PDP pleads for mercy to Parliament attack conspirator Guru

Srinagar, Aug 12: The People's Democratic Party (PDP), has on Aug 10 appealed for mercy to Afzal Guru, who has been sentenced to death for his involvement on Parliament attacks of 2001. Guru's mercy petition has been sent to President Pratibha Patil by the Union Home Ministry after recommending its rejection.

A statement issued by the party said, "Taking into consideration the highly sensitive situation in the state which is trying to come to terms with huge material and humanitarian loss that it has suffered over the past two decades, the party feels that Guru's is a fit case for displaying compassion in broad national interest even as the party condemns strongly terrorism in any form."

And added, "The punishment, if carried out, would only add to and not take away from the trust deficit between Jammu & Kashmir and rest of the country which the union cabinet itself has described as one of the two major reasons for the alienation of the people of the state."

The statement was issued after the PDP leaders met in Srinagar with party patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in chair.

PDP is the main opposition party in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

On 13 December 2001, five gunmen infiltrated the Parliament House in a car with Home Ministry and Parliament labels and began firing their weapons. Their bid to possibly hijack the Indian parliament was thwarted by security personnel who shot back at the terrorists and then started closing the gates of the compound.

Five policemen, a Parliament security guard, and a gardener were killed, and 18 others were injured.

OneIndia News