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Srinagar: Asserting that by visiting the valley the Prime Minister had struck an emotional chord with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed on April 24 said he was "looking forward" to a breakthrough in the resolution of the long-standing dispute.

By saying that he had came to share the sorrow of the people, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has established an emotional chord with the people of the state, Sayeed said while paying condolences and handing ex-gratia to relatives of those killed in a blast in Tral area of South Kashmir on April 23.

"From the soil of Kashmir, he (Vajpayee) extended the hand of friendship to Pakistan and called upon all groups to join the process of dialogue to restore lasting peace in the state. With this positive development, we are looking forward for a breakthrough and there is no reason for targetting poor and innocent people," he said.

Addressing a group of people in Gulshanpora, where six persons were killed on April 23, Sayeed said those who are on a killing spree have no reason to indulge in such acts.

He appealed to the people to counsel those indulging in such acts of violence to desist from leaving a trail of unending miseries and agony for the victims of militancy.

The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma and Minister of State for Education Syed Bashir Ahmad, said time has come when people must put pressure on such misled elements and help bring an end to the violence.

PTI