Amanullah backs Malik's idea of polls in J&K

By Our Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD, APRIL 23. The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, Mr. Amanullah Khan, has supported the suggestion of Mr. Mohammad Yaseen Malik, member of the central executive council of the All- Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), that ``true representatives'' of Kashmir be elected through polls to be held in Kashmir under international supervision.

Mr. Malik, who is currently on a visit to the United States for medical treatment, has been advocating the need for enabling the people of Jammu and Kashmir to negotiate a settlement to the Kashmir dispute.

In a statement here, Mr. Khan said Mr. Mailk's suggestion was reasonable and could remove many hurdles for a peaceful and equitable solution to the Kashmir issue.

The JKLF chairman said the proposed elections should not be limited to Indian controlled part but should also be held in ``Azad Kashmir'' and Gilgit Baltistan. Such an election would enable them to claim to be the true representatives of the 15 million people of the entire Jammu Kashmir State and the world would be compelled to accept their representative character.

Mr. Khan called upon India, Pakistan and the international community as also Kashmiri political organisations and groups, the APHC in particular, to accept the proposal and take steps conducive for its implementation.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Guide to conflict resolution jargon
Next     : 26 injured in bomb blast