Srinagar, Apr 6: The chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani today claimed Pakistan had no mandate to propose any solution to Kashmir issue other than Kashmiris’ right of self-determination. 
 “Pakistan should only advocate Kashmiris’ right of self-determination. It has no mandate to propose any other solution to Kashmir issue,” said Geelani while addressing a public meeting in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, 50 kms from here. 
 Geelani said Kashmiris had already rejected Musharraf’s four-point formula and any other such formula would not be acceptable to them (Kashmiris). “The Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari should not forget the fact that New Delhi has taken control of Jammu and Kashmir against the wishes of its people. Being an important party to Kashmir issue, Pakistan has supported the Kashmiris’ right of self-determination in every situation and under all circumstances. Any ruler of Pakistan, who tries to deviate from country’s stand on Kashmir issue, will cause damage to the interests of Pakistan as well as Kashmiri nation.”
 Geelani maintained that there were only two options with Kashmiris: either they should fight for freedom or they should migrate to any other country. “And in the new international scenario the route for migration is closed. Neither we can go to Pakistan nor will any other country provide us refuge. So we are left with only option: to continue our struggle” he said, adding that “We do not have resources to fight a power like India but we can continue our struggle through peaceful and democratic means.”
 Stressing for maintaining of communal harmony and brotherhood at all costs, Geelani said, “Hindus, Sikhs, Budh and Christians are our brothers. We are not demanding right of self-determination for ourselves alone but for all the people of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Muzaffarbad, Gilgit and Baltistan. They all have right to decide their own future.”
 Alleging that New Delhi’s policy makers under a well thought out plan are trying to distort and damage the peoples’ culture in the state, Geelani emphasized the need for doing away with co-education system and banning alcohol in the state.
 Reiterating his call for shutdown on April 7, Geelani appealed to all the people in general and employees, traders, and transporters in particular to make it (shutdown call) successful.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST