The President was talking to a delegation of Kashmiri leadership representing the entire political spectrum of AJK and the APHC (All Parties Hurriyat Conference), which called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The delegation called on him to express the sentiments of Kashmiri people in the wake of hanging of Afzal Guru.
The delegation also invited the President to visit Muzaffarabad and address the join session of Assembly and council.
The delegation was led by AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and included among others AJK President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan, Opposition Leader (President PML-N, AJK), Ch. Muhammad Yasin, Gen (R) Sardar M. Anwar Khan, former AJK President, Amanullah Khan, Supreme Head J&K Liberation Front, Abdul Rashid Turabi, Ameer Jama'at-i-Islami, Maulana Saeed Yousuf, Ameer JUI-F, Justice (R) Abdul Majid Malik, President J&K Liberation League, M Tahir Khokhar, MQM, Mehmood Ahmed Sagir, APHC (Mir Waiz Group), Ghulam M. Safi, APHC( S Ali Gillani Group), M. Rafique Daar, JKLF (Yasin Malik Group) and others.
Senator A. Rehman Malik, spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar, Secretary to President Ms. Nasreen Haque, and other senior officials were also present during the meeting.
Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting today was scheduled within a day of the Prime Minister AJK's letter to the President saying that the Kashmiri leadership from across the political divide and the Line of Control wanted to call on him to express the sentiments of Kashmiris in the aftermath of the Afzal Guru hanging and the situation in area with reference to gross human rights violations taking place in the area.
The President invited the Kashmiri leadership rescheduling other engagements, he said.
Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting started with offering Fateha for Afzal Guru. Fateha was also offered for Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as well as the innumerable martyrs of democracy and the war against militancy.
At the outset of the meeting after offering Fateha, Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed summarizing the sentiments of Kashmiris while condemning the hanging of Afzal Guru, said that such acts could not deter the Kashmiri people from pursuing their legitimate struggle for freedom.
The delegation appreciated the commitment of the Government of Pakistan towards the cause of Kashmiri people and hailed the resolution adopted in the National Assembly of Pakistan condemning the execution of Afzal Guru and demanding that his body be returned to his family.
According to the spokesperson, the President while reiterating commitment of Government and the people of Pakistan towards the inalienable right of their Kashmiri brethren for choosing their destiny, said that Pakistan would continue to provide moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people at all available forums and strive for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people.
The President said that Pakistan had also expressed its serious concerns over the highhanded measures that were taken in the wake of Afzal Guru's hanging that included arrests and detention of Hurriyat leaders, imposition of curfew, media blackout and other coercive measures.
The President said that the Kashmiris despite rendering huge sacrifices had remained resolute and steadfast in the face of oppression.
He said that Pakistan believed that the use of force, coercion and violation of basic human rights could never succeed in suppressing an indigenous struggle for a just cause.
Their perseverance will bear fruit, the President said.
Discussing recent developments, the Kashmiri leadership hailed the Iran-Pakistan peace pipeline project and transfer of operation and maintenance of Gawadar Port to China as positive developments that augured well for the betterment and socio-economic development of the people and said that a prosperous Pakistan was essential for the success of the Kashmiri cause.
Ghulam M. Safi of APHC (S. Ali Gillani Group) presented to the President a book by Syed Ali Gillani on his captivity in Indian jails. Abdul Rashid Turabi, Ameer Jama'at-i-Islami, also presented a copy of his book to the President on freedom movement in Kashmir.
The meeting lasted for over one hour, the spokesperson said.
<Center><b><i>Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2013</b></i></center>