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Mirwaiz refutes charges

against APHC leaders

MIRPUR: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has ridiculed the allegations levelled by the occupied Kashmir police chief that the APHC was involved in militancy related activities, English language newspaper "Greater Kashmir" appearing from occupied Sringar reported.

"To hide his failures, the police chief is implicating the Hurriyat leaders in false cases," the acting APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Maulvi Umar Farooq told media persons in the occupied Srinagar the other day, Greater Kashmir reported.

Mirwaiz, however, said militancy was a part of the ongoing movement. "The Kashmiris freedom struggle is going on at political, diplomatic and militancy front, Umar said.

The Director General of the occupied Kashmir Police (DGP) Gurbachan Jagat, had, in a press conference Saturday last, accused the APHC of identifying the targets of militants and also providing them with financial assistance.

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said the state "Government" was scared of the growing popularity of the APHC and has resorted to victimisation of its leaders and activists. Mirwaiz further said all the front line leaders of the APHC, including its Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Gillani have already been arrested and police is after other activities. "The police raided the APHC office the other day when its executive committee was busy in a meeting to discuss some important issue", Mirwaiz said instead of facing the reality the "government" was targeting the APHC leaders.

"The APHC will never succumbed to such pressure tactics and will continue its political struggle against Indian occupation," he said. Mirwaiz further said the arrests of APHC leaders will not stop the ongoing movement. "It is not the movement of the APHC leaders, but the movement of Kashmir's". Mirwaiz said.

Umar said the situation in the occupied state was deteriorating every day and the Indian security forces have intensified their repressive measures against Kashmiris. "To intensify its oppressive policies and implement India's real designs in Kashmir, the Kilo and Romeo forces have been set up," the ex-APHC Chairman said.

Mirwaiz asked India to learn from its past mistakes in Kashmir and take immediate steps towards the resolution of the long standing dispute.

"We hope the new Indian government will take concrete steps towards the resolution of Kashmir dispute to establish peace in South Asian region," he said. He further said the failure of the bilateral efforts by India and Pakistan to resolve the dispute has vindicated the APHC stand that the Kashmiris should be involved in the dialogue, the newspaper reported.

Umar said the world has now realised the importance of resolving of Kashmir dispute which posed a great threat to the security of the region.ÑAPP