Pahalgam, May 5: The Peoples Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti today demanded unconditional release of political prisoners to engage them in the dialogue process.
 Addressing a meeting here, Mehbooba cautioned that “oppressive measures adopted by the coalition to suppress peoples’ aspirations would prove counterproductive.”
 She said on one hand this party (NC) had been advocating talks while on the other government was putting all stake holders in the jails to gag voice of dissents. “Such actions of the government speaks about double stand of the National Conference “, she said and adding all sections should be given opportunity to express their view points through democratic means and it was possible only if political prisoners be released unconditional.
 “The alienation of the people is outcome of the strong arm strategy adopted by the present dispensation to stifle the voice of people”, she said.
 Mehbooba said it was due to reconciliatory polices of her party that peace was resorted in the state.
 Senior PDP leader, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari said that need of the hour was to address political aspirations of the people by realizing the ground realities. He warned that “repressive policies” pursued by the government was bound to “fuel alienation and public unrest.”
 Mehbooba and the party patron, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed condoled the demise of the mother of Muhammad Shafi Bandey, District President Shopian.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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