SRINAGAR: Terming the ceasefire agreement reached between India and Pakistan a good Confidence Building Measure, Apni Party vice president Zaffar Iqbal Manhas on Friday said the peace initiative taken at the military level should be followed up with restoration of Statehood to instill and re-build trust and confidence among the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the media at Party office in Lal Chowk Srinagar, Manhas said: “Though this agreement has provided a sigh of relief and respite to the inhabitants of frontier areas of J&K who have been the worst victims of border skirmishes; I believe the two sides can make this agreement a success by effective micromanaging its implementation.”
He said in the past such agreements have unfortunately failed to withstand the pressures or forces inimical to peace but now the two neighboring countries should disallow petty irritations to come in way of the peoples’ desire for a long lasting cordial relation in the region.
“As far as the people of J&K are concerned this agreement will help usher in a new era of peace especially in the border areas and I wish this atmosphere to prevail for times to come. However, I urge the government of India to show similar magnanimity and restore the Statehood to J&K as a follow up confidence building measure,” he demanded.
Meanwhile, Manhas urged the Lt. Governor led administration to release the pending wages and funds against the already completed developmental works under NREGA scheme across Jammu and Kashmir.
He also demanded that the government should take measures to address the unprecedented hike in fuel prices so that the common man feels a sigh of relief. Apni Party vice president also demanded that the proposal to go for e-tendering of work order upto 2.90 Lakhs of developmental works should be done away with so as to enable the contractors and the allied workforce to earn their livelihood in a more secure manner.
