein the elected representatives would elect the Leader of the House.
Despite the militant threats looming large in many parts of the country, almost all the political and religious parties have expressed their full faith in the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The electoral exercise is taking place at a time when country is facing dire challenges. The interim government in consultation with military authorities has given final touches to what is termed as a well integrated security plan to hold free, fair and transparent polls. Beefing up the security, thousands of police and paramilitary troops have been deployed to guard polling stations, whereas in the wake of threats more than 70,000 army soldiers have been put on standby to deal with any emergency situation.
Over the past two months, the country witnessed some horrifying scenes of deadly violence in which dozens of innocent civilians lost their precious lives and many aspiring candidates belonging to different political parties were gunned down during the election campaign particularly in Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. There are reports that the banned militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban has claimed to dispatch suicide bombers to carry out widespread attacks on the election day.
There are apprehensions that the militant threats could adversely affect the overall voter turnout. Under the given circumstances, it remains a Herculean task for police and other law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order in the county.

پاکستان میں انتخابی مہم زور وشور سے جاری، منشوروں میںمسئلہ کشمیر سر فہرست

سیاسی جماعتوں نے کشمیر کوخارجہ پالیسی کا اہم ستون قراردیا
نثار احمد ٹھوکر

اسلام آباد// پاکستانی سیاسی جماعتوں کی جانب سے مسئلہ کشمیر کو نمائیاں طور پر انتخابی منشور میںشامل کئے جانے کے اقدام کو کشمیر ی حلقوں میںوسیع پیمانے پرسراہا جارہا ہے۔یادر ہے کہ پاکستان کی تقریباً تمام چھوٹی اور بڑی جماعتوں نے مسئلہ کشمیر کو انتخابی منشور کا حصہ بنانے کے ساتھ ساتھ کشمیر کے دیرینہ اور حل طلب مسئلے کو خارجہ پالیسی کا ایک اہم جز قرار دیا ہے جسے سے یقینی طور پرملکی سیاست میں کشمیر کی اہمیت کا اندازہ لگایا جاسکتا ہے۔اگرچہ سیاسی جماعتوں نے کشمیر بارے اپنا نقطہ نظر بیان کرتے ہوئے ریاستی پالیسی کے حدودو قیودکے اندر رہنے کا انتخاب کیا ہے تاہم اہم پالیسی دستاویزات میںکشمیری عوام کے حق خودارادیت کا ذکر اس بات کا بین ثبوت ہے کہ جمہوریت پر یقین رکھنے والی تمام سیاسی جماعتیںاس بات متفق ہیں کہ کشمیری عوام کی خواہشات کے مطابق مسئلہ کشمیرکاپر امن حل نہائت ضروری ہے۔سیاسی جماعتوں نے مسئلہ کشمیر کے پر امن حل کی ضرورت کو اجاگرکرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ تمام ہمسائیہ ملکوںبالخصوص بھارت کے ساتھ دوستانہ تعلقات قائم کرنے کی ضرورت پر بھی زوردیا ہے۔پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) جسکی قیادت سابق وزیر اعظم میاں نواز شریف کرتے ہیں نے 110صفحات پر مشتمل اپنے انتخابی منشور میں کہا ہے کہ انکی جماعت مسئلہ کشمیر کو  اقوام متحدہ کی قراردادوں ، 1999کے معاہدہ لاہور اورکشمیری عوام کی امنگوں اورخواہشات کے مطابق حل کرنے کے لئے تمام تر کوششیں بروئے کار لائیگی۔تمام ملکوں بالخصوص ہمسائیہ ممالک کے ساتھ تعلقات کو فروغ دینے کے حوالے مسلم لیگ (ن) نے اس عزم کو دہرایا کہ وہ باہمی تعلقات کو معمول پر لانے کی پالیسی پر عمل پیرا ہوتے ہوئے تمام مسائل کاپر امن مذاکرات کے ذریعے حل کرنا چاہتی ہے۔پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی(PPP)نے کہا ہے کہ انکی جماعت کشمیری عوام کے ساتھ اخلاقی اور سفارتی کٹمنٹ کو مدنظر رکھتے ہوئے خطے میں امن و سلامتی کو یقینی بنانے کی پالیسی کو ترجیع دے گی۔ خطے میں امن کے قیام کے حوالے سے پی پی پی نے اپنے منشور میںواضع کیا ہے کہ بھارت کے ساتھ کشمیر کے بنیادی مسئلے کے حل، تجارتی تعلقات کو معمول پر لانے، سفری پابندیوں میںکمی سمیت تمام مسائل کا بامقصد اورمخلصانہ مذاکرات کے ذریعے انکا حل پارٹی ترجیعات میں شامل ہیں۔عمران خان کی تحریک انصاف نے اپنے منشور میں تنازع کشمیر کواہم قومی مفادات کا حامل مسئلہ قراردیتے ہوئے مسئلے کو پر امن طور پر حل کرنے کی نشاندہی کی ہے۔خارجہ پالیسی کے حوالے سے تحریک انصاف نے واضع کیا ہے کہ بھارت کے ساتھ تنائو کو کم کرنا اور تعلقات کو معمول پر لانے کا عمل دونوں ملکوں کے مفاد میں ہوگابشرطیکہ یہ عمل تنازعات کے حل اورباہمی تعاون کے فروغ پر مرکوز ہو۔اسی طرح پاکستان کی دیگر سیاسی جماعتوں جن میں جماعت اسلامی پاکستان، متحدہ قومی مومنٹ،جمیعت علماء اسلام (ف)نے مسئلہ کشمیر کو اپنے انتخابی منشور میں اجاگر کرتے ہوئے کشمیر کاز کے ساتھ اپنی کمٹمنٹ کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے مسئلے کو کشمیر عوام کی خواہشات کے مطابق حل کرنے کی یقین دہانی کی ہے۔جماعت اسلامی پاکستان جس کاکشمیر کے حوالے سے دوٹوک موقف رہا ہے نے پارٹی منشور میں مسئلہ کا ذکر کرتے ہوئے کشمیرکی بھارت سے آزادی کو خارجہ پالیسی کا اہم ستوں قرار دیا ہے۔جماعت اسلامی نے اقوام متحدہ کی قراردادوں کی روشنی میں رائے شماری کومسئلے کاواحد حل قراردیتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ انکی جماعت حق خودارادیت حصول تک کشمیری بھائیوں کی مکمل سیاسی ،اخلاقی اور سفارتی مدد کرنا اپنافرض اولین سمجھتے ہیں۔جماعت نے کہا ہے کہ بھارت کے ساتھ تمام متنازعہ اموربامقصد اورنتیجہ خیز مذاکرات کے ذریعے حل کئے جائینگے۔یہ بات قابل ذکر ہے کہ گذشتہ کئی دہائیوں سے کشمیر پاکستان کی سیاسی افق پر غالب رہا ہے اوریہ واحدایشوہے جس پر پاکستانی میڈیا پر طویل گفتگو ، بحث وتمحیص اور مکالمے ہوتے رہے ہیں لیکن گذشتہ چند سالوں سے کچھ یوں محسوس ہورہا تھا کہ پاکستانی سیاست میںکشمیر کو حاصل مرکزی حیثیت اور اسکی اہمیت میں بتدریج کمی آرہی ہے اورخاص کر کشمیری حلقوں میں یہ شدت سے محسوس کیا جارہا تھاکہ شائد پاکستانی سیاسی قیادت کے سامنے مسئلہ کشمیرمحض ثانوی درجے کا حامل مسئلہ بن کر رہ گیا ہے۔نہ صرف سیاسی قائدین بلکہ عسکری قیادت(متحدہ جہادکونسل) نے بھی کشمیر بارے پاکستانی سیاسی قائدین کی عدم دلچسپی کی کھل کر مخالفت کی۔کشمیر کی مرکزی حیثیت کو ازسر نو بحال کرنے کی غرض سے حد متارکہ کے اس جانب کشمیری قیادت جس میں حریت کانفرنس کے دونوں دھڑوں کے علاوہ لبریشن فرنٹ کو بھی نمائندگی حاصل تھی نے بڑے پیمانے پرLobbyingکی۔اس ضمن میںکل جماعتی کشمیررابطہ کمیٹی تشکیل دی گئی ۔کمیٹی کے ارکان نے پاکستانی زیر اتنظام کشمیر کے وزیر اعظم چوہدری مجید کی قیادت میں متفقہ طور پر پاکستان کی قیادت جسمیںصدر پاکستان آصف علی زرداری، جماعت اسلامی پاکستان کے امیر سید منور حسن، متحدہ قومی مومنٹ کے رہنماء فاروق ستار،عوامی نیشنل پارٹی کے اسفند یار ولی اوردیگر قومی قائدین شامل ہیںسے ملاقاتیں کیںاور انہیںکشمیرکی تازہ ترین صورتحال اور کشمیری عوام کے تحفظات سے آگاہ کیا۔کشمیری قائدین نے زور دیا کہ پاکستانی سیاسی جماعتوں کو چاہیے کہ وہ اپنے انتخابی منشور میں مسئلہ کشمیر کی اہمیت کواجاگر کریں۔جماعت اسلامی کے امیر عبدلرشید ترابی جو کل جماعتی رابطہ کمیٹی کے سربراہ بھی ہیںنے پاکستان کی سیاسی جماعتوں کی جانب سے مسئلہ کشمیر کوانتخابی منشورمیں شامل کرنے کے اقدام کو ایک مثبت پیش رفت قراردیا۔ کشمیر عظمیٰ سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے انہوں نے کہا کہ کشمیری قیادت جس میں حکومت ،اپوزیشن  اور تمام پارٹیوںکے سربراہان شامل ہیں نے حال ہی میں پاکستان کی قومی قیادت سے ملاقاتیں کیں اور انہیں کشمیر کی موجودہ صورتحال پر بریفنگ دیتے ہوئے اپنی تشویش سے بھی آگاہ کیاہے۔انہوں نے کہا کہ اس کے نتیجے میں پاکستان کی پارلیمنٹ نے حال ہی میںکشمیرپر ایک جاندار قرارداد پاس کی جس میں پاکستان کے قومی موقف کا اعادہ کیا گیا جس پر ہندوستان بھی تلملا اٹھا ہے ۔انہوں نے کہا کہ کشمیری قیادت کی صد رپاکستان سے ملاقات کے بعد انھوںنے طے کیا کہ وہ 17اپریل کو مظفر آباد میں کشمیرکونسل اور اسمبلی کے اجلاس سے خطاب کریںگے جس میں وہ کشمیرپر قومی موقف کا اعادہ کریںگے ۔عبدالرشید ترابی نے کہاکہ ہماری سرگرمیاں جاری رہینگی، پاکستان کے دیگر قائدین سے بھی ملاقاتیں کریںگے ،میڈیا اور سفارت کاروں کو ملیںگے،پوری دنیا کے انصاف پسند اداروں کو کشمیریوںکی پشت پر لائیںگے۔کل جماعتی حریت کانفرنس (ع) پاکستان شاخ کے کنوینر محمود احمد ساغر نے اس پیش رفت پر تبصرہ کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ مسئلہ کشمیر کو انتخابی منشو ر میں شامل کرنا ایک احسن قدم ہے تاہم ضرورت اس امر کی ہے کہ الیکشن کے بعد جو بھی پارٹی حکومت میں آتی ہے اسکو چاہیے کہ وہ من و عن اس پالیسی پر عمل کریں ۔انکا کہنا تھا کہ اگرچہ کشمیر ہمیشہ سے پاکستان کی خارجہ پالیسی کا محور رہا ہے لیکن کشمیری امید کرتے ہیں کہ پاکستان کی نئی حکومت کشمیری عوام کی قربانیوں کو مدنظر رکھتے ہوئے اس دیرینہ اور حل طلب مسئلے کا پرامن ،منصفانہ حل تلاش کرنے میں اپنی تمام تر کوششیں بروئے کار لائیگی۔مسلم لیگ(ن)کشمیر شاخ کے مرکزی رہنماء عبدلخالق وصی کا کہنا تھا کہ جہاں تک مسئلہ کشمیر کے حل کا تعلق ہے تو اس ضمن میںپاکستان کی تمام سیاسی جماعتوں کا ایک واضع اور دوٹوک موقف رہا ہے۔پاکستان مسلم لیگ(ن) کے انتخابی منشور کا حوالہ دیتے ہوئے وصی نے کہا کہ ہماری جماعت نے یہ واضع کیا کہ وہ کشمیری عوام کی امنگوں اور اقوام متحدہ کی قراردادوں کی روشنی میں مسئلہ کشمیر کا حل تلاش کرنے میں اپنا کلیدی رول ادا کریگی

Kashmir figures prominently in Pak elections

All Political Parties Include The Issue In Their Manifestos

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Apr 15: The Pakistani political parties’ move to prominently include Kashmir in their election manifestos is being widely hailed in Kashmiri circles here as a significant step depicting the position the issue holds in the politics of the country.
Almost all the major political stakeholders have formally incorporated Kashmir in their respective manifestos besides highlighting the issue as one of the major components of their foreign policy. Nonetheless, while spelling out their viewpoint, the political parties have opted to remain within the parameters of the State policy on the issue.
Mentioning the Kashmiris’ ‘inalienable right- the right to self-determination’ in their policy documents is a clear indication that the parties believe that a peaceful settlement of Kashmir in line with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people is essential. At the same time, the parties have stressed the need for establishing friendly ties with all neighbors particularly India.
In its 110-page election manifesto, Pakistan Muslim league (N) said, “Special efforts will be made to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the provisions of the relevant UN resolutions and the 1999 Lahore Accord and in consonance with the aspirations of the people of the territory for their inherent right of self-determination.”
With a view to establish cordial and cooperative ties with all countries especially with neighbors, the party vowed to pursue a policy of normalization so as to seek solution of all issues by means of peaceful negotiations.
The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) said, “We will pursue the goal of stability and peace-building in the region as a specific policy priority without sacrificing our diplomatic and moral commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The pursuit of an honest and sincere dialogue for the resolution of all outstanding issues with India, including the core issue of Kashmir, the normalization of trade relations and the easing of travel restrictions, are in line with the Party’s commitment to regional peace.”
Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in its policy document identified the resolution of Kashmir conflict as one of the core national interests. In terms of Pakistan’s external policy the PTI’s policy document said, “Progressive detente with India can help both the countries if centered on conflict resolution and co-operation”.
Likewise, the issue of Kashmir has also figured in the manifestos of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (F), Mutahida Quomi Movement (MQM) and other parties wherein they have expressed their firm resolve to settle Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people.
The JI, having an outright stance on the issue of Kashmir, made it clear that plebiscite as per the UN resolutions was the only solution of Kashmir dispute.
Over the decades, Kashmir has been dominant on Pakistan’s political discourse and a hot issue largely being debated and discussed in the media. However, over the past few years, it seemed that the centrality of the issue has faded away and within the Kashmiri circles there was a growing feeling that Kashmir has become an issue of least priority for the political leadership of the country. Even the UJC leadership had openly criticized the Pak political leadership’s ‘indifference’ towards Kashmir.
In a bid to regain its centrality, Kashmiri leaders on this side of line of control did a lot of lobbying in Pakistan. In this regard an all parties co-ordination committee headed by PaK prime minister Chudhary Abdul Majeed have had a series of meetings with leaders of mainstream political parties including the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and Mutahida Quomi Movement (MQM), Asfandyar Wali of Awami National Party. Expressing their concerns, Kashmiri leaders during their interactions urged the Pakistani political parties to prominently include Kashmir in their election manifestos.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, the JI chief Abdul Rashid Turabi said that members of all parties co-ordination committee have conveyed their concerns to Pakistani leaders regarding Kashmir and appealed them to adopt a clear-cut and convincing policy on the issue. As a result of these interactions, he said, the National Assembly of Pakistan recently passed a unanimous resolution in support of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, which, he said, irked Indian rulers.
In order to reiterate and reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to Kashmir cause, Turabi said that after meeting Kashmiri leadership, Zardari agreed to visit Muzaffarabad to address a joint session of the Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council.
Turabi said the co-ordination committee would also contact Islamabad-based foreign diplomats to apprise them of the prevailing political situation in the region.
Commenting on the development, the convener of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (M), Pakistan chapter, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar said, “It is good to see that all political parties have incorporated Kashmir in their manifestos but the important thing is that the party that comes to power after the general elections would have to move beyond the political rhetoric and follow the policy in letter and spirit.”
Kashmir, he said, has always been the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and “we hope that keeping in view the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir, the next government would redouble its efforts to seek a permanent and peaceful solution of the lingering dispute in line with Kashmiris’ aspirations.”
The central leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N), PaK chapter, Abdul Khaliq Wasi said that all the political parties of Pakistan have a very clear policy on the issue. Referring to the PML-N’s policy in this regard, he said, “Pakistan Muslim League (N) in its election manifesto has categorically stated that the party will make all out efforts to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the aspirations of the people of the territory."

Pak gears up for polls

Pak gears up for polls

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Apr 8: With general elections just a couple of weeks away in Pakistan, the politico-religious parties seem frenziedly rehearsing to forge electoral alliances with like minded political forces so as to win majority of seats in the general elections, to be held in second week of May.
More than 200 parties registered in the Election Commission of Pakistan are contesting the polls. Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-N and Tehreek-e-Insaf being the three main contenders in the elections enjoy huge support of the masses from all across the country. Cricketer turned politician Imran Khan Niazi’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which emerged as a leading political force on the country’s political landscape, is believed to be a potential threat to traditional stakeholders, the PPP and PML-N, which have ruled the country from time to time.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that has been ruling the roost until yesterday is facing host of challenges so far as the current elections are concerned. Since the Bhutto-charisma is gradually fading away, the purported rifts within the party cadres and alleged “corruption and misrule” during last five years badly haunt the party leadership. Asif Ali Zardari being the president of the country is not entitled to run the election campaign and therefore the party has decided to bring in junior Zardari (Bilawal) to woo the voters. Regardless of shortcomings, the PPP still enjoys massive support in rural Sindh. During last elections the PPP bagged 30 National Assembly and 93 provincial assembly seats.
By and large, the general elections are viewed as a triangular contest between PML-N, PPP and PTI but given the fast changing dynamics of politics in the country it is almost impossible for a single party to gain majority in the elections.

Extremist mindset in India led to Afzal hanging: Malik

‘Am not afraid of jail, will return home soon’

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Feb 22: The chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik, has said the mindset that killed Gandhi has led to the hanging of Muhammad Afzal Guru.
Malik, currently on a private visit to Pakistan, made these assertions during an interview with Greater Kashmir.
Malik said that in 2006 he had apprised the Indian leadership of the repercussions of the court verdict against Guru and made it clear that the hanging would have serious implication on the overall situation in the region. He said, “When Supreme Court announced death sentence for Guru, Kashmir witnessed large scale protests against the decision which were organized by almost all pro-freedom parties.”
Malik said, “We organised a day-long Dharna at Jantar Mantar which was attended by Parliament members and representatives of civil society including the wife and son of Afzal Guru. I sent a communiqué to the Prime Minister of India through one of my journalist friends wherein I apprised him of the repercussions of the court verdict and urged him not to push Kashmiris to another bloodbath.”
Regarding the PM’s response, Malik said, “The response from the Prime Minister of India, which my journalist friend told me, was positive but at the same time he was apprehensive that there are opposition parties who have different stand on this issue.” Malik said he met general secretaries of both the communist parties of India, A B Bardhan and Prakash Karat in this regard. “I telephoned Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he was not well at that time and I talked to his adviser Brijesh Mishra on phone and communicated him the same message.”
The JKLF chief said he met almost all leading journalists and editors of both print and electronic media in Delhi. He said that all of them supported his view and realized the fact that Guru’s hanging will have far reaching consequences.
He said that it was very unfortunate that the President of India dismissed Afzal’s mercy petition and he was hanged in secrecy. “It is the murder of judiciary and their own Constitution because Guru had Constitutional and legal right to go again to the court after the dismissal of the mercy petition, but he was not given that opportunity,” Malik regretted.
“I have a question for Indian conscience, the people who believe in democracy and justice, and particularly to the Prime Minister of India who claims to represent the ideology of Gandhi. Only Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and RSS demanded that Guru should be hanged. Was the decision of sending Guru to the gallows taken to satisfy the conscience of these extremists?” Malik asked. “This is the same ideology and same people who killed Gandhi,” he added.
“Shall we make an opinion that India as a whole has been virtually taken over by the killers of Gandhi?” he asked, adding that they were the people who have not spared thinkers and writers in India. “They were brute with MF Hussain who died in exile, they did not spare the lawyers community, they attacked senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bushan in his office and beat him ruthlessly,” he said.
“These people with extremist mindset have killed thousands of people in Gujarat, they did not even spare a pregnant woman who was killed including the baby who was yet to be born,” he said.
He said that it was astonishing to see that the same people were voted to power in Gujarat.
Referring to a sequence of related events, Malik said, “In 1984, India hanged Maqbool Bhat at same place in the same month. Prior to that tragic incident, Kashmiri people throughout their 5000-year long history had never shown any inclination towards violent means of struggle.”
“But after the hanging of JKLF founder, a Maqbool Bhat was born in every home of Kashmir, I’m one among them,” Malik said.
About Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle, he said, “Now when the people of Kashmir have shown a transition from a violent to non-violent democratic movement, Indian State used military power to suppress this movement by killing 72 people in 2008, 44 in 2009 and 124 in 2010. Even then Kashmiri people still remained committed to non-violent struggle.”
“Bearing in mind the attitude and behavior of India towards Kashmiris, the question arises whether the Indian State has an intention to push the new generation of Kashmir to a violent path?” he said.
These are the questions which, he said, Indian State, civil society and the different political school of thoughts in India must reply.
On Indo-Pak dialogue process, Malik said, “The dialogue process has been going on for last several years and whenever there is a dialogue anywhere in the world on any issue, it gives a hope and optimism to the people and during the process of dialogue people expect positive behavior from the States.”
He made it clear that Kashmiris were not averse to friendly relations between the two countries. He said, “We have a reason to question them that on one hand the process of dialogue is going on while on the other we see victimization of Kashmiris continues unabated.”
Regarding the opening of channels of communications and dialogue at different levels, Malik said, “We have 25-year experience of this, whenever there are crises in Kashmir, Indian civil society gets active and Indian State always uses them as fire-fighters to ease the tension.” He said that the civil society of India could not prevent the hanging of Afzal Guru, they could not stop Indian State in pronouncing life imprisonment sentences to 32 Kashmiris youth who have been languishing in jails for last several years.
“The fact remains that India uses them as a tool to ease the situation whenever there are crises in the region and secondly we saw that they don’t pursue whatever tell people during their meetings and ultimately when situation shows a mark of improvement they suddenly go off the scene,” he maintained.
The Indian civil society, he said, was suffering from credibility crisis in Kashmir. “They can’t be used as fire fighters always, during crisis they make tall claims and when the crisis are over we fail to find their addresses,” the JKLF chairman said.
Regarding the returning of Guru’s body to his family, Malik said, “This is the legal as well as the Constitutional right of the family and I was surprised to see the statement of Indian Prime Minister that Parliament would decide about it. What Parliament has to do with this, there is a procedure in their Constitutional and legal framework that before hanging a person his family should be informed in advance and they must be given the opportunity to meet each other and after the hanging dead body is handed over to the family but in Guru’s case we saw he was not allowed to meet his wife and son nor his dead body was given to them.” Malik, however, was of the view that Indian civil society can play important role and pursue their government to hand over the body to his relatives as soon as possible.
Expressing deep discontent over the secret execution of Guru in Tihar Jail, he said, “For Kashmiris there was a message of hatred and arrogance from Indian State and they (Indians) conveyed this message to the people of Kashmir that they can go to any extent.”
Terming this attitude as unacceptable, Malik said, “I don’t think this kind of attitude on the part of India can work,” he said.
Regarding the BJP leaders’ demand of cancellation of his passport, Malik said, “After Afzal Guru’s hanging, JKLF Supreme Head Mr. Amanullah Khan and me held a joint press conference and announced 24-hour hunger strike against the execution and to press the Government of India to return the body to the relatives.”
“Hunger strike has a universal message whereby you give trouble to yourself to register a protest. A large number of people came to visit the hunger strike camp in Islamabad. People from civil society of Pakistan, the whole leadership from Azad Kashmir and others visited the camp on their own and we did not invite anybody to join us. Hafiz Syed also came there and stayed there for 15 minutes. The next day we were surprised to see that rather than focusing on what was happening in Kashmir, the whole Indian media was abuzz with the news that Yasin Malik should be arrested and his passport must be cancelled,” Malik rued.
“How unfortunate it is that when in 2006 I met the same person at Mureedke (Lahore) at a five-hour meeting and addressed a joint public gathering, at that time it was not offensive news for India despite the fact that Syed had been declared as most wanted person by India,” he said.
He said, “There was a high profile peace process going on between the two countries and when I met Syed I told him that the militant leadership must be part of the process and they must support and create an atmosphere for the dialogue process, nobody raised objection then,” he added.
“On 10th of February when Hafiz Syed visited the hunger-strike camp there was no meeting, nothing was going on and they (Indians) made it a big issue,” Malik said.
The JKLF chairman said, “Now they have decided to cancel my passport and they may arrest me. Let they do whatever they want, but I have already said that jail is my second home. I am not afraid of jails as I’ve spent more than 10 years in prison. I have seen worst jails in India like Jodhpur. I was kept with mentally retarded people for one year in Agra. I have seen interrogations and torture cells and if they want to use this method again they can,” Malik said.
Replying a question, he said, “Why should I be afraid? I believe in my ideology that I want to liberate Kashmir through non-violent democratic means. This is my faith and my romance and I will pursue my ideology and if they take me to jail or interrogation centers it is their wish and let them fulfill their desire.”
Malik said, “I will be back home soon. Currently I’m working to get travel documents of my 11-month old daughter and as soon as I get it I will return home at the earliest possible time.”
The JKLF chairman is one of the pioneers of resistance movement and a key member of the famous HAJY group which initiated armed struggle in Kashmir in late ’80s.
After four years of armed struggle when militancy was at its peak, Malik announced a unilateral ceasefire in 1994 and decided to pursue his ideology through non-violent and democratic means.
The decision was hugely criticized in Kashmir but it earned a lot of appreciation at international level. The decision of unilateral ceasefire even led to split in his organization.
Since 1994, Malik has been championing the cause of Kashmiris peacefully and has been able to launch massive public awareness campaigns in Kashmir besides pursuing the civil society of India to get the dispute of Kashmir resolved through peaceful means. Despite the fact that hundreds of his party activists were allegedly killed by government forces during the recent years, Malik seems quite determined to continue his non-violent struggle to achieve his goal.

Pak defence analyst proposes joint nuclear power plants on Indo-Pak border

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad Feb 14: Eminent academic and defense analyst of Pakistan Dr Shireen Mazari has suggested that Pakistan should propose joint civil nuclear power plants to India along the border of the two countries as a security confidence building measure.
 While addressing a seminar on emerging nuclear scenario at the Institute of Policy Studies here she said, “Initiative would not only help in meeting energy crisis in both countries but will also prove the best deterrence for two nuclear powers.”
 She said the demands from Pakistan and India to sign NPT were “untenable” as the two nuclear states would not give up their capabilities. She suggested proactive diplomacy and concerted effort for an additional protocol to the treaty that would recognize the two nations as nuclear weapon state parties.
 Dr Marazi said: “Nuclear arms control and disarmament area has always been premised on two parallel tracks one being the US-favored discriminatory approach embodied earlier in non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and now taking shape of fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT) and the other non-discriminatory approach manifested in international agreements like CTBT and certain IAEA initiatives.”
 Referring to the most recent and third nuclear test by North Korea, she said that such actions could be taken with almost impunity because the most significant treaty in the current international setting with respect to nuclear power, NPT was being undermined by its proponents.
 In this respect she highlighted and criticized Indo-US nuclear deal for which special waivers were sought by the US from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in violation of all sets of existing international laws on the subject. She said following the precedent set by US, France and Britain too have signed such deals with India in contravention of their NPT obligations. She termed this “dialectic of discriminatory non-proliferation regime” as first major trend on nuclear scenario with questions of safety of nuclear power generation as the second and the discourse of nuclear disarmament as third major trend.
 On FMCT, she said that Pakistan could not afford to agree to it because no other nation except Pakistan would suffer if it comes in operation. She lauded the policy of the government of Pakistan for consistently resisting “yet another discriminatory measure” in the field of nuclear energy. She reminded that Pakistan is not the only country dissatisfied with the proposed draft, “There were twenty abstentions too” with expressed concerns on its various aspects.
 “Even if we are told that we have been isolated, we should keep on insisting for safeguarding our interests”, she stressed while adding that “Pakistan should keep on striving for ‘criteria-based’ and not ‘country-specific’ international standards”.
 She presented a survey of safety and security measures that Pakistan had in place for its nuclear assets and underscored that as opposed to other nuclear power states there was no incident of nuclear theft or proliferation recorded from Pakistan. She also rebutted the oft-quoted allegation that Pakistan was behind North Korean nuclear technology saying that North Korea’s first nuclear test exploded a device based on plutonium in 2006 while Pakistan’s nuclear program was uranium based.
 On Pakistan’s response to the emerging regional and global situation, she said that the country had missed some opportunities yet it had used its options quite fairly to maintain deterrence and credibility. Recently tested Nasr missile with 60 KM range was a “necessary as well as well-timed move” and demonstrates that Pakistan has acquired the technology and capability to counter India’s ‘cold start’ and ‘second strike’. Contrary to what some US sections perceive, Nasr was not a battlefield weapon and does not signal a shift from deterrence towards war mode”, she said.
 She also saw the development of Pakistan’s own cruise missiles as ‘critical’ in view of India’s development of missile defense capability. She iterated that Pakistan should stick to its principles of “minimum credible deterrence” and “strategic restraint” and continue acting responsibly but more cautiously and wisely.
 “Those present in the seminar thought that it could have been an option but keeping in view the response and behavior of India over already launched confidence building measures and its approach towards Pakistan, it was almost bound to get a cold Indian shoulder like other Pakistani suggestions for lasting peace in the region,” the IPS chairman said in a statement.
 “It was also observed that confidence-building mechanisms including trade couldn’t work until real progress was made on the core issue of Kashmir,” the statement added.

Salah-u-Din for unified political leadership

Flays Pak Govt’s silence over hanging

Afzal Hanging Murder Of Justice And Law: UJC

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Feb 13: Urging pro-freedom leadership to forge unity, the UJC leadership on Wednesday said a unified political leadership in Kashmir with a strong resistance movement at its back was the only way to take the ongoing struggle to its logical conclusion.
UJC chief Syed Salah-u-Din Ahmed made this assertion while addressing a function at press club in Islamabad.
Held under the aegis of Jihad Council, the function was organized to pay homage to Muhammad Afzal Guru who was hanged in Tihar jail on Saturday.
Besides, UJC chief, the function was addressed by Muhammad Usman, UJC deputy chairman, Moulana Farooq Kashmiri chief of Harakat-ul-Mujahideen, Syed Toib of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish Muhammad Commander, Ghulam Rasool Shah of Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen commander Mufti Asghar and Sheikh Jammel-u-Rehman with hundreds of activists and supporters of the militant organizations present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Salah-u-Din said, “At this very critical juncture we appeal all the pro-freedom leadership particularly Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik to adopt a joint strategy and come up with a joint course of action before the masses to achieve their cherished goal”.
Expressing his resentment against the hanging of Kashmiri youth Muhammad Afzal Guru, he said, “The execution was judicial murder and a horrendous example of state terrorism”.
“He (Afzal) did not receive a free and fair trial and even his family was not informed before the execution took place”, he said adding that rather handing over the dead body to his relatives, Indian authorities buried him in the premises of Tihar Jail.
“Extremist elements involved in Samjauta Express bombing, Surat, Mumbai and Gujarat riots were not sentenced despite having ample evidence against them,” he said.
Referring to prevailing situation in Kashmir, he said that uninterrupted curfew, killing of innocent civilians by forces, restrictions on print and electronic media and detention of Hurriyat leaders continues.
Salah-u-Din flayed Pakistani government’s silence over the issue and termed the country’s interior minister Rehaman Malik’s recent statement as highly condemnable.
Terming Pakistan as an important party to the dispute, he said that Pakistan must adopt a coherent policy on the issue keeping in view the sentiments and aspirations of the people of the region. Otherwise, he warned that the situation in the region might be different.
He said that India was hell bent on to change the demography of the country. “Jammu and Kashmir is Muslim majority state and India on the pattern of Israel is making every effort to settle non-state-subjects in the state by issuing them state subjects and permanent residence certificates”.
Earlier, the militant leaders, while reiterating their resolve to continue the armed struggle till its logical conclusion said “Jihad was the only solution to Kashmir dispute.”
 “What we saw over the recent years was that death sentences were awarded to Kashmiris and Muhammad Afzal Guru was now hanged in Tihar Jail”, they said. 
 “Pakistani ruler’s policy of befriending India and the policies like initiating cricket diplomacy and granting MFN status to India had adversely affected the resistance movement in Kashmir,” they said.
Deputy chairman of UJC Muhammad Usman said a strong resistance movement was must to resolve Kashmir dispute.
He said that the peace process and so-called Aman ki Asha were nothing but a deceit and deception.
“The people who kept harping on political settlement of Kashmir for last several years can they justify their stand now,” said Moulana Farooq the chief Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Mufti Asghar of Jaish Muhammad paid tributes to Guru.

Guru’s execution miscarriage of justice: Kashmiri leaders

PAK TO OBSERVE SHUTDOWN TODAY

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Jan 10: Denouncing the hanging of Afzal Guru the Kashmiri leaders hailing from both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) on Sunday termed his execution as “miscarriage of justice” and a stark violation of basic human rights.
Kashmiri leaders who visited the hunger strike camp of JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik in Islamabad today expressed grief over Afzal’s hanging.  
Speaking on the occasion PaK Prime Minister Chudhary Majeed said: “By hanging Afzal Guru New Delhi has committed murder of democracy. Kashmiri people are engaged in a just struggle. At this hour of grief the people as well as all the political parties of PaK stood by our Kashmiri brethren and shall continue all out support to Kashmir cause.”
He announced that a complete strike would be observed in PaK on (Monday) as a mark of protest against the hanging of Guru.
Speaking briefly on the occasion, PML-N leader Shah Ghulam Qadir, Abdul Rasheed Turabi, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, G N Nowshari and Professor Hafiz Saeed said that such acts won’t deter Kashmiris from pursuing their collective cause. Expressing complete solidarity with the people of Kashmir, they said that the incumbent regime must shun its policy of appeasing to India.
Expressing reservations vis-à-vis the budding bonhomie between the two countries speakers said since the initiation of dialogue process and enhancing trade ties it has been observed that the India’s approach had become even more aggressive and cunning against Kashmiris.
They said during recent years more than two dozen Kashmiri youth were awarded life imprisonment sentences and now the hanging of Guru was yet another startling revelation of Indian high handedness and cruelty.
They said that in view of the unprecedented sacrifices rendered by the people of Kashmir, the government as well as the political leadership of the country (Pak) must adopt a clear cut policy on Kashmir. “On one hand peace talks, trade, exchange of cultural delegations and peace marches are being held while on the other Kashmiris are being killed and hanged to death mercilessly”, they said adding that Indo-Pak dialogue process and human rights violations in Kashmir can’t go together. The speakers also demanded the Government of India to handover the body of Guru to his family.

GURU’S EXECUTION HAS EXPOSED DEMOCRACY: MALIK 
Speaking on the occasion, the JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik who was on a hunger strike for past 24 hours said that the hanging of Guru had exposed “so-called democracy” at international level. Expressing deep shock and sorrow over the execution, he said the announcement regarding Guru’s hanging was made three hours after when he was put to death secretly in the premises of highly guarded Tihar jail. “The blood of innocents won’t go in a vain,” he said adding that this is the word of Allah, the almighty.
“The peace-loving people across the globe are deeply hurt and were shocked by this decision,” he said.
Quoting human rights organizations reports on the issue he said the incident of Guru’s hanging was condemned at international level.
Referring to renowned Indian human rights activists Tepan Bose, he said that Bose had expressed grave concern over the situation. “I’m very upset over the sorry state of affairs, my country has become blood-thirsty country”, Malik quoted Bose as saying.
JKLF chief said that it was high time that the Indian civil society must think whether they would allow the RSS and extremists elements to took over reins of the country and impose their agenda on the people who claim to be the largest democracy in the world.
Later, funeral prayers of Afzal Guru in absentia were held outside the National Press Club. The funeral prayer was led by JI leader Ghulam Nabi Nowshahri and attended by Kashmir leaders from both sides of the LoC.
A large number of people hailing from different walks of life including politicians, civil society representative, journalists and Kashmiri traders attended the funeral prayers.
Besides Chudhary Abdul Majeed, the prime minister of PaK, Deputy speaker Shaheen Kousar Dar, leaders of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference, heads of political and religious parties from PaK, civil society representatives and JKLF leaders including the supreme head of the party Ammanullah Khan, PML(N) secretary general Shah Ghulam Qadir, advocate Nabila Ershad, APHC convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Moulana Ghulam Nabi Nowshahri, JI chief Abdul Rasheed Turabi and Jammat-u-Dawa chief Professor Hafiz Saeed and others visited the camp to express solidarity with Malik and the bereaved family of Guru.

Handover Guru’s body: Malik

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Feb 9: Terming Guru’s hanging as a blot on Indian democracy, the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik on Saturday said that his execution by New Delhi had speckled its democracy besides ravaging the every dimension of humanity and humanism.
 While addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the JKLF chief said: “We strongly protest against this highly condemnable act and urge the international community to take effective notice of the situation”, Malik said adding that the extreme decision was taken to satisfy the Indian masses.
 Referring to the Supreme Court verdict against Guru, he said that the judgment clearly stated that he (Guru) was neither involved in conspiracy nor in the execution of attack but the decision was taken to appease the people of the country. He said that the Supreme Court judge had also maintained that there was no direct evidence against the accused.
 He said that way back in 2006 JKLF staged a strong protest in front of Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to press the Government of India for the revocation of the decision regarding the death sentence against Guru. He said that following the SC decision he met Indian civil society as well as leaders of opposition parties wherein they pledged to be sympathetic but it was very unfortunate that today we woke up to this terribly shocking news of sending Guru to the gallows.
 Regarding Guru’s burial in the premises of Tihar jail, he said that authorities did not even inform to the children and his family about the hanging, “Which is in fact a serious violation of basic human rights and international law”.
  He said that Kashmiri students who were protesting against the execution of Afazl Guru were manhandled and attacked by the RSS activists in Delhi. “Even female students who were peacefully protesting were physically assaulted by the RSS goons”, he said.
 Expressing concern over the growing extremism in Indian society he said, “Whose rule was in India today. I tried to find the sole of Mahatma Gandhi but could not find it anywhere”, Malik said adding that he found the killers of Gandhi who were disrespecting the democracy. He said that RSS had virtually taken over India. “See how cheap has become the blood of Kashmiri youth now”, he said adding that sending Guru to the gallows was just a bid to take advantage in the forthcoming general elections.
 He said that India did a big blunder in 1984 thereby hanging late Maqbool Bhat but that did not work and to the contrary we saw that the hanging of Bhat gave birth to thousands of Maqbools in Kashmir. “New Delhi is at fault, if they feel that they will suppress the movement by sending Kashmiri youth to the gallows, more than seven lakh soldiers deployed in Kashmir could not break the political resolve of Kashmiri people”, he added.
 He also condemned the firing on peaceful protesters in Sopore and urged the people of Kashmir to continue peaceful protests against the gruesome act by Indian authorities.
 The JKLF chairman said that he would go for a 24 hour hunger strike to press the International community as well as the civil society of India to play their role regarding the handing over Guru’s dead body to his family for last rites.
 Regarding Indo-Pak dialogue process he said that despite years long talks process no headway was made regarding the resolution of Kashmir. “To the contrary we see 31 Kashmiri youth were awarded life imprisonment sentences and now Afzal Guru was hanged in Tihar and his body was not handed over to his family, which is quite pathetic and a violation of law”, he said.