November 7, 2002	Thursday	Ramazan 1,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: The chairman of National Kashmir Committee, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, on Wednesday called for creating an intellectual unity of the people concerned on the Kashmir issue, and stressed people for holding more conferences to evolve a consensus on the solution of problem.

Speaking at a round table conference in commemoration of the martyrs of Jammu, organised by the Jammu Kashmir Freedom Movement (JKFM) here at a local hotel, he said the present era was most crucial for the solution of the Kashmir problem, and the need was that the Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control should join hands, expressing integrity in their attitude and thinking.

He paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Jammu and said their blood would never go waste, and expressed the hope that the occupied Kashmir would soon be free from the Indian shackles.

The AJK chapters of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Jamaat Islami, Muslim Conference, Liberation Front, Democratic Freedom Party and J&K Youth participated in the moot.

Syed Yousuf Nasim, convener of the APHC (AJK chapter), refuted the claim of some so-called intellectuals who advocate annexation of Jammu with India on the ground that it is predominantly comprises the Hindu majority.

He said Kashmir was historically ruled by Srinagar, and the people of Jammu irrespective of their religion had supported the central leadership.

Hence, there was no question of division of Kashmir on ethnic lines, neither the people of Kashmir would accept any such solution, he added.

Another speaker told the gathering that there were 3.5 million Kashmiri refugees making part of local population in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan, who if united and organised could minimise the international pressures on Pakistan.

Among others, who participated and spoke on the occasion, included, Dr Zahid Gilani of the Kashmir Freedom Party, J&K Peoples League (IHK) chief Farooq Rahmani, Kashmir Information Centre chief Mohammed Bashir, Tariq Nizami of the Kashmir Liberation Cell, AJK Jamaat Deputy Chief Noorul Bari, Shamima Shaal of the Kashmir Women Forum, J&K Liberation Front’s (Amanullah Group) Afzal Butt etc.