SRINAGAR, 7 February 2007 — The father-daughter duo of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti, a member of Parliament, took up the gauntlet thrown by the state chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad by accepting his offer of surrendering their security cover and asked Azad to recommend the promised withdrawal of security forces from the Kashmir Valley in return.
Azad had offered the withdrawal of the security forces from the valley on the floor of the assembly on Monday provided the security cover enjoyed by the politicians was surrendered by them.
He held out the assurance while responding to the demand of the withdrawal of security forces made by certain members as a means to check the alleged human rights violations.
Mufti, yesterday addressed a communication to the chief minister, copies of which were circulated to the media here in the evening, accepting the chief minister’s offer. The Muftis’ move is considered a significant political development, putting Azad in a tight spot and garnering public support for his party.
Meanwhile, the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik yesterday began his three-day hunger strike against the recent fake encounter killings here. The shutdown call by the JKLF, paralyzed life throughout the Kashmir Valley yesterday. Malik, began the hunger strike in the Maisuma locality in the heart of the summer capital Srinagar, under a canopy on the road.
In Srinagar, shops, business establishments and public transport remained closed while private transport plied marginally.
Scores of youths in uptown and downtown areas took to streets pelting stones at police. Cops used tear gas and batons to disperse the stone throwing youths.
