August 24, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Saani 14, 1423

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MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 23: Information and Media Development Minister Nisar A. Memon assured the people of Kashmir on Friday that the government and the people of Pakistan would continue to support their struggle for the right to self-determination.

Speaking at a function at Neela Butt in Bagh district, held by the Muslim Conference to commemorate the launching of Jihad by Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan from the place on Aug 23, 1947, he said Pakistan would never deviate from its principled stand on the Kashmir issue.

He said the government had raised the issue at the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Conference and other international forums to give the message to the world community that Pakistan wanted a peaceful solution to the dispute.

The minister categorically rejected Indian claims regarding cross-border terrorism and asked the Delhi government to stop state terrorism in the occupied territory.

Referring to the forthcoming elections in held Kashmir, he said the farcical exercise could in no way be a substitute for the UN sponsored plebiscite.

Pakistan, he said, had invited international observers to see the election process whereas India had disallowed not only international but also domestic observers to see the election in the held territory.

President’s Kashmir Committee Chairman Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan called upon the Kashmiris to demonstrate steadfastness and patience.

AJK President Sardar Mohammad Anwar Khan said the mission of the martyrs would be continued.

Muslim Conference President Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, All Parties Hurriyat Conference Convener Siddique Ganai and AJK Minister Sardar Mir Akbar Khan also spoke.

A resolution passed on the occasion stated that the freedom struggle in Kashmir was indigenous and had no connection with any terrorist movement. It was launched after India’s perpetual denial to implement the United Nations resolutions, it said and added that India-Pakistan relations could not improve unless the issue was resolved in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiris. The Kashmiris would continue their struggle till achieving their goal, the resolution said.

It supported the Kashmir policy of President Pervez Musharraf.

The resolution condemned the forthcoming election in occupied Kashmir as “fraud and negation of the freedom struggle.”