27 January 2004	Tuesday	04 Zilhaj 1424

MANSEHRA, Jan 26: Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Water & Power Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that Saarc has paved the way for the solution of the Kashmir issue and it is the need of the hour that both the Indian and Pakistani leadership should visualize the situation and resolve this long-standing issue peacefully.

He was addressing the installation ceremony of the newly- elected cabinet of District Bar Association Mansehra, on Monday. The federal minister narrating the resume of latest political situation with special reference to a historic understanding between MMA and federal government also discussed in detail matters pertaining to the NWFP government. He said that politicians should learn from past experiences, right from independence, and should not ignore those issues which have worsened national problems.

The minister for Kashmir Affairs said that Pakistan is committed to an unequivocal stand on Kashmir and wants a peaceful solution of this long-standing dispute through dialogue.

He said that Pakistan will not accept the supremacy of India nor the sufferings of Kashmiri people would be kept in isolation. He said the government has taken the Kashmiri leadership into confidence before and after the Saarc summit.

Mr Sherpao said that due to the dynamic leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf, and statesmanship of Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali a consensus was reached on LFO and 17th constitutional amendment and it was moved in parliament.

The Minister said recently held elections were altogether different as the compositions of results clearly portray different scenario adding that many election alliances and seats adjustments made things different. MMA, he said, has got a public mandate in NWFP and Balochistan due to which the international community was getting the impression that the theocratic governments would be established in the two provinces.-APP