Tripartite Talks Only Solution : APHC

Tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and Hurriyat Conference leadership can alone enable the restoration of peace in the subcontinent, said Zafar Akbar Bhat, Senior All Party Hurriyat Conference leader and Chairman JK Salvation movement.
While addressing the media persons here today, Bhat appreciated the dia- logue process scheduled to start from tomorrow initiated by the Indian and Pakistan govern- ments for resolving the Kashmir issue. The NC coalition government is only for the purpose of solving the internal issues of the public but for resolving the Kashmir dispute, the Hurriyat Conference is the only representative of the peo- ple of Jammu and Kashmir.

Criticising the new sur- render policy, Bhat said that around 29,000 mili- tants who surrendered were tortured by the armed forces and continu- ally subjected to harass- ment on important occa- sions like 15th August and 26th January. He added that there are around 39,000 families which crossed over to the other side but the government has not framed any policy for their rehabilita- tion and return.
Revocation of AFSPA and withdrawal of forces from the state will restore peace in the entire state, he asserted.

Bhat further stated that the democratic rights of J&K public have been suppressed and the stone pelters who demonstrate against the bullets of security forces are being killed by them.
Emphasizing that only by working on ground issues can peace be restored in the state, Bhat demanded the immediate uncondi- tional release of all detained APHC leaders.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Association with the representatives of Peoples' Movement Mohammad Saleem, rep- resentative of Awami Action Committee, Abdul Gani and Javid Ahmad Wani visited Kot Balwal, Heeranagar and Udhampur jails of Jammu province and expressed concern over the miserable condition of jail detainees. They also condemned the arrest and detention of senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah and the state's failure to give him proper medical treat- ment.