MUZAFFARABAD, June 17: Differences in the main opposition Peoples Party of Azad Kashmir became exposed on Monday when party’s senior leader and MLA Sahibzada Mohammad Ishaq Zafar distanced himself from a call by AJK party chief Barrister Sultan Mahmood for laying siege to the state legislative assembly in protest against the premier’s alleged support to the “division of Kashmir”.

Speaking at a news conference, Mr Zafar declared that instead of participating in the agitation, he would attend the assembly session and table a resolution calling upon Islamabad to quash cases against Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif and allowed them to return in view of their services for the settlement of Kashmir cause.

The People’s Party has announced a series of demonstrations to be held from Wednesday to express its indignation over Premier Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan’s proposal for dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan according to the Chenab formula.

The major demonstration will be held on Saturday when the assembly meets for the presentation of the AJK budget for next fiscal year.

Opposing the move, Sahibzada Zafar said there was no justification to the gherao of the AJK assembly because it had not passed any resolution in support of the Chenab formula, and it was only a personal opinion of the prime minister. “Prevailing situation demands that there should not be the politics of unrest or agitation in the AJK because the region has great responsibilities in view of the upcoming talks between India and Pakistan,” he told newsmen.

In a clear reference to the AJK party chief, he said those who had been changing parties and supporting independent Kashmir had no right to talk about “siege and arson”.