Hurriyat appeal to Bush: Ask India, Pak to demilitarise J

Srinagar, Mar 2 (UNI) The moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today appealed to US President George W Bush to impress upon India and Pakistan to demilitarise entire Jammu and Kashmir.

The separatist amalgam also appreciated President Bush, who is on a three-day visit to India, for his recent statement stressing upon both New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve the long-festering Kashmir issue as per the wishes and aspirations of the people of the state.

In the five resolutions passed at a seminar here, the Hurriyat Conference sought a permanent and durable solution to the Kashmir issue which is acceptable to all the three parties concerned - India, Pakistan and the people of the state.

The Hurriyat Conference also asserted that it represented the broader spectrum of the opinion of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The resolution stressed upon the Centre to withdraw all ''draconian laws'' such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the Public Safety Act and the Disturbed Area Act.

Besides it called for an end to the killing of innocent people, custodial deaths and molestation of women in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Hurriyat Conference also urged the Centre to release all detainees languishing in different jails and interrogation centres within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI AG AK KP1833