NC bats for phased withdrawal of AFSPA, Indo-Pak dialogue

Jammu: The ruling National Conference (NC) on Monday batted strongly for phased withdrawal of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir and sustained and meaningful Indo-Pakistan dialogue, saying that the restoration of internal autonomy continues to be the party`s policy.

Union Minister and NC chief Farooq Abdullah, in a meeting of the party`s Central Working Committee held yesterday, said that AFSPA should be lifted in a phased manner from various parts of the state. He said that the withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act should begin from the areas where militancy has been substantially reduced and the security apparatus is being handled by the state police and the paramilitary forces, a party spokesperson said here today. The meeting was attended by the working president of the party Omar Abdullah and all the members of the CWC. The Committee resolved that in the interest of sustainable peace in the region, a sustained and meaningful Indo-Pakistan dialogue must proceed without any impediments and that the CBM`s should be further consolidated and strengthened, the spokesperson said. While reviewing the functioning and achievements of the state government since 2009, CWC appreciated the remarkable initiatives taken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to accelerate the process of development in all the regions of the state and for providing transparent and accountable governance to people. It also expressed its deep anguish over the denial of the opportunity to the family of Afzal Guru of meeting him before his execution and demanded the return of his mortal remains to the bereaved family. PTI