16 February 2004	Monday	24 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 15: India has failed to block the Kashmiris' freedom movement despite having deployed its 700,000 troops in the occupied Valley and fresh efforts are being made to lure the Mujahideen to surrender by blocking the path to jihad , says Jamaat-i-Islami's secretary-general Syed Munawwar Hassan.

He said this while speaking at the Islami Jamiat Talaba's 51st annual convention. Mr Hassan said that the proposed Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service amounted to accepting the Line of Control as international border.

Terming allegations of cross-border terrorism baseless, he said Kashmiris lived on both sides of the LoC. "The Kashmiris' struggle is not a separatist movement but it is a freedom movement."

Urging students to start a movement aimed at removing President Musharraf, he said it was vital for solving all problems confronted by the country. Meanwhile, councillors from the Site Town condemned the attack on Nazim of the town's UC-4 Abdul Razzaq, terming it a conspiracy to sabotage development activities.

In a related development, the JI's women's wing adopted a resolution at a workshop held at the Idara Noor-i-Haq criticizing the observance of the Valentine's Day and Basant, accusing the government and the media of promoting un-Islamic and unethical values.