LAHORE, June 11: The Punjab governor, Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired), described the lifting of Indian ban on overflights by Pakistani aircraft as a beginning towards normalization of relations between the two neighbouring countries.

Talking to reporters after the inauguration of the International Conference on Pollution Control in Tanning Industry of Pakistan here on Tuesday, the governor said although the step had been taken by the Indian government under international pressure, it was welcome.

He said the decision would help reduce tension but noted that the armies of the two countries were still deployed on the borders. He said India should also accept President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s offer for talks on Kashmir issue.

The governor said that the Indian government could not blame Pakistan for the strike in the Held Kashmir following the arrest Ali Gilani. The strike, he said, had proved that the freedom struggle in Occupied Kashmir was indigenous.

Answering a question about the Kashmir Conference announced by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal at the Minar-i-Pakistan on June 16, the governor said that there was a ban on political activities in the country. He said he was not aware of any application made for holding the conference.

He said the decision to permit the conference would be taken after the receipt of a formal request. The ban on political activities would be lifted at an ‘appropriate’ time.

He said he could meet the politicians like the president but added that no programme had so far been finalized in this regard.

Answering a question about bone deformities in children in some Manga Mandi villages, he said he would ask the health minister to visit the area and look into the matter. — Reporter