APHC appeal to UN
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Dec 27 — The separatist conglomeration of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has appealed the United Nations to intervene and ensure the safe release of all the passengers on board the hijacked IA plane at Qandhar.

This appeal was made at a meeting of the executive members of the APHC under the chairmanship of the acting chairman, Mirwaiz Maulvi Umar Farooq held at party headquarters at Rajbagh here this afternoon. The members urged the world community to take serious note of the happenings in Kashmir as also on various events on the "basis of Kashmir imbroglio".

The meeting expressed concern over the continued trauma that the passengers and the Indian authorities went through following the hijacking of the aeroplane three days ago. The members also invited the attention of the world community towards the situation in Kashmir. The Hurriyat sought an early end to the Kashmir issue.

6th day of strike in valley
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Dec 27 — Normal working in state government offices in the Kashmir valley was paralysed for the sixth consecutive day today, in response to the strike call of the employees in support of their demands.

The call of the strike was given by the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees Joint Action Committee (J&KEJAC) in support of their 17 demands already put forth by the employees. There was a pen-down strike by the employees all over the state from December 20 to 23. Later, the employees' unions extended the agitation by six days when the government reportedly failed to fulfil the demands of the striking employees.

Following the failure of the fulfilment of the demands by the government the employees decided to continue the strike from December 24 to 31 to press the government to concede to its demands.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, had earlier rejected the employees demand for DA instalments and release of the Fifth Pay Commission arrears in favour of the employees.

Various unions of the state government employees also extended their support to the JKEJAC in support of their demands.