Anantnag: Stating that Pakistan’s prime minister designate Imran Khan’s remarks deserved appreciation, National Conference President and Member of Parliament for Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that sustained Indo-Pak friendship was imperative for peace in the sub-continent and would also go a far way in the resolution of the political Kashmir issue.
Addressing various gatherings in Qazigund and Bijbehara on Saturday, Dr. Farooq Abdullah welcomed the message of reconciliation and engagement from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and said the Central Government should reciprocate positively and without wasting any time.
Accompanied by Party General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal and Vice Provincial President Mushtaq Ahmed Guroo, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said the people of Kashmir were the biggest victims of hostility and animosity between India and Pakistan. “The people of Kashmir have suffered far too long and far too much due to hostility between the two neighbours. The time now has come to tread a new path of mutual cooperation, peace and friendship so that both countries could reap the dividends of peace and progress. The common challenges of poverty, lack of education, inadequate healthcare and violence need to be tackled in an atmosphere of trust and friendship,” Abdullah said.
He said Imran Khan’s remarks deserved appreciation and were a welcome indication of a yearning for peace in Pakistan. “We hope that the new Government in Pakistan takes concrete steps to peacefully address all outstanding issues with the Central Government including that of Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan owe the people of Kashmir a sense of responsibility to find a solution to this impasse and we hope and pray that the future holds the key for an end to our sufferings”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah added.
Prior to the public engagements in South Kashmir, Dr. Farooq Abdullah visited the residence of renowned social and political personality Late Bashir Ahmed Shah at Qazigund to express solidarity with his family on his demise. Dr. Farooq Abdullah also visited the residence of Late Abdul Majeed Shah at Bijbehara to express solidarity with his family on his demise. Dr. Farooq Abdullah offered Fateha for the departed souls. MLA Pahalgam Altaf Kuloo, MLA Bijbehara Abdul Majeed Larmi, Party Central Secretaries Peerzada Ahmed Shah and Sakina Ittoo, South Kashmir Zonal President Dr. Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Party Leaders Dr. Muhammad Shafi, Abdul Kareem Pathan, Sajjad Shaheen, Imran Nabi Dar, Advocate Riyaz Ahmed Khan, Advocate Muhammad Abbas and Peerzada Abdul Majeed Shah were also present on the occasion.
