Faesal invokes Musharraf’s four-point formula

Srinagar, Apr 9: Bureaucrat-turned-politician and founder-president of Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM), Shah Faesal on Tuesday said that Musharraf’s four point program was the “realistic” way to approach Kashmir issue.

During his tenure, former president of Pakistan, retired General Parvaiz Musharraf had put forth four measures to resolve Kashmir issue which came to be known as his four-point formula.

The formula involved demilitarization or phased withdrawal of troops. No change in borders of Kashmir, however, people of Jammu & Kashmir were to be allowed to move freely across the Line of Control (LoC). Besides, he favored self-governance over independence. A joint supervision mechanism was to be setup in Jammu and Kashmir involving India, Pakistan and Kashmiris.

“We saw the formula at that time. There were some expectations that final settlement would be reached. No doubt there were some issues but it was a realistic one,” Faesal told The Kashmir Monitor.

He added that his immediate priorities would be to work for the resolution of Kashmir issue.

“We want to bring peace to this region, do something for immediate issues being faced by the people,” he said.

“For the resolution of Kashmir issue, we need to have conversations between India and Pakistan. Kashmiris have to be taken on board,” he added.

Terming the ban on movement of civilian traffic on national highway as a “draconian” measure, Faesal said that it is an “infringement” of the people’s constitutional right to move freely.

“The steps involving the erosion of basic values of democracy are obviously anti-people. The measures like curbs on separatists and ban on movement of civilian traffic on national highway have been taken just because of elections to be held in the coming days. Once the elections are over, things would ease out,” he said.