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Pakistan's NKC not to observe
'Kashmir Day'

In a departure from tradition, Pakistan's National Kashmir Committee, which has been revived with the induction of moderates, will not call for a nationwide strike on February 5, the day Pakistan observes as 'Kashmir Day'.

The NKC has decided to restrict the activities on the 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' to seminars, discussions, in-house meetings, except for a public meeting to be held in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Pakistan daily the Dawn said on Wednesday.

The committee has also decided to hand over a memorandum to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is coming to hold talks with Pakistani leaders.

Qayyum, a former prime minister and president of PoK, will call on Annan and hand over a letter, which is expected to make references to the UN resolutions on Kashmir.

Every year on February 5, political parties, religious and militant groups used to take out processions to remind the people about Pakistan's stand on the Kashmir issue.

A committee member was quoted by the newspaper as saying that the objective of observing the day was to create public awareness and that could be achieved through means other than holding strikes.

Meanwhile, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin has slammed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah for suggesting that the Line of Control be converted into a permanent border.

Terming the LoC as a "bloody line", Salahuddin, who appears to be only militant leader openly functioning despite the ongoing crackdown on the militant groups, was quoted by the newspaper as saying that Abdullah's suggestion was "ridiculous and unacceptable".

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