June 7, 2005	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1426

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LAHORE, June 6: APHC leaders, during their brief visit to the city on Monday, said they would never accept the Line of Control as permanent border and that they wanted representation in talks between Pakistan and India to find a solution to the 57-year dispute.

Governor Khalid Maqbool and Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said at separate meetings with them that the Pakistan government would not support any solution which was not acceptable to the Kashmiri people, who had rendered sacrifices over the past 15 years to get their right to self-determination.

Led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the APHC leaders arrived at the old airport by a special plane from Islamabad and were received by Pervaiz Elahi, Raja Basharat, Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, cabinet ministers, district nazim Mian Amer, Lahore PML President Mian Munir, town nazims and several others.

Besides its chairman, the APHC delegation comprised Prof Ghani Bhat, Yasin Malik, Abbas Ansari, Bilal Ghani Lone, Mohammad Abdullah Tari and Fazle Haq Qureshi.

They visited the Minar-i-Pakistan, the Badshahi Masjid, the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal and the shrine of Hazrat Gata Ganj Bakhsh. Everywhere, they were given a warm welcome. Mirwaiz was impressed by the sentiments expressed by the people.

Significantly, the commitment of the APHC leaders for Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan appeared diluted. Slogans “Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan” were not reciprocated as enthusiastically as the people of this country expect. In fact, while talking to reporters at Data Darbar, Yasin Malik said the Kashmiri people wanted an independent state.

At a meeting with the governor, Mirwaiz said the Kashmir issue was entering a decisive stage and the Kashmiri leadership be included in the peace process.

The APHC leaders were happy that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had assured them that no step would be taken which could jeopardize the interest of the Kashmiri people.

Yasin Malik and Abbas Ansari said the Kashmiris considered Pakistan as their big brother.

Pervaiz Elahi said a lasting peace in the region would not be possible unless the Kashmir dispute was settled to the satisfaction of the Kashmiri people.

During their visit to the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal, the APHC leaders offered Fateha and laid a floral wreath. They also recorded their impressions in the visitors’ book.

On arrival at the Badshahi Mosque, they were received by Punjab Auqaf Minister Syed Saeedul Hasan Shah. They offered ‘nawafil’ in the mosque.

At the Minar-i-Pakistan, Mirwaiz said the visit of the APHC leaders to Pakistan was part of the ongoing peace process between the India and Pakistan.

He said the Kashmiris were the main party to the issue, and any solution thereof would have to be in consonance with their aspirations.

He said the Minar-i-Pakistan had inspired the APHC leaders, and they would continue their struggle till the objectives were achieved.

Abbas Ansari said the Shimla Accord had failed to settle the Kashmir dispute as also the four battles fought for the purpose.

Referring to the Indian leaders’ assertions that they would not allow the division of Kashmir on religious lines, Ansari said the people should be given their rights.

A large number of people present there raised slogans in favour of the Kashmiri leaders.

The entire route from the Airport to Minar-i-Pakistan was decorated with banners inscribed with slogans in favour of freedom of Kashmir and hoardings of visiting APHC leaders.

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