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Al-Faran link:

Fazal scotches

Indian report

ISLAMABAD: Maulana Fazal-Ur-Rehman, chairman of the National Assembly standing committee on Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued here on Wednesday termed as mischievous the Indian press reports linking his name to Al-Faran.

The statement said, "My attention has been drawn to certain mischievous reports in the Indian press linking my name to the so-called Al-Faran organisation which is reported to have kidnapped certain tourists in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

"These reports are unfounded, inspired and malafide in content. I have already clarified that I have nothing to do with the so-called Al-Faran organisation nor have I ever offered mediation of any kind for the release of the kidnapped tourists in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

"I strongly condemn the use of kidnapping and other terrorist acts. The present kidnappings of tourists in Indian Occupied Kashmir are obviosly inspired by forces intending to bring a bad name to the Kashmiri movement for their fundamental rights", the statement concluded.-APP