Kashmir's Shariat Court Judge Backs Freedom Struggle

The head of the occupied Kashmir's Supreme Court of Islamic Shariat, for the first time in the history of the freedom struggle, supported Mujahideen and called on the United Nations to solve the dispute. "For the last 50 years the Kashmir issue has been on the agenda of the United Nations," Mufti Bashiruddin said in a statement. "During the last half-a-century, the Kashmir issue has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan which led to three wars. Thousands of people have died in the last ten years" due to the freedom movement, he said. "Still, the Kashmir issue is continuing to linger on in the United Nations," the Mufti, who had not taken sides in the conflict so far, said. He said a UN-organized vote similar to that in East Timor should be implemented. He called on the BJP-led coalition, which won an overall majority in the recent elections, to try for anearly settlement of the dispute. "We hope that the new government at New Delhi will seriously consider the Kashmir issue to avoid a nuclear threat looming over the sub-continent," Mufti Bashiruddin said. He told the Indian government to "stop the continuing repression and harassment" of political leaders belonging to the All Parties Hurriyat (freedom) Conference, an umbrella group of more than a dozen outfits. "All political prisoners must also be released immediately," Mufti Bashiruddin said.