Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah on Saturday said talks between the Centre and the
Hurriyat Conference will continue despite attack on moderate
separatist leader Fazl Haq Qureshi by suspected terrorists in
an apparent attempt to disrupt the dialogue.
"Talks will continue despite all these impediments and
road blocks," Omar told reporters on the sidelines of a
function at SK international convention complex here.
The chief minister lauded the statement of moderate
Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq that his
amalgam would not be cowed down by the attack last evening on
Qureshi and would pursue the line of dialogue with both India
and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.
"I congratulate Mirwaiz for his statement that talks will
continue", he said.
65-year-old Qureshi was shot in his head twice by
terrorists last evening at Soura in downtown of the city when
he was coming out of a mosque after prayers. He continued to
be on ventilator.
Omar said the state government had no prior information
about the attack but the separatists had been provided
security as per threat perception.
Though Qureshi was offered security at many occasions he
declined, the chief minister said, adding the condition of
qureshi was "stable".
Omar said the attack was carried out by elements who do
not want peace to return to the state. "This is the work of
enemies of peace".
When asked that a militant outfit has owned responsibility
for the attack, the chief minister said "things will unfold in
the due course of investigations".
PTI
First Published: Saturday, December 05, 2009, 16:34