Islamabad: Opposition parties in Pakistan today (Oct 26, 2004) slammed President Pervez Musharraf's new proposals on solving the Kashmir problem, saying it was a "betrayal of the cause," and a "roll back" of the country's policy on the issue.

Musharraf last night (Oct 25, 2004) took the whole country by surprise when he said that plebiscite was not a solution to the Kashmir problem and suggested that India and Pakistan consider the option of identifying some "regions" of Kashmir on both sides of LoC (Line of Control), demilitarise them and grant them the status of independence or joint control or under UN mandate.

Reacting strongly, the alliance of six Islamic parties, Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA), said that the plan was a "betrayal" of the Kashmir cause.

"It is a roll back. What we have been told about our Kashmir policy is something different and above all no one was taken into confidence on such important decision," Senior MMA leader and Vice President of the Jamat Ulema Islami (JUI), Hafeez Hussain Ahmad said.

"When Prime Minister and Kashmir Committee of the Parliament are there then there is no need to announce the options unilaterally," he was quoted by the local daily 'The Nation' today as saying.

"Whatever the ideas, he should have put them forward in Parliament," he said.

Former Premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) described the plan as "an insult to the struggling people of Kashmir" and said, "The options emanating from a dictator are in an individual capacity."

PPP spokesman Senator Faratullah Babar said, "Gen Musharraf cannot impose any solution behind the back of Kashmiris and over Parliament."

The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), founded by deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said Musharraf's suggestion was impractical and would be unacceptable to Kashmiris and even to India.

"I think things are moving in this direction ever since Indo-Pak joint statement of January 6. But I doubt whether Kashmiris or even Indians would accept these solutions," senior PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq said.

"Above all, these seem to be General's personal ideas as they were never discussed in the Parliament and never debated by the public," he said.

While floating the plan at an Iftar dinner last night, Musharraf had said that Pakistan wanted plebiscite in Kashmir while "they (Indians) want the LoC to be made a permanent border and if both sides continue to stick to their stand, the dispute will persist for a 100 years without any solution."

He said by reading and listening to the views of people and experts he would judge what solution the masses desired.

This, Musharraf said, was a way to achieve consensus on the issue. After the proposal was debated in Pakistan he would take it up along with other options with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he added.