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Sunday, February 24, 2002,
Chandigarh, India  
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Qureshi lists 7-point resolution on Kashmir Poonch
carnage: 2 LeT men held Id gift of
“freedom” for 10 militants Two die as
house collapses in Doda |
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Qureshi lists 7-point resolution on Kashmir Srinagar, February 23 Now, Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan is that of hatred created since 1947. If that hatred is over, there will be no issue like Kashmir”, comments Hashim Qureshi. Talking to The Tribune here, he said that both the neighbouring countries were “bent upon enslaving Kashmiris”. Hashim Qureshi, born and brought up in Srinagar from 1953 to 1971, and a close associate of JKLF leader, late Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, hanged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 11, 1984, has spent over 30 years in Pakistan and Holland. Qureshi, facing trial in the court of District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, under the Enemy Agents Ordinance, was released on bail from JIC (Joint Interrogation Centre) on December 15 last, after a year’s detention. He heads the Jammu Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party, with office at Kursoo, Rajbagh here in the vicinity of about six other separatist political parties including the Hurriyat Conference. Differentiating himself from various other separatist groups, including the Hurriyat Conference, Quereshi opines that the solution of the Kashmir issue was “not possible at present” which needs “to be kept in a time capsule”. He, however, has his own “way out” for the peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue which seeks an end to the day to day killings, and “terrorism against Kashmir’s environment and economy”. Describing as “escapism”, the recent move of the Hurriyat Conference to initiate a “democratic process” for determining its representative character with the help of an independent Election Commission, Qureshi stressed the need to “see the realities”. This is a move at the behest of Pakistani establishment, since Gilgit and Baltistan are not included”, Qureshi commented. “There is a way out only when a step is acceptable both to India and Pakistan”, he opined. He holds that a democratic process as envisaged by the Hurriyat Conference was not possible at the ground level, which needed a “proper staff, credibility and military forces to maintain peace”. “The process is dependent on others in all respects”, he adds. At the same time, Qureshi holds that free and fair elections were not possible as nearly 40 per cent voters were not enlisted. The Hurriyat Conference recently announced a six-member Election Commission with two co-chairmen, Mr Tapan Bose from India and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah from Pakistan, with four other members from PoK, Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh areas. Qureshi laments over the “illiteracy, poverty, violence against women, lack of industry and environmental terrorism prevailing in the Kashmir valley. “Where Dal, Wular and Anchar lakes and river Jhelum are squeezing and no steps are taken to prevent the degradation... where filth flows from Gupkar road to the world famous Dal lake”. Qureshi laments adding that environmental prosperity and economic prosperity are more important. The former hijacker held that the Kashmiris were in a state of “confusion”. He said that no political party at present would be able to help Kashmiris out of this confusion. “At one time I also supported Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, but later found that he was also confused”, Qureshi pointed out. He said that the ruling National Conference was also faced with a lot of “confusion... from plebiscite to autonomy to the extent of favouring an attack on Pakistan”. In his seven-point “way out programme” for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, Hashim Qureshi favours maximum quantum of autonomy for 25 years to the people of Jammu and Kashmir both by India and Pakistan under their respective control. “Only defence, currency, foreign and communication should remain with the two states and all remaining powers should be delegated to the people in Kashmir. Gilgit ad Baltistan and Azad Kashmir should be brought under the ambit of one constituent assembly”, he states. The programme also seeks release of political prisoners in Indian jails, easy ways to enable people on either side of the LoC to meet their relatives, resettlement of displaced people, and “full support to Kashmiris to rebuild shattered economy and developmental programmes”. “A high-power commission comprising intellectuals, politicians, economists, technocrats and social experts from India, Pakistan and Kashmir be constituted. Its terms of reference would be to prepare the people of all three regions, psychologically and practically for a permanent solution of Kashmir tangle by inviting viable proposals”, the JKDLP programme states. The party has also 12-point aims and objectives envisaging the resolution of Kashmir issue. Qureshi having been closely associated with late Maqbool Bhat, Javed Sagar, Farooq Haider, Yar Mohammad and Amanullah Khan, recalls how he was taken into custody from Murrie in Pakistan, three months after the hijack. The Pakistan government then realised “that we wanted an independent Kashmir”, and took him into custody. He spent 10 years in Pakistan jails and in 1985 later shifted to Holland with his family. Qureshi adds that he also opposed Operation TOPAC which led him to leave Pakistan and settle in Holland. Hashim Qureshi pointed out that he conveyed to the authorities in Pakistan that he was “not for creating problems for India, but wanted an independent Kashmir”. Clarifying that Maqbool Bhat was not the founder leader of the JKLF, as commonly believed in Kashmir, Quereshi said that the JKLF was constituted in London in early 80’s. He held that the JKLF leader, Amanullah Khan was wrong in his approach, which led him to dissociate from the JKLF to constitute the JK Democratic Liberation Party. |
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Poonch carnage: 2 LeT men held Srinagar, February 23 Two Hizb-ul militants were killed in a gunbattle with the security forces in the Ganderbal area on the outskirts of Srinagar early today, a police spokesman said. He said the gunfight erupted during search-and-cordon operations by the security forces, adding that the slain ultras were identified as Manzoor Ahmad, alias Major, and Fayaz Ahmad Reshi. The spokesman said some arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene. Police constable Mushtaq Ahmad was shot dead by the militants in downtown Srinagar this afternoon. He was attached with Safakadal police station. The militants struck in the Dalgate area here gunning down a jawan of a special security branch, the spokesman said. An alleged security force informer was killed by the militants in his house at Wagbal in Anantnag district, the spokesman said, adding that his sister was also wounded. The police today arrested two suspected LeT activists, Akeel Ahmed and Mohammad Rashid, involved in the massacre of six members of a minority community in Poonch last December. In another operation, the police apprehended seven suspected militants from a hotel in Kupwara district town of North Kashmir last night, the spokesman said. Three grenades were seized during the operation. The special operations group of the police assisted by the security forces seized 15 rockets, two IED, five detonators and used fusewire during search operations at Trigam and Kramhore in Kupwara district yesterday, the spokesman said.
PTI |
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Id gift of “freedom” for 10 militants Jammu, February 23 Ten militants were released today and six others were being released late in the evening as Id gesture of the government to those youths who had promised to join national mainstream and dissociate themselves from the rebels. “We are extremely happy,” said Mukhtiar Ahmed and others as they set feet out of the police interrogation cell where Director-General Police, A.K. Suri, had gone to see them off to a purposeful life. Riyaz Ahmed said that “we will work hard to ensure survival of the members of our family.” Mr Suri said that after the youths had promised that they would not associate themselves with any militant group they were set free. None of these youths had been involved in any crime. Id-ul-Zuha was celebrated in the state with fervour. While people could not offer Id prayers in the sprawling premises of the Idgah and Jamia Masjid in Srinagar due to heavy snow and rain, Id congregations were held inside mosques. Children had novel experience of playing with snow flakes during Id celebrations. In Jammu main Id prayers were held in Jamia Masjid where besides several ministers bureaucrats and political leaders were also present. In these Id prayers, both in Kashmir and Jammu, people prayed for peace in the state. |
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Gaiety marks Id celebrations Srinagar, February 23 However, rain in the plains and snow in the high altitude areas affected the attendance in the main mosques and shrines. The largest gathering in the city was witnessed at the grand old mosque in downtown Srinagar, Jamia
Masjid, where nearly 30,000 devotees offered prayers, followed by nearly 25,000 at the Hazratbal Shrine on the city’s outskirts, sources said. |
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Two die as house collapses in Doda
Jammu, February 23 The victims in yesterday’s mishap have been identified as Mosa Begum and Hazara Begum, the sources said here. Meanwhile, seven BSF personnel were injured when their vehicle met with an accident in the Badal area of Rajouri district yesterday, BSF sources said. The BSF personnel were returning to Jammu after election duty in Rajouri.
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