Srinagar, 12 June (H.S.): National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today urged the United Nations Human Rights Commission to visit Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and investigate reports of hardships faced by people in the region.

Abdullah told reporters here that the world should know about the difficulties being faced

by residents there and called for an international assessment of the situation.

On the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the NC Chief said there was no real stability in the region.

The stability would come only when the aspirations and dignity of the people are respected and maintained that the condition under which Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India should be revisited, he said.

Abdullah attributed the prevailing instability to what he termed the neglect of the region.

Responding to criticism that the National Conference Government has failed to address people's grievances, the NC Chief said the elected Government was working under constraints as most power rested with the Lieutenant Governor.

The people have elected a Government and the elected Government should have the powers, not the Lieutenant Governor, he added.

The NC Chief said his party would continue its constitutional struggle for restoration of rights and identity and asserted that it would not remain silent on the issue.

On the demand for restoration of Statehood, he said political unity was the need of the hour maintained that all parties should come together on the issue. As far as Statehood is concerned, we are all united, he added.

Asked whether Jammu and Kashmir would regain the identity it had lost after the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah said, I am not God. Only Allah knows it and the people who are in power in Delhi.

He, however, asserted that the National Conference would continue its struggle for the restoration of the region's rights.

We are already fighting. We are not silent. We will continue to fight. Constitutionally, we have the right to protest for what they have taken from us, he said.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar