Srinagar | Peoples Democratic Party’s Chief and Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged the Central government to utilize the opportunity of Pakistan general election results by extending a hand of friendship with Pakistan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan in order to improve the relationship between both the countries.
“I appeal to (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi to take the opportunity to develop strong friendship with Imran Khan so that relations between the two countries could be strong, and other problems could also be resolved through dialogue,” said Mehboob Mufti while speaking at the 19th foundation day of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and its political ideologue RSS without taking names, Mufti said,”To solve the Kashmir issue we always raised our voice but vested interests always created problems in the name Article 370 and 35 A.”
Mufti urged the Central government to hold dialogue with Hurriyat leaders also. The centre should have a positive mindset in resolving the existing problems prevailing in the Valley. Taking credit for the ceasefire measure”. “PDP took initiative for a ceasefire during Ramzan. I appeal to the Centre to show a positive attitude towards Hurriyat and aim to bring them on the table for dialogue,” said Mehbooba.
Addressing PDP’s workers in the Valley, Mufti said that her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who served twice as the chief minister of the state was always in favour of holding dialogue with Pakistan to resolve issues due to which the region has been reeling for many years. She further claimed that while in power, the PDP always raised its voice for revoking of Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA) to eradicate terrorism in the Valley but vested interest of several political outfits prevented it.
“My father always made efforts to bring peace in the Valley and that is why he pitched that dialogue with Pakistan is a must. But both of us did not have authority to take the decision on the matter. But we still took ample steps such as to control the task force, revoke POTA to ease the lives of people,” Mehbooba pointed out.
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