Omar for probe into human right violations

Jammu, Feb 17 (UNI) National Conference (NC) President Omar Abdullah today demanded setting up of a 'real commission' for an impartial probe into human right violations by the state police, para-military forces and the army in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989.

Talking to media at party headquarters, Mr Abdullah said in these years, different types of probes, including judicial, magisterial and CBI inquiries, were conducted but all were focused on specific events or allegations.

An impartial probe into human right violations by security personnel in past 18 years was the need of the hour, he said.

''No efforts have been made to take a holistic view of the situation. We have an active peace process, aiming to bring India and Pakistan at a point of agreement over Kashmir issue,'' he said.

The former union minister demanded the appointment of a truth and reconciliation commission on the South African pattern.

Mr Abdullah said his party had serious apprehensions about the performance of the Congress-led coalition government in the state on human rights.

He said the violations had only increased in the recent past and the state government failed to stop them.

Mr Abdullah also demanded a white paper on how the state government spent the money it received since 2002 from the Centre, on various packages.

''There is a need for transparency on how the massive flow of funds was utilised by the state government. The Government should also tell where it used the money,'' Mr Abdullah added.

While welcoming the four-point formula of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the National Conference President said these new proposals were a result of track II diplomacy.

''There is a need for translating track II diplomacy into track one,'' he said.

UNI