PDP core group authorises Mehbooba to decide on govt formation

Dropping broad hints about continuance of its coalition with the BJP, the PDP today said the party's core group has authorized president Mehbooba Mufti to take a final call on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.

"On government formation, the party feels that the agenda of alliance is a sacred document for us and there has been much progress on that under (Mufti Mohammed) Sayeed.

"The core group has authorized party president Mehbooba to take whatever decision on it (government formation)," PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said after the marathon 5-hour meeting of the party's core group.

Akhtar said the PDP has not set any conditions for government formation with the BJP, but refused to set any deadline for it, too. "No conditions on part of the PDP," he said. Asked how soon will the government be formed, he said "no timeline."

"The focus is on the agenda of alliance, which has been part of Mufti sahib's vision," he said. Akhtar said the party leaders put forth their points of view at the meeting chaired by Mehbooba on how to carry forward the mission of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who died at AIIMS in Delhi on January 7.

"The most important point in the vision of Mufti Sahib was reconciliation between India and Pakistan," he said. Akhtar, a trusted aide of the late chief minister, said the party welcomed the Prime Minister's Lahore visit last month and the maturity shown by the Centre in the wake of the Pathankot attack.

"It was his (Sayeed's) belief that India-Pakistan friendship is necessary for Kashmir as it has been a victim of hostilities between the two countries," he said.

"The finest moment in Mufti Sahib's life was when he was monitoring the situation from his death bed and saw the Prime Minister of our country visit Lahore," Akhtar said.

He said the PDP leaders were happy about the maturity shown by the country's leadership in the wake of the Pathankot attack and its decision to continue talks and improve relations with Pakistan.

"The people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, who have been the victims of this confrontation, are very happy with this decision. We must move forward on this path and that will be the biggest tribute to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed," he added.