Saturday, July 24, 2010

KASHMIR: National Conference/Kashmir

KASHMIR: National Conference/Kashmir: "

Pak-Afghan trade agreement challenged in LHC

LAHORE: The Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday.


The petition filed against the agreement stated that the pact can lead to disastrous outcomes in terms of Pakistan's national security.
The petition, filed by one Advocate Shafqat Mehmood Chauhan, stated that the agreement may lead to smuggling and an increase in terrorist activities in the country.
Advocate Chauhan has requested the court to outlaw the agreement.

Hizb Chief interview

No need of indefinite strike: Salah-ud-Din


‘Stone Pelting A Means Of Resistance’
Srinagar, July 23: Justifying stone pelting as a means of resistance, the United Jihad Council chairman, Syed Salah-ud-Din Friday urged the pro-freedom leaders in Kashmir to unite and give direction to the ongoing movement. He said the “continuous” strike was not a solution to the Kashmir problem and the leadership must unite and unanimously think of a programme whereby “the struggle against India continues and people too don’t suffer.”

In a telephonic interview with local news agency, KNS, Salah-ud-Din said, “At a place where India has stationed seven lakh troops who use brutal force against the peaceful protesters, hurling stones and firepots is the only way of resistance left with the people,” Salah-ud-Din said.

He said it was unfortunate that the government of India and Jammu and Kashmir described even “stone pelting as terrorism.”

He rejected India’s claim that Pakistan was behind stone-pelting in Kashmir.

Salah-ud-Din said there was no need to go for continuous Hartals in Kashmir. “The way people have started the ongoing movement is worth appreciation. However, it needs a strategy and direction by the leadership so that people don’t suffer and the ongoing movement against India continues. The Hartal call can be given in a phased manner so that common man is not put to trouble and the education of children continues,” he said.

The movement, he said, was not there for a day or two but a continuous one. “The agitation needs to be taken to the district level by calling for marches in the districts. However, work in other districts should be allowed when a march call is given in a particular district,” he said.

He said the freedom movement in Kashmir was at a “critical juncture” and the ongoing movement proved that India had failed to break the people’s resolve in the past 62 years “despite using force.” “Today the freedom movement has seeped into the blood of 85 percent of Kashmirs, mostly youngsters, who are seen fighting for the cause on streets across the Valley. Already five lakh people have scarified their precious lives for the cause,” Salahud-Din said.

He said neither the voices of Kashmiris can be silenced nor can their resolve be broken, come what may. “Kashmir has been turned into a garrison, an Army camp. Everywhere there is Army, police and CRPF who are busy cane-charging the peaceful protesters. But such tactics are not going to affect the people’s sentiment,” he said.

He said the freedom movement in Kashmir belonged to the people of Kashmir, who have sacrificed their lives, property and honour for it. “The ongoing Quit Kashmir Movement is the goal of Kashmir freedom struggle. However, it is important to have a strategy, planning and direction at this juncture which is possible only when leaders shun their differences and unite,” Salah-ud-Din said. “The freedom struggle is alive and we need to put more life into it. And to make it happen, we have no option but to see a united leadership.”

He said people should clarify their stand as to whether they want to be a part of the struggle or want education for their wards. “Sacrifices are important if freedom movement is to be taken to its logical conclusion,” he said. “And during the struggle, education sector can face some impact.”

He said for the sake of people’s honour and sacrifices, the leadership must unite forthwith. “And if this happens, all educational institutions shall function normally while struggle would also go on. But if they don’t unite, any negative impact on the struggle would be because of them,” Salah-ud-Din said.

He said the leadership should not hold any talks with India at the moment and instead make efforts to get united. “They (leaders) must pool all resources to take the ongoing movement to its logical conclusion,” Salahi-ud-Din said.

Friday, July 23, 2010

National Conference/Kashmir

Srinagar, July 22: Backing Omar Abdullah-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference today reiterated that restoration of autonomy ‘in its pristine form’ was the only solution to the Kashmir problem which was political in nature.
After 7-hour marathon meeting of the National Conference’s Central Working Committee at his Gupkar residence, the party president, Dr Farooq Abdullah said at a press conference that Jammu and Kashmir is a political problem and needs to be resolved politically.
“It has been our consistent stand. If you remember, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, told a rally during inauguration of the rail service by Prime Minister in Islamabad that Kashmir is a political problem and needs to be solved politically. The CWC resolved that restoration of the autonomy in its pristine form as guaranteed under Constitution of India is the only way to bring peace,” said the senior Abdullah, flanked by the senior party leader and Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, and party General Secretary, Sheikh Nazir.
However, he said the meeting, which passed an 8-point resolution, made it clear that if there was any solution other than autonomy available to resolve Kashmir and is acceptable to people of the state his party would have no problem in accepting it. The NC’s autonomy proposal, which speaks about restoration of pre-1953 constitutional position in JK—the state having its own Prime Minister instead of the Chief Minister, and Sadar-e-Riyasat-- was passed by the state legislature but rejected by the BJP-led NDA government at the center in 2000.
The 31-member CWC met today to discuss the prevailing situation in the Valley and make introspection at party level. Besides senior Abdullah the meeting was was attended by Omar Abdullah and party leaders including Rather, Mehboob Beg, Ali Muhammad Sagar, Nasir Aslam Wani.
Lending full support to Omar led NC-Congress government, Abdullah said, “The first thing CWC resolved was to back the young dynamic chief minister Omar Abdullah and at the same time the NC thanks UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, and Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh for total support to state government.”
Kashmir is on the edge for past two months almost over the killing of 18 persons particularly youth in different parts of the Valley in police and CRPF action. The valley is witnessing complete shutdown against the killings on the call by the Hurriyat Conference (G) to protest against the killings. Most of the government and private offices, educational institutions and shops are completely shut and traffic is off the roads.
The CWC, Abdullah said, urged the state government to consider release of all political prisoners. In a crackdown against the protesters and separatists, police has reportedly arrested more than 1000 people across Valley in a bid to quell the protests.
Putting all speculation to rest, Abdullah, who is also the union minister for New and Renewable Energy, said there would be no change of leadership at various levels in the party. “These are all speculations,” he responded to a query by a media person.
About the present situation in the Valley, Dr Abdullah said all sections of people should come forward and help to restore normalcy.
The party, he said, “Condemned the loss of lives in the disturbance and urged government to provide adequate relief to the victims’ families.”
Abdullah said party noted with dismay economic losses to traders, vendors and disturbance in academic calendar due to prevailing situation. “Government should deal strictly with forces of subversion to restore peace,” he said.
The party urged state and central government to address at earnest the unemployment problem in the state. It asked state government to bring “suitable modification” in the recently announced employment policy to make it accessible to educated youth. The CWC resolved to take urgent steps for strengthening the party.

8-POINT RESOLUTION

*
 RESTORATION OF AUTONOMY

*RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS

* SUPPORT TO OMAR-LED GOVERNMENT

* ASKS GOVT TO CURB FORCES OF DESTABILIZATION

* DEMANDS ADEQUATE RELIEF FOR WEAKER SECTIONS
OF SOCIETY

*CONDOLES KILLING OF PEOPLE DURING 
 DISTURBANCE/RELIEF TO VICTIMS’ FAMILIES

* PARTY TO BE STRENGTHENED

* SEEKS SOLUTION TO UNEMPLOYMENT



India Kashmiris Talks

India to invite all parties for dialogue on Kashmir
Both Hurriyat groups likely to be invited
New Delhi: India will extend invitation to all shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir, including Hurriyat Conference, to find ways for resolution of Kashmir issue and restore peace in the state which has witnessed separatist-sponsored agitation for last three weeks.

Sources in the government said invitation will be extended separately to each small and major group, mainstream as well as separatists groups including both factions of Hurriyat Conference.

An initiative is already underway by the state government and the Centre was building on that to carry forward the process.

Letters of invitation would be sent to every party and group for separate meetings with the Central leaders which may include Home Minister P Chidambaram, the sources said.

My Life: Create Amazon Business Account