M A I N   N E W S

Hardliner Fazlur Rahman in India
Varinder Walia And Neeraj Bagga

Wagah (Amritsar), July 15
Four-member delegation of the Mutahida-e-Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, secretary-general of the Jamat Ulema Islami (Fazlur), which entered India through the Wagah joint check post here today said that bilateral issues between both countries should be resolved without the third party intervention.

This is for the first time that the radical leaders from Pakistan who had won good number of seats in the National Assembly during the recently held elections have declared their intentions for a dialogue for amicable settlement with India. The other three members of the delegation are Maulana Hafiz Husan Ahmad, Gul Nasib Khan and Qazi Hamid Ullah. The delegation has come here on four-day visit on the invitation of the Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind.

Later, the members of the delegation were honoured by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht. Earlier, they paid obeisance at the Golden Temple.

Hardliner Maulana Fazlur Rahman, who could not become Prime Minister of Pakistan due to shortage of a few seats in the last year’s election, said that following the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in America fresh alignments in the world were forged resulting in the emergence of new world order. It is the first ever visit of Ulemas (religious leaders) of Pakistan to this country. It is also for the first time that leaders of a radical party of Pakistan had sought to resolve issues between the two countries without the intervention of third party, particularly America.

A delegation of the Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind (JUH) led by Mahmud Madani welcomed the delegation at Wagah check post. Mr Madani said it was an effort from the JUH to facilitate the people of both countries to talk. He said the JUH had sought time from Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and leader of the Opposition, Ms Sonia Gandhi, for a meeting with the Pakistani delegation.

Despite repeated queries by mediapersons, they said “don’t ask contentious questions” which could strain relations between the two neighbouring countries. On the Kargil conflict, they said, let the past be buried and start a new chapter of friendship with positive frame of mind.