Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s latest proposal of ‘‘maximum self-governance’’ was welcomed today by J-K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.In Srinagar, Sayeed said: ‘‘The borders have to be soft to enable people-to-people contact.’’ The Chief Minister added that Musharraf’s suggestion of autonomy was a step in the right direction and would benefit the people on both sides of the LoC. However, he said peace was pre-requisite for the success of the peace process. ‘‘Violence has to come to an end,’’ he added.Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Hurriyat’s moderate leader, addressing a public gathering to mark the death anniversaries of his father Mohammad Farooq and Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone, endorsed Musharraf’s formula as a step towards a Kashmir resolution.The Mirwaiz said the onus of responding positively now lies with New Delhi. ‘‘The Pakistan President’s approach is realistic. Pervez Musharraf’s statements are tacit and unambiguous.’’‘‘Pakistan President has always been farsighted and his statement carries weight. Now that General Musharaf has made his proposals public, the Central government should shun rigidity and respond positively so that Kashmir issue is resolved for lasting peace,’’ he said.But leader of the Hurriyat’s hardline faction Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, however, rejected the offer saying: ‘‘Maximum self-governance is not a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue. No solution that is not in accordance with wishes and aspirations of people of J-K will be acceptable.’’And, separatist leader and president of J-K Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Ahmad Shah said he would seek the masses’ opinion on the issue and organise district-level debates in the state for the purpose.Earlier, a high-level Central government team headed by Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal had a detailed meeting with S.S. Bloeria, Chief Secretary, DGP Gopal Sharma, Lt General Nirbhay Sharma and other top officers of the Unified Command.After the meeting, Duggal set the tone for the day when he said a ceasefire is one of the Centre’s objectives for achieving peace in violence-hit states. Duggal said the Centre wants total peace in the state for which it is ready to take any step including the ceasefire. ‘‘Whatever step is required we are ready for that,’’ he said.
