Srinagar: A team of civil society members comprising Advocate G N Shaheen a senior leader of Kashmir High Court Bar Association (KHBA), Awami National Conference President Muzaffar Shah and Jagmohan Singh Raina President Kashmir Sikh Coordination Committee called on National Conference President Farooq Abdullah at his Gupkar residence and sought his help in building a broader political consensus on protection of article 35 A.
Quoting sources local news gathering agency KNS reported that Farooq Abdullah during the course of discussions assured not only full support but offered to work for a united fight for protection of article 35 A to the civil society members Advocate G N Shaheen, a senior leader of Kashmir High Court Bar Association (KHBA), Awami National Conference President Muzaffar Shah and Jagmohan Singh Raina President Kashmir Sikh Coordination Committee who are part of the coordination committee “We the People” constituted for protection of article 35 A. From the National Conference Farooq Abdullah was joined by party General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar and senior leader Mohammad Shafi Uri in the discussions.
Farooq Abdullah during the course of discussion told the civil society member protecting article 35 A has become an issue of identity for the people of Jammu & Kashmir as granting property rights to non state subject would change the religious demography in the state and new law would be used to covert majority into minority.
Abdullah made it a point the similarly majority was changed into minority in Spain and this could change the fate of the people of all the three regions of the state.
Farooq Abdullah also told the delegation the scrapping article 35 A is a threat to the religious and cultural identities of all the three distinct regions of the state—Kashmir Confirming the meeting of the coordination committee called “we the people” advocate G N Shaheen said“ the meeting was very cordial and rather a big success. We made it a point that united fight against attempts to scrap article 35 A will be above the lines of religion and region and people of all the three regions of the state would come together to continue struggle for protection of article 35 A till the final resolution of Kashmir issue”. Shaheen said Farooq Abdullah extended full moral, political and constitutional support of National Conference for a united fight against attempts to strike down article 35 A and informed that his party (National Conference) will convene a meeting of all legislators to press hard for the conduct of a special session of the assembly to work out a plan of action for united fight against attempts to strike down article 35 A. “The participants of the meeting resolved that article 35 A is not only a legal battle but part of political struggle for protecting special status of the state”, said Shaheen.
Non-resolution of Kashmir dispute primary obstacle to peace, stability in the region: Pak
Islamabad: Denying that it provides safe havens to militants, Pakistan said that a complex interplay of geopolitics and the pursuit of “hegemonic policies” were to blame for the threat to peace and stability in South Asia.
After being slammed by US president Donald Trump for its support to militants, Pakistan’s foreign office said the “non-resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the primary obstacle to peace and stability in the region.”
The late-night reaction came after Trump announced his new policy for Afghanistan and the larger South Asian region, calling on India to step up its role in the war-torn country and warned Pakistan against providing safe havens to terrorist groups.
The foreign office said the new US strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia was discussed at a Cabinet meeting held late last night and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will take up the issue during a National Security Committee meeting on August 24 for a comprehensive policy response.
In its initial response, it expressed disappointment over the accusations.
“No country in the world has suffered more than Pakistan from the scourge of terrorism, often perpetrated from outside our borders,” it said.
“It is, therefore disappointing that the US policy statement ignores the enormous sacrifices rendered by the Pakistani nation in this effort.”
“Instead of relying on the false narrative of safe havens, the US needs to work with Pakistan to eradicate terrorism,” the foreign office said.
It said the threat to peace and security “cannot be isolated from the complex interplay of geopolitics, continued existence of festering disputes and pursuit of hegemonic policies”, reiterating that there was no exclusive military solution to the crisis in Afghanistan.
Pakistan supports an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned politically negotiated solution for sustainable peace in Afghanistan, it said.
