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| 14 December 2004 | Tuesday | 01 Ziqa'ad 1425 |
Kashmiris' consent necessary: ARD
MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 13: Alliance for Restoration of Democracy chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim said here on Monday that any decision on Kashmir without the consent of the Kashmiris would not be acceptable.
"Unless India and Pakistan involve Kashmiris from both sides and seek their opinion, any decision on Kashmir will be unacceptable," he said while addressing a large public meeting organized by the People's Party Azad Jammu and Kashmir (PPAJK), here.
The public meeting, part of ARD's mass mobilization campaign, was held at the Club Hall Ground which had been decorated with PPP flags and colourful banners inscribed with slogans welcoming the ARD leaders and demanding restoration of "true democracy" and return of popular leaders, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
PPAJK president Sahibzada Mohammad Ishaq Zaffar, ARD secretary-general Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, PPP secretary-general Raja Pervez Ashraf, PML-N vice-president Tehmina Daultana, ARD vice-chairman Nawabzada Mansoor Ali Khan, PPAJK secretary-general Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin and other ARD and PPAJK leaders spoke on the occasion.
Any decision on Kashmir, Mr Fahim said, should be in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. "Let me tell you only an elected government in Pakistan will resolve this issue in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiris in collaboration with the elected government in India."
The ARD chief said the days of dictatorship were numbered and there would soon be people's government which would restore the 1973 Constitution in its original shape by striking down the 17th amendment.
"We have to give true democracy to Pakistan as envisaged by Quaid-i-Azam and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in which rulers are chosen by the people," he said. He said the people of Pakistan were not against the army but against those who ruled the country unlawfully by toppling democratic governments and imposing dictatorships.
"Neither the president can keep the office of the general nor can any general become a president. A general will have to wait for two years after retirement to take part in politics.
"We want to give respect and protection to the institution (of army) but as long as army men don't go back to the barracks people will not be ready to give them any concession," he said.
Mr Fahim rejected what he called government's propaganda that there were differences in the ranks of the opposition. "The official propaganda that Ms Daultana and Mr Naveed Qamar have held any talks with the government or Asif Ali Zardari has been released under any deal are pack of lies."
Similarly, he said, allegations that Mr Zardari's release had crafted differences in the Pakistan People's Party were also a lie. "I and Asif are tied by the strong bonds of friendship. Nobody will ever hear the news of any kind of differences between us."
Mr Fahim said ARD leaders were fully united and had already sought the nation's forgiveness for their past mistakes. "We will never let the trust of the people in us shattered." He demanded release of ARD president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, PPP leader Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, MQM (H) leader Afaq Ahmed and PPAJK leader Mian Ikhlaqur Rasool.
RESOLUTIONS: Earlier, Mr Jhagra presented four resolutions at the public meeting, one of which rejected outright the options on Kashmir and called for a settlement of the Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions.
It called for augmenting the diplomatic, moral and political support to the Kashmiris and their inclusion in Indian-Pakistan talks. Another resolution demanded restoration of the 1973 Constitution as it existed on Oct 12, 1999 and made it clear that there would neither be any compromise on democracy nor any deal with those who had breached the Constitution.
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