LAHORE, May 30: The Kashmir Action Committee Pakistan (KACP) has called upon all parties to declare ceasefire immediately in all areas of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The demand was made at the annual general body meeting of the committee held recently with its president Justice Sharif Husain Bokhari (retired) in the chair.

The committee in a resolution said that the confidence building measures (CBMs) and the people-to-people contacts could play a positive role but could not establish sustainable peace in the region unless the dispute was finally settled in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris. It expressed its grave concern that despite cordial relations between India and Pakistan there had been no relief for the people of Kashmir.

The resolution said ceasefire by all the parties must be followed by withdrawal of the Indian army and security forces from all urban and rural areas of the state, release of all political prisoners, stopping all crackdowns, killings, molestation of women, arrests and detentions, repeal of all repressive laws, such as the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, 1997 and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, which gives unbridled powers to the security forces to arrest, detain and kill any person.

The resolution said that in order to determine wishes of the people it would be appropriate to hold elections in all parts of the Jammu and Kashmir under the auspices of a neutral organization. The representatives of the people thus elected should jointly or on regional group basis, make recommendations for final settlement of the dispute. They could also constitute a committee or a group to negotiate with India and Pakistan to finalize the settlement in the light of the recommendations.

The KACP also appealed to leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference and other parties to present to India, Pakistan and the international community a joint and united approach for settlement of the Kashmir dispute.