*Nice to see all the major leaders from occupied Kashmir pay their respects at the mazar-e-quaid, and appreciating his role. Unlike Advani, their stance has always been very clear 
*
KARACHI, June 9: Leaders from occupied Kashmir, who arrived in the city on Thursday on the last leg of their visit to Pakistan, laid floral wreaths and offered fateha at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and paid tributes to him for leading the successful struggle for the creation of Pakistan.
Talking briefly to newsmen, All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq reiterated that new ideas and options should be explored and treated on merit for finding a solution to the Kashmir problem in which the United Nations had miserably failed over the past 57 years.
“We don’t know what will be the final solution but relations with Pakistan would have a significant bearing on the outcome,” said Mirwaiz, adding that the people of Kashmir had always desired Pakistan to be strong and prosperous.
He emphasized that the people and the government of Pakistan had always supported the struggle of the Kashmiris without making it conditional on the territory acceding to this country. He said that his people would not succeed in achieving their objective without the support of the government and the people of Pakistan.
He stressed the need for pushing forward the current India-Pakistan dialogue, but said that the Kashmiris should be included in the process as soon as possible.
Answering a question about Ali Geelani’s stance and his exclusion from the delegation, Mirwaiz said that APHC represented a joint struggle and one individual could not dictate terms. He said it was time for reinforcing unity of the Kashmiri people.
Writing in the visitors’ book at the Quaid’s mazar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq paid homage to the Quaid on behalf of the Kashmiri people and said that their struggle would continue till the objectives of the struggle waged by Mohammad Ali Jinnah were achieved.
Mr Bilal Ghani Lone wrote: “Salute to the great man and a great leader who created this nation.”
The Kashmiri leaders also offered fateha at the graves of Liaquat Ali Khan and other leaders buried there. Later they visited the museum.
During the visit, JKLF leader Yasin Malik was visibly overwhelmed by emotions and in a pensive mood he quietly sat down on the floor along the railings of the Quaid’s grave.
When the APHC leaders left the mazar, a group of Kashmiris surrounded the car of Yasin Malik. They chanted slogans and also carried him on the shoulder.
On their arrival at the airport, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim, a number of provincial ministers and local Kashmiri leaders.