Kishtwar, May 24: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron and former Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed today called upon the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to accelerate the reconciliation process with Pakistan to establish sustainable peace in the sub-continent.
 He hoped that the on-going process of dialogue between two neighbouring countries be taken to the logical conclusion by solving all bilateral issues including Kashmir.
 Addressing public at Kishtwar town here today, Sayeed referred to positive development in Pakistan and said the situation in the neighbouring country has changed because the political establishment of Pakistan was giving encouraging response to the dialogue and reconciliation process.
 “It is an appropriate opportunity to speed up the reconciliation process”, he maintained while mentioning towards the Secretary level talks between two countries.
 Reiterating resolve of his party to make Kashmir as a bridge between India and Pakistan for strengthening relations between two countries, he said that PDP has already played historical role in normalizing relations between India and Pakistan. He observed that opening of cross LoC routes was the biggest ever Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between countries and credit for this CBM goes to the PDP.
 While referring towards the report of three Interlocutors which was made public today, PDP patron said that Interlocutors appointed by the Government of India have also emphasized on further facilitating cross LoC trade and travel. “It was all due to the efforts of PDP that routes for cross LoC trade and travel was opened.”
 Pointing towards poor road connectivity in Kishtwar district, he demanded that work on Sinthan-Kishtwar road should be expedited and work on Vailoo tunnel be completed at the earliest.
 He said that completion of Sinthan-Kishtwar road would open new avenues for this backward and neglected belt of the state. He said that due to poor road connectivity, accidents have become a routine affair in this belt. He exhorted the people to agitate for their demand of better road connectivity and other basic amenities like health, education etc.
 Responding to the demands raised by the locals, PDP patron assured that his party would formulate a vision document especially for erstwhile Doda district to address all issues pertaining to the residents of Chenab Valley. “With the consultation of the civil society of Chenab Valley PDP would formulate the comprehensive vision document”, he assured and asked the party leaders to start the process to formulate the document.
 General secretary Thakur Balbir Singh, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain MLA Shangus, Sayeed Asgar Ali, MLC, Vijay Dogra, Mohinder Kotwal, Sayeed Muzaffar Hussain, Shakir Siddique, Sheikh Abdul Latif, Farooq Ahmed, Suresh Sharma, Munshi Ram, G M Rahi, Wasil Dolwal, Umar Malik, Rayaz Ahmed Zarger, Joginder Mahajan, Necodomas, Master Mugal, Ghasu Ram, Ghulam Hyder Malik, Abdul Rashid Magray, Javed Shahib, Jagdish Raj, Sajid, Wasim, Shadhi Lal, Khalid Ganai, Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh and others also addressed the meeting.
 In the public meeting a large number of people joined PDP. Prominent among those who joined PDP included Madan Lal Sharma, Javed Ahmed Hooda, Shadi Lal, Yahoor Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed Kotwal, Mohammad Amin, Roshan Lal Sharma, Zulfikar Ahmed
 Rather, Bansi Lal Bhagat, Master Nehal Chand, Ashok Sen, Advocate Kuldeep, Makhan Lal Sharma, Bablu, Jagdish Raj, Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, Mohan Lal, Ramesh Kumar and Shabir Ahmed.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 IST