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Pak officials disallow Indian scribes to Hurriyat press meet

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

The officials of the Pakistan High Commission refused to allow Indian and foreign journalists to enter the press conference of the Hurriyat leaders at Maurya Sheraton in New Delhi on Friday afternoon.

"This press conference is for the visiting Pakistani journalists only and no one else is allowed inside," the official manning the door told the newsmen curtly and slammed the door on their faces.

A journalist from Turkey was also meted out similar treatment. The Indian media had to wait till the end of the press conference to talk to the Hurriyat Conference leaders who were present in full strength.

Later speaking to newsmen Abdul Gani Bhat, chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, expressed his regret over the incident and said that this should not have happened.

"We have been meeting the media persons from India every now and then but this was our first interaction with the Pakistani journalists. We spoke the same thing to them, which we have been speaking to you people and there is nothing to hide," Bhat said.

After the press conference, speaking to newsmen, Bhat lashed out at the Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, who on Thursday had said that the main concern of the Indian government is cross-border terrorism and not Kashmir.

"If they are not discussing Kashmir then why are India and Pakistan meeting at Agra," Bhat told rediff.com.

Shedding his earlier pessimism Bhat sounded confident and said that the Hurriyat Conference is the main arbitrator.

"We the people of Kashmir are the main arbitrators. We may not be in the picture but we would have to be there at a later stage," he said emphatically.

Senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani emphasised that during the summit meeting Kashmir will be the core issue.

He did not foresee any possibility of being stopped by the Indian authorities from attending the 'High Tea' hosted by the Pakistan high commissioner on Saturday.

"They would achieve nothing by doing so," he added.

Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, who we were told earlier was unwell even to pick up a phone, was also present at the press conference and was his usual self.

"I do not expect much from the opening session of the summit level talks. The talks would go on for sometime. But the important thing is that talks between India and Pakistan on Kashmir is starting," Mirwaiz told rediff.com.

He rejected the statement of Jaswant Singh that Kashmir was part of India and hence no talks could be held on Kashmir.

"What he is saying is not relevant. We are at the moment working on our meeting with Musharraf. We are told that we would have a one-to-one meeting before the 'High Tea' with the Pakistani President. We are also exploring other avenues of conveying our point of view. This could include a written statement to be submitted to Musharraf," he said.

"Kashmir is a political problem and it would have to be solved politically. If the government of India is really serious about solving the problem of Jammu and Kashmir then they should release all the political prisoners who are in the jails," he said.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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