30 October 2004	Saturday	15 Ramazan 1425

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KARACHI, Oct 29: The Vice-President of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, Sindh chapter, Sardar Rahim, on Friday termed President Pervez Musharraf's new proposals on Kashmir as yet another U-turn and a "stab in the back" of Kashmiris.

Addressing party workers, he claimed that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had described Kashmir as the jugular vein of Pakistan because of its strategic importance, not only for Pakistan but for the entire region.

Mr Rahim, who was addressing PML(N) workers in Mehmoodabad was of the view that Gen Musharraf's proposal to demilitarise the territory and invite foreign troops in the garb of UN peacekeeping troops in Kashmir was a well thought out American plan to entrench themselves physically in the area to "directly influence the destabilization of the entire western and Central Asian region, especially China."

He rejected the alleged "sell-out plan" and said that no deviation from the right of self determination of the Kashmiri people, as enshrined in the UN resolutions, would be acceptable.

The provincial ARD leader said that Gen Musharraf should concentrate on demilitarization of the democratic and civil institutions of the country rather than pursuing the policy of "appeasement of his foreign patrons".

He demanded that Gen musharraf should step down and pave way for fresh elections in the country. He also demanded release of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Asif Ali Zardari and other political detainees.