October 23, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 16,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 22: The Federal Minister for Information, Media Development, Kashmir and Northern Areas affairs, Nisar A. Memon, has expressed hope that India would pull back troops from the Line of Control to de-escalate the tension between the two neighbouring nuclear states and resume dialogue.

“If the atmosphere is to be made conducive then India will have to withdraw troops from the LoC and after that talks will be held,” he said during a brief question-answer session with the reporters on Tuesday, after inaugurating a housing colony for the employees of the income tax and accountant general’s office, falling under the administrative control of the AJK Council. “Dialogue will be held after complete de-escalation,” he added.

But when another reporter said India had already refused to hold parleys, the minister retorted: “India had also refused to withdraw troops, but had to announce phased withdrawal.”

“Allah be praised Pakistan’s foreign policy is successful. Now this phased withdrawal of troops from the LoC will also happen.”

Responding to a query, he said the new setup in Pakistan would continue the Kashmir policy of Musharraf-led government.

“I don’t recall a single occasion when President Musharraf did not talk about Kashmir during his foreign tours or meetings with foreign delegates back home, and as a result Kashmir issue was internationalized,” he said.

“This (internationalization) also exerted pressure on India and resultantly had to take many steps,” he added, without elaborating those steps.

The minister said the role of the Kashmiris was outstanding and eminent, and they had sacrificed a lot. However, he added that Pakistanis had also done a lot for Kashmir. “I am sure every patriot government will continue that Kashmir policy.”

Replying a question on delay in the formation of new government, he said: “The names of the successful candidates have been notified. Now the assembly will be summoned to take oath and the elections for the offices of speaker and deputy speaker will be held, followed by the election of the leader of the House. This stage will be completed in the first week of November.”

However, when asked if the election of the leader of the House would be conducted before the Senate elections, he replied that it had not been determined yet.

“The dates for the Senate elections have been fixed. Political parties are consulting each other. I hope that everything will be settled before the day of the election of the leader of the House,” he hoped.

He told another questioner that if there was any delay it was on the part of political parties.

The minister, brushing aside the fears expressed by some Islamabad-based Western diplomats that delay in the formation of the government may lead to imposition to martial law in the country, said: “Elections have been held and assembly will meet. Such fears are being expressed by those who know nothing about Pakistan or by those who are under the influence of the propaganda by anti-Pakistan states.”

He was also critical of the European Union Observers for their comments on the general elections. “Perhaps the observers who came from the European Union were ignorant. They said things which were wrong and amounted to the extent of interference.”

In reply to a question Mr Memon said the elected members would take oath under the 1973 Constitution.

The minister claimed that Gen Musharraf had run the country during the past three years in a democratic way. “Democracy means freedom of expression, association and movement. Over the past three years, we did not make any arrest on political basis and did not ban any party. They (parties) had been conducting indoor meetings,” he said.

When a reporter asked would the military government transfer the control of nuclear arms to the civilian setup, he replied: “The army will continue to take care of it.”

Earlier, the minister unveiled the plaque at the residential colony, built at a cost of Rs57 million in 30 months. The colony has 13 bungalows for the officers in grade 15 to 21 and 19 houses for junior grade employees.

Later, he flew to Rawalakot to inaugurate the Information Tourism Complex.