Jammu, July 9
The APHC leaders have started preparing a couple of model solutions for the settlement of the Kashmir issue.

“We are giving final and finer touches to these models which we plan to discuss with Delhi and Islamabad,” a senior APHC leader, Mr Abdul Gani Bhat said today.

He said, though we have been at it for the past several months but after returning from the 15-day tour of Pakistan. The executive committee members are engaged in giving shape to the model solutions.”

Expecting a formal invitation from the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, for a dialogue in the near future the APHC leadership does not know whether the models will be ready by the time they meet the Prime Minister.

Mr Bhat said, “In case our model solutions are not ready by that time we plan to discuss the matter at the subsequent meetings.”

Asked whether they sought suggestions from leaders in Pakistan and the occupied Kashmir on the model solutions during their recent trip to Islamabad and Muzaffarabad he said: “We do not seek but give suggestions.”

Answering another question the APHC leader said: “I cannot say whether we will able to prepare one model solution or more because we have to frame a model that can be acceptable to the people of Kashmir, to India and Pakistan.”

When asked if one of the model solutions would include status quo on the question of state’s accesion to India the Hurriyat leader refused to comment.” He said: “We believe that our visit to Pakistan has been a success because both Islamabad and Delhi have now agreed that Kashmiris are a party to the dispute.”

Inside reports revealed that the Hurriyat leaders wanted both Delhi and Islamabad to give a thought to their “models” once they were submitted to the two governments.

Mr Bhat said: “Initially we planned to take up our options for the Kashmir solution for discussion with Delhi and Islamabad simultaneously. And for that we had plans of dividing our team in two groups, one visiting Delhi and the other Islamabad. However,this idea could not materialise because under the fast changing scenario we visited Pakistan first.”

He said: “Also by the time we were in Islamabad the options for the resolution of the Kashmir issue had not been given clear and proper shape.”

He said time had come when representatives of the peoples of Kashmir, Islamabad and Delhi had to rise above petty considerations and had to demonstrate flexibility which alone could help resolve the 58-year-old problem.”

Kreeri (Baramula), July 9
Asserting that people globally discredited acts of violence, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today dared those indulging in violence to come forward. He said political process and dialogue were necessary to resolve issues.

The Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone of a model village of Kreeri near Pattan, this afternoon. Accompanied by some ministerial colleagues and legislators, the Chief Minister paid obeisance at the shrine of Syed Mohammad Murad Bukhari.

The Chief Minister said the peace process was irreversible. Describing the bus service on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road as a beginning, the Mufti pointed out that it would continue to run. “We have to take the peace process forward”, he said, adding that the people of Kashmir wanted a solution to the problem and an end to violence.

He held that there was no room for violence in a democracy and referred to the public meeting held by JKLF leader Mohammad Yaseen Malik in Anantnag on July 1.

Referring to the terror attacks in Ayodhya and London, the Chief Minister said it was beyond doubt that violence would not be tolerated.

Rural Development Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, reiterated that the coalition government in the state was working for peace and prosperity. He said the Central Government favoured friendly relations with neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan.

He said the Centre was keen on the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir and it was reflected in the Prime Minister’s special package of Rs 24,000 crore. It focused more on power, water and education, which had suffered the most during the past several years, he said. He said the model village was part of the government’s resolve to ensure development in the state.

Others who addressed the meeting included the Finance and Planning Minister, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, MoS for Education, Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone, former minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, and chief spokesperson of the PDP and MLC, Syed Basharat Bukhari.