Kashmir should be briefed before granting MFN status to India: JUI-F chief

Pakistan Telegraph (ANI) Sunday 5th February, 2012

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief and Kashmir Committee Chairman Fazlur Rehman has said the government should brief Kashmiris on the pros and cons of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India.

Following his meeting with Kashmir's leadership, Fazlur said: "The government should satisfy Kashmiris on this issue and listen to what they have to say."

Earlier, Fazlur had headed a meeting of the committee, which was attended among others by the former Azad Kashmir prime minister and Hurriyat Conference members.

He insisted that the people of the valley had always safeguarded Pakistan's interests, and that they never wanted the country to sacrifice its interests for their sake.

"The Kashmiri leadership is of view that a balanced policy should be devised regarding trade ties with India so that the interests of Kashmiris and Pakistan are not hurt," the Daily Times quoted Fazlur, as saying.

He further said that he would inform the government regarding the reservations of the Kashmiri people.

"I will ask the foreign and commerce ministries to hold meetings with Kashmiri leaders," he said, adding that the National Kashmir Committee is considering holding a joint sitting of the foreign and trade ministries and the Kashmiri leadership on the issue. (ANI)