Mufti appeals to PM for compassion towards militants

Jammu, Apr 9 (UNI)) Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today suggested taking a compassionate view of militants in the state in the event of their joining the mainstream.

While addressing a public meeting at Hadi Mohalla near Surankote Poonch district today Mufti Sayeed said as per the reports emanating from across the border, youth who had gone there for armed training are eagerly waiting to return and live peaceful lives since they have changed their minds.

Mr Sayeed, who pioneered the movement for the Srinagar-Muzafarabad road and other LoC points, appealed to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to take an initiative in this regard as it would be significant for the Kashmir-Centric Confidence building Measures.

Instead of confining the movement on the road it should be opened for free movement of people with minimum procedural formalities he added.

He said during his recent visit to the Prime Minister, he took up the issue with him and pleaded for opening of Suchitgarh-Sialkote railway and road link besides early opening of Poonch-Rawalakote road. The centre needs to explore its possibilities for starting free trade under the SARAC regime on experimental basis on Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Referring to the Self-Rule concept Mufti Sayeed said it would be a part of a larger package addressing external and internal dimensions of the Kashmir problem with the involvement of Pakistan while the autonomy proposal on the other hand only deals with the administrative relationship between Centre and state.

He said the inter-state federal structure with the devolution of work powers to all the regions as proposed by PDP under the Self-Rule package would go a long way in political, economic, social and cultural development of each region accommodating the aspirations of the people.

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