Hurriet does not represent entire J&K: PoK leader

NEW DELHI, Feb 9 (UNI) A woman separatist leader from Pakistan-Occupied kashmir today called for a dialogue between people from both sides of Kashmir to help resolve the vexed issue.

"India and Pakistan should be facilitators to this move and agree for free movement of people from one part of Kashmir to another," Ayesha Gul, chairperson of the women's wing of the Jammu and Kashmir National Liberation Front, told UNI here before leaving for Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Gul, alias Shazia Ghulam Din, is the daughter-in-law of the founder of Kashmiri separatist movement Maqbool Bhat who was hanged in 1984 in Tihar jail for the murder of Indian diplomat Ravinder Mhatre in London.

She was in the country to attend the World Social Forum in Mumbai and during her stay met several prominent politicians, including Kashmir Committee chairman and former union law minister Ram Jethmalani.

Gul said a dialogue between the people of two regions of Kashmir will help evolve a broader consensus in finding a solution to the issue.

"There is a misconception about the situation in Kashmir.

Such a move will also help the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in comparing their problems with the people of Jammu and Kashmir," she added.

Gul said the Hurriyat was not the only party which represented the aspirations of the people of Kashmir and that the scope of dialogue should be further widened.

She said the Hurriyat was only talking about the people of one particular region.

"Jammu and Kashmir is not just about the Kashmir valley.

The Hurriyat just raises the issue of one particular region," Gul added.

She also alleged gross Human Rights violations in PoK and Northern areas.

"People living in the Northern areas, particularly Gilgit and Baltistan, are suffering and women are bearing the brunt of the atrocities more.

"The people of these areas are living a life of slavery.

Women are suffering more....

They are facing the brunt emotionally, psychologically and physically," Gul said.

Alleging that the Pakistan government was discriminating against people of PoK, she said rights, like education, voting and free speech did not exist.

"If we want to demonstrate we cannot.

Our children do not get proper education.

And we do not elect our government," Gul added.

Lauding the recent confidence building measures between India and Pakistan, she said the proposed Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service will help unite families living on both sides of the divide.

"People-to-people contact will further improve ties among the neighbours and help resolve the Kashmir issue." However, Gul said the bus service would be an eye-opener for the people in PoK.

Calling for a unified state of Jammu and Kashmir, she said all the five regions of the state should be brought together.

"The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir should be unified and people allowed to live peacefully." Gul claimed northern areas are inaccessible to Kashmiri and Pakistani civilians.

"No Kashmiri or ordinary Pakistani has the right to visit Gilgit and Baltistan," she added.

The Muzaffarabad-based JKNLF was founded by Maqbool Bhat.