Political parties condemn attack on Hurriyat leader in J&K

Leaders of different political parties today condemned the militants for making a bid on the life of Hurriyat leader Fazal Haq Qureshi, terming it as an attempt to derail the peace process.

"It was an attempt to derail the peace process", J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz said reacting to the murderous attack on Qureshi who continues to battle for life at a hospital.

 "Those who believe in the gun must know that dialogue is the only means to harmonise divergent opinions on political issues," the Congress leader, who is heading the Indian Haj delegation to Saudi Arabia, said in a statement.

Noting that the gun culture had already done great harm to the state, he said it is high time the government identified such elements and brought them to justice.

CPI(M) state secretary MY Tarigami and People's Democratic Forum (PDF) president Hakeem Mohammad Yasin also expressed shock and grief over the brutal attack on the senior Hurriyat leader saying he had played a great role in bringing forward the peace process for the resolution of Kashmir issue.

Terming the attack as unfortunate in a joint statement, they said it was an act to create obstacles in the ongoing peace process.

Senior vice president of Awami National Conference Muzaffar Shah also condemned the attack on Qureshi describing him as an honest, upright and pro-people leader badly needed by the nation.