Farooq offers to join Azad in seeking mercy for Guru

Srinagar, Oct 1 (UNI) National Conference (NC) chief patron Farooq Abdullah has said that he would meet President A P J Abdul Kalam to seek mercy for Mohammad Afzal Guru, if Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad leads the regional voice.

Guru was ordered to be hanged till death on October 20 in Tihar jail by a Delhi court for masterminding the December 13, 2001 Parliament attack case.

''It is time for all of us to get together to save Guru from being hanged,'' the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister told reporters on the sidelines of an awards distribution function at the Sheri Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here.

He said pleading for presidential clemency for Guru does not mean supporting militants. ''I strongly believe that hanging Guru will provide no solution. In fact, it will disturb the ongoing peace process,'' Dr Abdullah added.

The NC leader asked Mr Azad to lead the regional voice in seeking mercy for Guru. ''I have assured full support to Mr Azad. If he leads us, we can jointly approach the President to seek mercy for Guru,'' he added.

Dr Abdullah said the President should grant clemency to Guru in the larger interest of the ongoing peace process.

UNI AG ASM VD RK1737