Date:23/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/23/stories/2007012316731200.htm

National

Hurriyat team extends stay in Pakistan

Islamabad: A three-member Hurriyat delegation led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on Monday extended its stay in Pakistan till January 27 to evolve a consensus among various political parties over President Pervez Musharraf's four-point proposal to resolve the Kashmir issue.

The delegation, also comprising Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Lone, was slated to return on January 24. It will hold an All-Party Conference of political parties of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to build a consensus.

The leaders are also likely to meet Gen. Musharraf, who is on a visit to the middleeast, again.

The Mirwaiz said the idea was to galvanise support for the peace process and discuss Gen. Musharraf's proposals of demilitarisation, self-governance and joint management, which were opposed by militants and hardline leaders such as Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The delegation had a meeting with Pakistan People's Party's unit in PoK, but failed to arrive at a consensus.

The Mirwaiz was quoted by the Daily Times newspaper as saying that "all parties, ruling or opposition, religious or nationalist, should unite on one agenda for the solution of Kashmir issue." — PTI