India, Pakistan jurists clash over terrorism in Kashmir

A clash between Indian and Pakistani jurists on 'terrorism in Kashmir' was averted by the timely intervention of Pakistan's Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah who apologised to the Indian delegates for the unruly behaviour of a group of Pakistani lawyers on this issue.

Justice Shah, who was presiding over a session of the international conference of judges and lawyers, faced an unprecedented situation when some Pakistani lawyers expressed anger over labelling Kashmiri militants as 'terrorists' by Ashok Bhan, a member of the Indian delegation.

''I apologise to the honourable counsel from India on behalf of the entire judiciary of Pakistan,'' the chief justice told Bhan and other members of the Indian delegation. Bhan told reporters that the the chief justice of Pakistan had acted in a most exemplary manner and showed great respect and regard for the Indian delegates.

The controversy started when Bhan referred to the Indian Supreme Court's directive to the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide food and medicines to the 'terrorists' holed up in the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar during the month-long siege in 1994.

Bhan, who is also a senior member of the J&K Congress, said his speech was interrupted by some Pakistani lawyers, who stated that he should have used term 'freedom fighters' for the Kashmiri militants.

More than 1,000 Pakistani and foreign delegates attended the three-day conference, which was also addressed by India's Chief Justice A M Ahmedi and Additional Solicitor General K N Bhat.

The Indian delegation, Bhan said, held discussions with a cross-section of Pakistani society and it was felt that there was a tremendous desire for normalisation of relations between the two countries.

The jurists felt that India and Pakistan should hold a serious dialogue on the resolution of bilateral problems. The indian delegates also met with Indian High Commissioner S K Lambay in Islamabad and told him that the visa regime should be liberalised as citizens face enormous difficulties in travelling across the border.

United News of India