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| PDP ups ante for AFSPA revocation, troop reduction To bring resolution in assembly session | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 22: PDP, the main opposition in Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday said it would bring in a resolution during the upcoming session of the state legislature to press for the revocation of Arms Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and reduction of troops in the state.
"PDP will bring a resolution in the upcoming session of the State legislature to press for revocation of AFSPA and reduction of troops," PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said addressing party workers at Anantnag.
He said the loss of human lives at the hands of the security forces every now and then can't be prevented unless the AFSPA is scrapped and reduction in troops, deployed on internal security duties, is effected."
Strongly condemning the cold-blooded murder of two innocent young men at Bumai in Sopore, allegedly by the security force personnel, Sayeed said the security forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir will have to be made accountable under the normal law for every life lost and every property destroyed.
"On the one hand the people of the State have expressed in no uncertain terms their resolve to carry on their struggle through democratic and universally accepted civilized means and on the other the members of the security forces continue to enjoy impunity for murder," the PDP Patron said.
Referring to cases where the civilian courts were unable to proceed against the security force personnel responsible for innocent killings, Sayeed said the recurrence of such ugly incidents despite repeated appeals even at the Prime Minister's level is the consequence of the impunity enjoyed by the security forces in the State under AFSPA.
Mufti said it is unfortunate that the Government has not taken any action so far on the recommendations of the Working Groups appointed by the Prime Minister himself.
"Troop reduction and scrapping of Special Powers are the most important recommendations to guarantee security of life to the citizens of the State," he said and stressed that action on such crucial issues concerning the life and dignity of the State's people can't be delayed any further.
Referring to the blueprint for resolution of Kashmir presented by the PDP in the shape of Self-Rule document, Mufti said troop reduction and revocation of AFSPA are its important elements.
Sayeed said withdrawal of army from the internal security duties would be in the interest of the armed forces as well to preserve its character of a neutral defense apparatus.
The Army needs to concentrate on the borders now as the violence levels in the State have sharply come down, he said.
"As long as the army stays in civilian areas there is always a danger of provocations and frictions which ultimately lead to killing of the innocents," the PDP patron said.
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