Saturday, May 20, 2006 21:28 IST

DNA Correspondent.

NEW DELHI: As the Hurriyat’s hardline faction rejected the invitation to talks in Srinagar, voices were raised questioning the oraginastion’s sincerity and representative character.

At a two-day meet organised here, purportedly with the blessings of the government, representatives from northern regions of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) said the Hurriyat is a “hoax” and does not represent all Kashmiris.

The conference “Jammu and Kashmir: Alternative Future,” which saw participation for the first time of people from Gilgit and Baltistan, PoK and Jammu and Kashmir, adopted resolutions which included shunning of all kind of violence and urging India and Pakistan to respect and guarantee the full regime of civil and political rights of the people.

The miseries of the people of Gilgit and Baltistan in Pakistan’s Northern Areas dominated the conference held to find ways and means to solve the vexed issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Some even criticised India saying it has failed to speak for people of this region.

"When India talks about owning up the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, then why is New Delhi failing in its duty to raise the concerns of Gilgit and Baltistan in various international forums," Vice Chairman of All Party National Alliance (APNA) Wajahat Hussain told reporters after the end of the two-day conference being
organised by an NGO, Institute of Conflict Management.

APNA is an amalgam of political parties from Gilgit and Baltistan, who have been opposing Pakistan's decision of annexing the area, and parties from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Referring to the Hurriyat Conference, Hussain said "we do not recognise any Hurriyat as there is no representation of people from Gilgit and Baltistan."

The First hijacker in Asian aviation history and founder of JKLF Hashim Qureshi, criticised the Hurriyat Conference alleging that they were changing their colours like a "chameleon".

Qureshi alleged that the "Hurriyat is a hoax. They only want to hog the limelight and nothing else. They are not interested in solving the Kashmir issue as it is a big source of income for them."

As the time for the second round table is approaching, the Hurriyat is giving enough indications that they would not like to participate in the conference, he said.
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