The Hindu : Front Page : Driven to the wall, PML(Q) attacks India for “atrocities” in Kashmir

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Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008
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Driven to the wall, PML(Q) attacks India for “atrocities” in Kashmir

Nirupama Subramanian

It targets the PPP-led government for focussing on “non-issues”

ISLAMABAD: Haemorrhaging from desertions following the ruling coalition’s moves to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, his main political ally, the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), on Tuesday sought the political high ground with a fierce attack on India for “atrocities” in Kashmir, and against the Pakistan People’s Party-led government for focussing on “non-issues” instead of happenings across the Line of Control.

PML(Q) secretary-general Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a big supporter of the India-Pakistan peace process when his party was running the government, lashed out at New Delhi for Monday’s killing of Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz near Baramulla as he led a march that aimed to cross the LoC into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Sayed said the ruling alliance was putting all its efforts into “non-issues” such as impeachment of President Musharraf, instead of focussing on what was happening in Kashmir, which he dubbed the “real” issue.

He described the government’s attitude to India on Kashmir as “apologetic.”

Another PML(Q) leader, the former Information Minister, Mohammed Ali Durrani, condemned the government for opening up trade links with India while Kashmir was burning.

In the past, the PML(Q) took credit for the India-Pakistan peace process, and for toning down anti-India rhetoric. But with President Musharraf — the party’s main source of power in return for its unquestioning support — in an increasingly precarious position, the PML(Q) is now fighting for its very survival as a majority of its members are ready to defect to the PML(Nawaz) and a smaller number to the Pakistan People’s Party.

In the National Assembly too, Marvi Memon, a PML(Q) member, condemned India for ganging up with the U.S. and Afghanistan in a “troika” on Pakistan.

Mr. Sayed told journalists that the PML(Q) would move a resolution in the National Assembly against India’s use of force in the Kashmir Valley, and called for a boycott of the Indian High Commission’s August 15 function.

When contacted, an Indian diplomat said no function was planned except a flag-hoisting ceremony restricted to Indians, and was dismissive of the PML(Q) leadership’s statements.

“These are yesterday’s men mouthing yesterday’s platitudes,” he said.

But the PPP-led government has also made moves to ward off a political attack on the Kashmir issue.

Offers condolences

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited the office of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Islamabad on Tuesday to express condolences over the death of Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

A statement from the Foreign Office said he condoled with Shaikh Yaqoob, brother of Aziz. Representatives of all APHC components were also present.

The Foreign Office said Mr. Qureshi paid tribute to the “sacrifices of the Kashmiri leadership” and “assured them of Pakistan’s full moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmir cause.”

The Foreign Minister “regretted the excessive use of force by the Indian security forces against the Kashmiri people and called for an immediate end to violence in Jammu and Kashmir.”

The Minister’s remarks follow his statement condemning the “excessive and unwarranted use of force” by the Indian security forces in Kashmir.

“It is important that an enabling environment, free of violence, is created to sustain the peace process and address the long-standing dispute of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mr. Qureshi said in the statement. Expressing concern over the attacks on Muslims in Kashmir and the blockade on transport of essentials to the Valley, he said it had serious humanitarian implications and called for “immediate steps” to address the situation.

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