Chairman Kashmir Resolution Movement joins PDP

Srinagar, Feb 14 (UNI) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kashmir today received a shot in the arm when chairman of the Kashmir Resolution Movement (KRM) Abdul Khaliq Haneef along with his office-bearers, including secretary general Mushatq Sagar, joined the party.

It will definitely boost the morale of the party when the general assembly elections are less than six months away, the party said.

Mr Haneef and Mr Sagar, former separatist leaders, announced their decision to join the PDP, a major coalition partner in the Congress-led coalition Government in the State.

PDP president Ms Mehbooba Mufti, vice president Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and other party leaders were present on the occasion.

Mr Haneef, hailing the PDP's policy initiatives aimed at the resolution of Kashmir issue, said the there was no difference between PDP and KMR's with regard to the Kashmir issue.

He said it has now been decided to work under the able leadership of PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to achieve the goal.

He added that these initiatives would essentially focus on the exigency of ensuring relief to the people of Kashmir particularly in the backdrop of the ongoing unrest.

Haneef said that steps should be taken to end Human Rights violations, release of all political detainees, repealing of draconian laws including Armed Forces Special Powers Act(AFSPA), return and rehabilitation of divided families across the border including the youth and eradication of social evils and moral waywardness.

He said he was in favour of more Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), ceasefire across LoC, soft borders, people to people contact, self rule and a just and democratic resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Mr Haneef said he found PDP moving ahead with significant success on his envisaged vision, which motivated him to join hands with the PDP leadership.

Ms Mufti said that the PDP is open for all like minded people who want to help out people from their sufferings.

She said that the party would work for mitigating the sufferings of common people, who had all along the 18 years of turmoil, faced the brunt.

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