Musharraf says Kashmir resolution essential for durable peace

Islamabad, Jan 16, 2007. Pakistan President General Pervez

Musharraf today said resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir

issue was essential for achieving a durable peace in the region.
He said this while briefing his top military commanders on the
ongoing peace process with India.
President Musharraf also expressed optimism and hope in the
peace process, while chairing the conference, which began in the
garrison town of Rawalpindi, two days after Indian External Affairs
Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Pakistan.
The two countries took a number of important decisions during
Mr Mukherjee’s visit to address outstanding problems and agreed to
launch the fourth round of the composite dialogue in March.
President Musharraf also expressed satisfaction on the progress
achieved during the composite dialogue for solution of the Sir Creek
and Siachen issues.
Indian and Pakistani hydrographers and defence officials yesterday
began the joint survey to demarcate boundary between their countries
in Sir Creek areas.
The commanders also had a comprehensive discussion on the
situation along the Pakistan-Afghan border.
”The President briefed the participants on decisions taken to
control illegal cross-border movements, repatriation of over three
million Afghan refugees and to root out terrorism from the country
in general and the tribal areas in particular,” said a statement
issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The President also rejected the statements emanating from various
quarters, saying Pakistan was not fighting terrorism under any
pressure.
”Terrorism is a threat to our national security which will be
eliminated at all costs and Pakistan will not allow anyone to use
its soil for terrorist activities,” the President stressed.

CM teaches lesson to Speaker about importance of Assembly session

Gigrial, on Line of Control, Jan 16, 2007. Jammu and Kashmir Chief

Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today taught the lesson of importance and

sanctity of Legislative Assembly and its session to its Speaker Tara

Chand in a public rally here this evening.

The Chief Minister and the Speaker, who was local MLA (member of
legislative assembly), were invited to address the people in public
rally at Gigrial in Khod constituency.
Addressing the rally, Mr Chand presented a charter of the demands
of the local population and sought the Chief Minister’s quick
declaration.
He also requested for CM’s intervention in speedy resolution of
the problems faced by the people of the border areas.
The Speaker appreciating the working style of Mr Azad brought
people’s demands to his notice with regard to construction of
communication links, power and drinking water supply, employment to
youth, agriculture and horticulture development and said these
sectors required focus of attention for speedy development of border
areas.
”Mr Azad, People of Khod today want some thing from you and I
hope you would made some announcement here for development of this
backward area,” the Speaker said.
In his speech the Chief Minster said that he cannot declare any
thing because the budged session is still on progress.
”The importance and sanctity of Legislative Assembly does not
allow me to make any declaration outside the house,” Mr Azad added.
”Being Chairman of Legislative Assembly Speaker can understand
my helplessness,” he said. The Chief Minister, however, added that
at the end of the budget session he shall made some announcement
about Khod.

Govt to perform ‘Bhooyagnam’ to retrieve lands from rich: CM

Hyderabad, Jan 16, 2007. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara
Reddy today said the government would perform ”Bhooyagnam” to
retrieve lands illegally held by rich people for distribution to
poor, even as the Opposition alleged that the government had turned
itself into a realtor acquiring land from poor at a cheap price and
selling them to the rich.
Speaking after taking part in a series of functions in Anantapur
district, Dr Reddy said, ”My Government will perform Bhooyagnam on
the lines of the ‘Jalayagnam’ to take back all lands illegally held
by influential people and distribute the same to the poor.”
The Congress Government had already distributed 4.50 lakh acres
of land to the poor in the last 2.5 years, he added.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly
N Chandrababu Naidu, after interacting with farmers from
Medak district who had been served with notice for auctioning of
”assigned lands” purchased by them, alleged that the government
was seizing ”assigned lands” of the poor, depriving them of
their livelihood.
Mr Naidu wanted the Government not to go ahead with auctioning of
224 acres of land of the dalits in Tellapur village.
Taking up cudgels for the peasants, TRS supremo and former Union
Labour Minister K Chandrasekara Rao today warned that his party
would launch a massive agitation for the protection of the
properties in the Telangana region.
”The Government has turned itself into a realtor acquiring lands
of the poor at cheap rate and selling them to rich people,” he
charged.
Meanwhile, BJP State President and former Union Minister B
Dattatreya demanded that while regularising ”assigned lands”
purchased by the poor and the middle class, the Government must
confiscate lands purchased by the rich and distribute them to the
poor.
In another letter to the Chief Minister, he alleged that the
government while sparing the rich was confiscating the lands of the
poor and the middle class. While 25 lakh acres of assigned lands had
been alienated, not even one per cent of such lands were recovered,
he contended.