Campaign for Vajpayee initiative if you should, Mufti to Advani

‘People should call political parties to account’

(VOS)

Srinagar, July 11:  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has cautioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against undoing the process of reconciliation, resolution and Indo Pak amity which was initiated by its own NDA government under Atal Behari Vajpayee.

 Addressing a largely attended public meeting at Pulwama today he said in its bid to score political points the party seems to have forgotten its own role in trying to find an amicable solution to Kashmir problem. “If anything the party must launch a campaign for speeding up the process initiated by Atal Behari Vajpayee rather than agitating against article 370 of the constitution” he said.

Mufti said the threat of an agitation by the BJP veteran L K Advani against article 370 amounted to a reversal of the gains made on Kashmir issue and Indo Pak relationship since the former Prime Minister Vajpayee announced a ceasefire from Srinagar and extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan. “When I invited Vajpayee to Srinagar in 2003, the armies of the two countries were in a combat position in the wake of parliament attack and Kargil conflict but the statesman in the then Prime Minister saw a window of opportunity and grabbed it to dismantle the walls of hatred in South Asia” he said. Advani’s stance is an antithesis of Vajpayee’s call for ‘insaniyat ke dayire mein’ and even his own initiative to hold direct talks with separatists which was the first contact of its kind at that level, he said. Mufti recalled how the NDA government had announced the first ceasefire with militants even as the state government of its ally National Conference had openly defied it.

The PDP patron said though the UPA government during its first tenure followed the initiative and took things to the next level the process seems to be getting trapped in partisan politics again. The UPA 1 responded positively to our vision of a simultaneous economic development and resolution effort as a result of which significant milestones were achieved. He said reopening of Srinagar Muzaffarabad and Poonch Rawlakot roads was the most significant development in breaking decades old mindset that would perceive a gunman behind every bush in Kashmir and denied the people of the state the right to travel across the LOC. “If Advani must agitate it should be for carrying forward that process with speed and substance, rather than following the same zero sum game that has led us nowhere” he said.

Mufti said resolution of Kashmir with its internal and external dimensions in mind is inescapable. “It is a matter of life and death for us but for rest of the country also it is a matter of restoring prestige. It is no source of pride for the country that Jammu and Kashmir which strengthened to its secular credentials and multicultural ethos should be writhing in pain” Mufti said while calling for a national consensus for a just and lasting solutions. He said the orphans, widows and destitute caused by the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir are a moral challenge to entire country as much as those who are disenchanted with its system as a result of wrong policies and excesses of the state. “This situation has to be addressed with understanding and democratic remedies” he added.

Referring to the problems faced by people on account of maladministration, inefficiency and corruption Mufti said this situation would not last long if all sections of society showed same political maturity as the people of Pulwama district who had steadfastly refused to accept the monopoly of a single party. “It is time now that you apply strict standards of accountability to political parties on the basis of their agenda and performance if you want this place to grow as a welfare state. Otherwise we would remain trapped in issues of survival rather than grow as self respecting people with a bright and secure future for our coming generations” he told his audience.  He said PDP wanted to usher in a change in which any party that came to power felt accountable to people and institutions of the state.

Taking dig on the present dispensation senior party leader and former finance minister Tariq Hameed Karra on this occasion said that backdoor entries in government jobs and extension to retired civil servants have become a norm again as a trademark of NC government. Youth are harassed by the state within and outside J&K.  Around 1 lac jobs are awaiting recruitment but the government is not moving to fill them up. The reason could be to fill them up against money and political considerations as government jobs have become a commodity that is sold and purchased like money from the treasuries.

Referring to Panchayats Karra said that these have been reduced to a propaganda handle, without their full and meaningful empowerment these institutions have started becoming a source of alienation rather than empowerment.

Senior party leaders Syed Bashir Ahmed MLA, Mohd Khalil Bandh MLA, Zahoor Ahmed Mir MLA, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah MLA, Ab Razaq Zawoora MLA, Mohd Shaban Bhat , Wali Mohd Bhat, Youth General Secretary Showkat Gayoor, Mukhtar Ahmed Bandh and others were also present on this occasion.

G N Fai hands himself over to prison authorities

Speaks to Mirwaiz

(VOS)

Srinagar, July 11:  Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai has handed himself over to prison authorities in the US. Fai was sentenced by a Virginia court on charges of tax evasion, taking money from a foreign government and trying to influence American policy, according to news reports.

Fai will be kept at a minimum security prison for two years followed by three years of supervised release.
Meanwhile, before handing himself over to the jail authorities, Fai spoke with Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on telephone. Fai, according to Mirwaiz, reasserted his resolve towards the Kashmir cause and said he will keep fighting for the Kashmir casue. “Jailed term shall not affect my commitment to Kashmir cause and my morale is high”, Fai told Mirwaiz on phone.

The Hurriyat Chairman expressed sympathy with Dr Fai and said he (Fai) is apart of Kashmir movement and his sacrifices will be remembered for ever. “You are not alone in the battle. Hurriyat will try to talk to US government for reducing the sentence 

Houses and Shops Establishment Act ammenedment

Bar Association calls for strike on July 12

(VOS)

Srinagar, July 11:  J&K High Court Bar Association has called for a one day strike of lawyers against the amendment made in the Jammu and Kashmir Houses and shops rent control act under which jurisdiction has been taken away from the civil courts and conferred on revenue authorities

“J&K HCBA in an extraordinary meeting discussed the pros and cons of the amendment and have observed the unconstitutional and improper bill to the prejudice of rights and interests of the general public”, said Advocate G N Shaheen General Secretary of the High Cournt Bar Association in a telephonic statement to VOS.

“The bar association has decided to observe a protest strike on Thursday 12 th of July 2012 to impress upon the authorities to withdraw the amendment”, he added.

All the lawyers have been requested to observe the decision and abstain from appearing before the courts, he further added.

HCBA pays tributes to 1931 martyrs

Supports July 13 Strike call

(VOS)

Srinagar, July 11:  The Jammu and High Court Bar Association, while paying tributes to the 1931 martyrs has decided to support the strike call given by different separatist parties on July 13.

This was decided in a meeting of the Executive Committee of the J&K High Court Bar Association held on Tuesday under the Chairmanship of M. A. Qayoom, President. According to a press statement issued by HCBA, rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of July 13^th, 1931, who on this day stormed the gates of Central Jail, Srinagar and forced their way into the open courtyard to witness the proceedings of a fabricated and fictitious case registered against one Abdul Qadeer Khan, but were fired upon and martyred.

The ruthless forces not only killed scores of Muslims on that day, but also arrested hundreds of them and put them behind the bars on flimsy charges. Thereafter, martial law was proclaimed throughout the State and numerous people were killed in Srinagar, Islamabad and other places who were protesting against the autocratic and despotic rule of Maharaja and the highhandedness of the armed forces, said a statement issued by the Bar.

“It was the massacre of July 13^th, 1931, which resulted in the forming of first mass political party namely Muslim Conference by the people of Kashmir and it was that uprising which ultimately forced the Maharaja to fled Kashmir. It was, however, because of several kinds of intrigues and conspiracies that Indian Occupational Forces landed in Kashmir in October, 1947, and since then they are holding the people of the state under subjugation with brute forces”, the statement added.

In order to remember all those who laid their lives on 13^th July, 1931 and thereafter, for the freedom of their motherland from the occupational forces, it was decided to support the shutdown call given for July 13^th, 2012, added the statement.

Shnkracharya, other delegation call upon Mirwaiz

(VOS)

Srinagar, July 11:  Number of delegations today called upon APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at his Nigeen Residence, said a press statement issued by Awami Action Committee here today.

The prominent among them was a delegation of Amarnath pilgrims led by Swami Ashok Shujanand Teerath Acharya.  

During the meeting, the delegation was apprised about the Kashmir problem and continuing human rights violations. They were also informed about the APHC efforts on local and international level to amicably solve the Kashmir dispute.

On the occasion, Swami Ashok Shujanand Teerath Acharya said they had come to pay obeisance at sacred holy Amanath cave, but expressed concern over the prevailing situation in Kashmir.

Acharaya said being a religious man,  he would speak truth and would apprise the people in India about the real situation of Kashmir. He said that his meeting with APHC chairman was part of that program.

He said that Kashmir was a recognized dispute and was important for them to contribute towards the peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue as per the dominant public political aspirations.

Being a prominent religious figure, Acharyaji said they would official invite APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in the upcoming sacred Kumb Mela so that he can put the Kashmiri point of view and prevailing situation of Kashmir before the common masses of India.

Meanwhile, APHC Chairman spoke on telephone with Director Kashmir-American Council, Ghulam Nabi Fai today as  his imprisonment period of 2 years is going to start today in the united states.

While paying tributes to his commitment to Kashmir cause, APHC Chairman praised his efforts towards the resolution of the kashmir cause and assured him that the entire Kashmiri nation was with him in this difficult period. Mirwaiz also lauded the role played by kashmiri diaspora specially the kashmir centers in America, Britan and Brussels.

Mirwaiz said that the US court should review its judgment on Dr Fai and hoped he is released soon.

Meanwhile spokesman has sternly condemned that house detention of Shabir Ahmad Shah, nayeem Ahmad Khan, Zaffar Akbar Bhat and other leaders. The spokesman also condemned the govt action of harassment against political workers of APHC in context with the 13 July programme