'Only PPP can end Kashmir dispute

LAHORE - The PPP leaders Saturday said that Kashmir issue was on the top of governments agenda and only their partys government could resolve the dispute. Addressing a seminar held in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day at Alhamra Arts Council, they said that those now trying to become champions of Kashmir cause had opposed the creation of Pakistan. PPP Lahore President Samina Khalid Ghurki, Punjab Secretary General, Sami Ullah Khan, MNA Shakeela Rashid, Altaf Ahmad Qureshi and Faiza Malik spoke on the occasion among others. The speakers held a unanimous view that unless the issue of Kashmir is resolved there could be no peace and development in the region. They said that freedom movement in Kashmir was in fact a movement for completion of Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Ghurki said that PPPs struggle for settlement of the dispute was an open secret, as it had been raising this issue forcefully at all world forums in the past. She believed that Kashmir issue would be resolved only during the tenure of PPP government. Sami Ullah Khan blamed military rulers for putting the issue on the backburner. He said Kashmir had always been on top of PPPs agenda, and it would continue to utilise all diplomatic channels to mobilise world opinion in favour of Kashmiris right to self determination. He stressed upon Indian government to come to the negotiation table to find an amicable settlement of the dispute by taking Kashmiris on board. Altaf Qureshi said party founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had laid the base for Solidarity Day with Kashmiris for the first time, and present government was also pursuing this cause on priority basis.

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