The Hindu : National : Musharraf stand impractical, says Geelani

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Sunday, Feb 04, 2007
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National

National

Musharraf stand impractical, says Geelani

Luv Puri

Jammu: Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Saturday said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's new stand on Jammu and Kashmir was antithetical to the ground realities and did not answer why youth were forced to take to arms.

(On Friday, Gen. Musharraf said while efforts were being made to consult all shades of opinion on the Kashmir issue, those on a "confrontation course" would not be taken on board.)

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Geelani said: "Servility and peace cannot go together. The genesis of the trouble needs to be recognised. Youth picked up arms after the 1987 Assembly elections were rigged."

Asked about Gen. Musharraf recognising the Mirwaiz-led All Party Hurriyat Conference as the representative of the people of the State, he said, "Like an army officer, Pakistan President needs a yes man. Therefore let him anoint anyone as the representative. It would not make any difference to the people."

Mr. Geelani asked the Government of India to allow him to travel to Pakistan to participate in Monday's "save Kashmir" rally being held by the Jamait-e-Islami.

He demanded U.N. intervention into the recent custodial killings in the State and said people there lost faith in the institutions of the Government after these cases surfaced.

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