February 19, 2007	Monday	Safar 1, 1428

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MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 18: All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Professor Abdul Ghani Butt has said that protest strikes might be an expression of anger and frustration but such actions could not influence decisions.

He was asked by this correspondent here on Sunday that if the Kashmiris wanted their longstanding problem to be resolved why did they observe a strike on January 17 on the eve of their (moderate APHC faction's) visit to Pakistan.

"You ought to keep in mind that before that strike grenade attacks were launched at the residence of the Mirwaiz (Umar Farooq) to give a message...

‘‘The strike was the outcome of that threatening message and coercion," he remarked.

"But when the Mirwaiz returned to Kashmir he was also accorded a rousing welcome," he added. The articulate Kashmiri leader recalled that the people ofKashmir had observed a crippling strike on Feb 28, 1975, on the call of then Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto against Sheikh Abdullah but just after three days the same people accorded an overwhelming reception to Sheikh Abdullah when he arrived in Srinagar as chief minister.

"Those who make decisions or who have to make decisions could not be frightened by strikes and demonstrations," he said.

Prof Butt and Bilal Gani Lone had arrived in Pakistan under the leadership of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Jan 18 to hold talks and consultations with President Gen Pervez Musharraf and other Pakistani and Kashmiri leaders.

The Mirwaiz and Mr Lone returned after a week, but Mr Butt extended his stay to spend some time privately with his Pakistan based relatives.

He was in the AJK capital for the past two days to see local leaders and attend some receptions, including the one hosted by former chairman of the United Jihad Council Tanveer-ul-Islam.

Prof Butt appeared optimistic about progress towards the settlement of the Kashmir issue but dispelled speculations that any decision or solution to the dispute had already been worked out.

"But let me tell you efforts have begun (to find a solution) and this process is progressing. Very seriously, things are being discussed to provide the basis for a solution," he said.

To a question, he said giving a timeframe would be an apolitical thing but the pressure of the situation on India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris carried only one message for them: "The sooner the better."

He described the split in APHC as unfortunate but stopped short of making any harsh comment about the hardline faction.

"The division eroded the symbol of political unity, wounded our political credibility and cast negative effects on the popularity we were enjoying," he said.

"Please don't dub our differences of opinion as confrontation. Our line of action may be different but our objectives and destination is same."