Hurriyat to go ahead with Pak visit despite Kashmir shutdown
New Delhi, Jan 17 (UNI) The Moderate Hurriyat Conference today said the Kashmir shutdown called by the Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led hardline faction will have ''no bearing'' on its Pakistan visit.
''We are going ahead with our Pakistan visit and the shutdown will have absolutely no bearing on that. We believe dialogue will pave way for the resolution of the Kashmir issue,'' Senior moderate Hurriyat leader and delegation member Abdul Ghani Bhat told UNI.
He said the dialogue was imperative in the larger interest of the people of the strife-torn state.
''The talks are being held for a cause and nothing will deter us from working towards that and restoration of peace in state,'' he added.
A three-member delegation, led by Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, is visiting Pakistan for almost a week from tomorrow to discuss the Kashmir issue with the leadership of that country, including President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
The delegation is flying to Islamabad tomorrow.
President Musharraf's four-point formula on the resolution of the Kashmir issue will be the main agenda of talks with the Pakistani leadership.
Hurriyat sources told UNI that the delegation will also ''emphatically'' take up issue of attack on the residence of Mirwaiz in Srinagar on January 15.
Normal life was severely hit as Kashmir observed a complete shutdown today on a strike call given by the breakaway Hurriyat Conference in protest against the visit of moderate amalgam leaders to Pakistan.
Shops and markets remained closed and streets were deserted in the Srinagar city, district headquarters and other towns of the Kashmir valley in response to the call for strike, seen by many as a show of strength by the Geelani-led Hurriyat faction.
A total strike was even observed in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, including downtown areas, considered to be the stronghold of the Mirwaiz family.
Reports from Baramulla, Kupwara, Handwara, Pulwama, Anantnag, Badgam, Bandipora and Sopore, considered to be the bastion of Mr Geelani, said complete shutdown was observed in these areas also.
A large number of people were seen travelling by foot to reach their respective destinations in view of the non-availability of public transport in response to the strike call also supported by several militant organisations, including the Hizbul Mujahideen.
UNI