SRINAGAR: The five Opposition Muslim United Front leaders who were released from jail have ruled out their role in any political process in the strife-torn Valley. They have instead expressed.
Soon after their arrival in Srinagar Syed Ali Shah Geelani Abdul Gani Lone Moulvi Abbas Ansari Prof Abdul Gani and Qazi issar Ahmed said that they would not betray the people who had sacrificed their lives and property for the cause of freedom for the last three years.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani who read out a statement on behalf of the five leaders said that they along with Shabir Ahmed Shah of the Peoples League had taken oath to continue the fight for a plebiscite in the State.
Replying to a question he said that they never had a chance to contact the JKLF President Mohammad Yasin Malik during the two years of their captivity.
Geolani appealed to the militants for unity among the different groups.
He said that the controversy a5 10 whether Kashmir should be independent or whether it should join Pakistan was premature as India had yet to concede the right of self-determination of the people: of Kashmir.
He said that any infighting over the issue would harm the cause of the militants.
Lone told a questioner that the five leaders had come out from jail only to be arrested again. When asked whether the release of the five marked the beginning of a political process he said “Forget about that that is out of the question.” The leaders said that they would fight untidily for their common goal.
“The five leaders said that India had gone back on its pledge to hold plebiscite in the State They alleged that the Indian Government was now trying to suppress the Kashmiris by using excessive force.
He appealed to the UN to use its influence to stop the atrocities and to prevail upon India for an early settlement of the Kashmir problem.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 17, 1992
