Condemning the killing of “peaceful protesters” for the second consecutive day in J and K on Tuesday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked the law enforcing agencies to exercise maximum restraint and not to make matters worse by shedding the blood of innocents.Expressing deep grief over the killing of people in police firing across the valley and Kishtwar district, including that of Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, former Chief Minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said such tragedies could and should have been avoided.“Kashmir has been tormented by such human tragedies for the past two decades and efforts must be made by the administration to normalise the situation instead of adding fuel to the fire by actions that are totally uncalled for”, he said.Emphasising the urgency of making Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road operational for the smooth movement of people and goods, Sayeed said considering the intensity of public sentiment on both the sides, the governments of India and Pakistan must declare a time-bound mechanism for making the road fully operational.“I hope the leadership in New Delhi and Islamabad, rising above political considerations, would act with wisdom and give a go-ahead to the opening of the road at the earliest”, Sayeed said adding that the two governments could dither on the issue only at the expense of the peace process.He also favoured opening of other road links such as Suchtegarh-Sialkote, Rawalakote-Poonch and Kargil-Skardu.
