Shabir invites Hurriyat for talks

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, MAY 20. In yet another move to seek approval for his response to the Centre's offer, the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) chief, Mr. Shabir Ahmad Shah, has invited the All-Party Hurriyat Conference for a discussion to reach a consensus. This development comes even as his emissaries arrived in Delhi to hand over his letter to the Pakistan Chief Executive through the Pakistani High Commissioner.

Sources said that Mr. Shah has sent a letter to the Hurriyat chief, Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat, along with a copy of the letter of the Centre's chief negotiator, Mr. K.C. Pant. He has reportedly sought time for a discussion with the Hurriyat leadership over the contents of Mr. Pant's letter.

Prof. Bhat, when contacted by The Hindu, confirmed that he had received the letter, but said that the Hurriyat executive would meet to discuss it and decide accordingly. The Hurriyat chairman did not specify a date for the meeting.

Commenting on the contents of Mr. Pant's letter, he said it was just a replica of the Centre's initial statement with a little difference.

JKDFP team in Delhi

Meanwhile, the two-member team of JKDFP, comprising Moulana Mohammad Abdullah Taari and Mr. Saleem Geelani, arrived in New Delhi to meet the Pakistan High Commissioner, Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi. They will hand over a letter written by Mr. Shah to Pakistan's military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Mr. Shah has urged the General to come forward and contribute to the restoration of peace and stability in the subcontinent.

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