Free and fair poll in J&K: PM

Srinagar, May 20, 2008: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Mohammad Shah that the forthcoming assembly elections in the state will be free and impartial.

The assurance was given by the PM to Shah during a meeting between the two at formers residence in New Delhi today, a statement issued by Shah's Awami National Conference (ANC) said.

The ANC has not taken part in any elections since the outbreak of militancy in the state in 1989.

On appointment of impartial observers, the Prime Minister said he had no objection to such a demand and asked Shah to provide a list of people he would like to be put on the job, the statement said.

Shah also discussed holding of his proposed Intra-Kashmir Peace Conference in which he wants to invite leaders from both sides of Line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, it said. The Prime Minister asked Shah to provide the list of invitees who would like to attend the conference.

The former chief minister also discussed with the Prime Minister the plight of Kashmiri detenues implicated in false cases and lodged in jails in and outside the state and demanded their immediate release.