SRINAGAR - Complete shutdown was observed on Saturday in Indian held Kashmir against the killing of a leading Kashmiri religious scholar and the president of Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadith, Maulana Shaukat Ahmad Shah. He was martyred in a blast outside a mosque at Maisuma in Srinagar when he was on his was to offer Juma prayers. Call for the shutdown was given by the All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik. Meanwhile, a large number of people including Hurriyet leaders went to the residence of Maulana Shaukat Shah at Lal Bazaar in Srinagar and expressed condolence with the bereaved family.
Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for their right of self-determination.He also asked PPP workers to reach the people in far-flung areas and to complement government’s efforts in addressing their problems and grievances.President Zardari said this in his meeting with a four-member delegation led by Lord Qurban Hussain at Aiwan-e-Sadr here.Members of PPP Kashmir Committee, including Ch Abdul Majeed, Ch. Mohammed Yasin and Sardar Mohammed Yaqoob, Federal Minister Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Raja Parvez Ashraf, Farhatullah Babar, Ms Rukhsana Bangash and Ms Fauzia Habib also attended the meeting.
Matters pertaining to party’s organization and developmental works in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) came under discussion. President Asif Ali Zardari said that he had asked the Federal Government to take necessary steps on priority for completion of ongoing projects in AJK. He said that the cross-Line of Control trade was a pioneering confidence building measure in Kashmir. Lord Qurban Hussain thanked the President for the meeting and praised his leadership for taking courageous and bold decisions like 18th and 19th Constitutional Amendments, operation in Swat against militants, renaming NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Aghaze Haqooqe Balochistan Package.
He said that these decisions were long over. Lord Qurban Hussain also lauded the efforts of government for handling the challenges despite devastation of floods and war against militancy, which could be possible under the able leadership of PPP Co-Chairman President Asif Ali Zardari. The members of the delegation gave various suggestions related to progress on various development projects with particular emphasis on issues relating to the Mangla Dam raising project and reconstruction programme in the AJK.
The delegation thanked the President for his keen interest in the development projects in AJK and uplift of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. They also appreciated the role of federal government for the political stability of the area. Indian Home Secretary GK Pillai has said the Hizbul Mujahideen, has been “almost” vanquished now and if the outfit’s leadership based in Pakistani Kashmir wants to join the peace process, they can.
He said the government won’t invite militant leaders for talks “unless and until they give up arms”. “Militancy is down in Kashmir, every day you must be reading reports that some militant leader or the other has been killed. I think the Hizbul Mujahideen has literally, almost, been wiped out, especially the Pakistan element of it has been wiped out,” Pillai said.
He said the government had no proposal as of now to extend talks offer to Kashmiri militant leadership based in Pakistani Kashmir, especially to Syed Salahuddin, the Hizbul Mujahideen chief who also heads the United Jehad Council (UJC). “If (he) Salahudin wants to come and talk, he is welcome if he gives up violence. We are not saying no to anybody. He has to come here and talk. Nobody is going there to talk to him,” Pillai said.
Asked why the government was reluctant to take militant leaders onboard the peace process, Pillai said: “There are less than a hundred local militants (in Kashmir). Nobody would even talk to them. They don’t represent anybody.” Pillai said the threat of revival of militancy remains even as the forces have been maintaining a tough vigil across the border with Pakistan.
“The threat is there. There are still people in the valley. There are hundreds of people still across (in Pakistani Kashmir) who want to come as the snow has started melting and it becomes easier for them to cross over. I am sure some will cross. We have to be vigilant, we have no option.” Pillai, who is retiring June 30, said the scheme to grant amnesty to Kashmiri militants in Pakistan who want to surrender and return home will take off soon.
(Courtesy : http://dailymailnews.com)
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