Srinagar, July 14: At a time when Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan are meeting in Islamabad, lawyers under the banner of High Court Bar Association in Srinagar today urged India and Pakistan to address Kashmir issue.
 The lawyers described the dialogue process as a welcome step. “But it is also fact that bilateral efforts have failed to resolve Kashmir issue for past six decades,” Bar General Secretary G.N Shaheen said.
 He said time has come when both the countries should address the Kashmir issue on substantive basis by holding a comprehensive, meaningful and result-oriented dialogue in which genuine representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be involved.
 Lawyers condemned the detention of the High Court Bar Association President Mian Abdul Qayoom, terming it as onslaught on the freedom of expression and opinion.
 Shaheen called for release of the Bar president. He described grounds of detention against Qayoom as baseless, illogical and fabricated.
 The Bar has suspended work in courts till Thursday, July 15, against Qayoom’s detention.
 Shaheen the Bar will review its decision only after the outcome of the hearing into the habeas corpus petition challenging the detention of Bar President listed on Thursday.
 He asked all lawyers to be present in the High Court on July 15 to show solidarity with the detained President and to show a united front of Kashmir lawyers.
 Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Council, International Wing Chairman, Raja Habib Jalib, has condemned the arrest of Mian Qayoom and termed it as an act of gross human rights violation. He said that those who are trying to protect the rights of innocent civilians are put behind bars. He asked for release of Mian Qayoom and all other political prisoners.
 He called on India and Pakistan to involve true representatives of the people of Kashmir on dialogue, ‘and let the people of Kashmir speak for themselves.’

Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST