New Delhi, July 22: In a fillip to the moderate Hurriyat leadership, Pakistani delegation led by chief of hardline Jamiat-Ulema Islam Fazal-ur Rahman has said that the amalgam leadership should be given a proper hearing before taking any decision on the vexed Kashmir issue. Rahman, who is leading a four-member JUI delegation, was speaking at a reception hosted in his honour by Hurriyat leaders including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Bilal Lone here last night.

Rahman said he had also requested Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee to give the Hurriyat leaders a proper hearing as dialogue was the essence of democracy. These statements might come as a shock to pro-Pakistan and fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islam leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has been criticising Hurriyat Conference for allowing Peoples' Conference represented by Lone in the amalgam.

JUI is part of the Muthaida-Majlis-e-Amal, an amalgam of six religious parties in which Jamaat-e-Islamia is also a member.

The Pakistani delegation was served traditional Kashmiri feast, "Wazwan", by the two Hurriyat leaders and the meeting continued past midnight. "The Pakistani leader assured us that he would carry the message of Hurriyat Conference across the border and at no point the amalgam will be sidelined by Pakistani political parties," the Mirwaiz said.

Bureau Report