December 22, 2006	Friday	Ziqa'ad 30, 1427

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MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 21: AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir has proposed devising a mechanism by legislatures of different countries for resolving international conflicts, including that of Kashmir.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday after returning from a foreign tour, he said he would write a paper on the proposal and send it to legislatures of different countries.

He said he had informally discussed the proposal with Michael Martin, Speaker of the British House of Commons, in London. However, he did not say what Mr Martin’s response was.

Mr Qadir said during his meetings in the UK, he had pointed out that since the Kashmir issue was the legacy of the British rule , Britain should play a role in early settlement of the issue.

He said he had also taken up with officials of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in London the issue of AJK assembly’s membership with the association. “Being a representative forum of Kashmiris, the assembly qualifies for the CPA membership,” he said.

He said the issue would also be taken up with the CPA’s regional committee, currently headed by the chairman of Pakistan’s senate.

He hoped that the AJK assembly would be given membership after September 2007 when the CPA would hold its annual conference in New Delhi.

He said Kashmiris should be involved in efforts for resolving the Kashmir issue, saying any solution to the issue against the wishes and aspirations of local people would not last long.