Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was elected unopposed as chairman of the parliament's Special Committee on Kashmir on Tuesday.In the committee's first meeting, convened exclusively for electing its chairman, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) member Aftab Hussain Jilani proposed Fazl's name, which was seconded by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief whip in the National Assembly Sheikh Aftab Ahmed.
Fazl is currently in Saudi Arabia to perform umra.
The members of the committee suggested that the Secretariat should prepare suitable material on Kashmir for dissemination among the masses to highlight the Kashmir cause.
Labour Minister Khursheed Shah informed the meeting about the PPP-led government's resolve very serious on the Kashmir issue. In his meeting with Nawaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari had vowed to give top priority to the issue, Shah added.
Later, the labour minister told reporters that the Kashmir Committee would make every effort to find a solution to the Kashmir dispute and hold a detailed discussion on the issue in parliament. Shah said that some members had expressed their concern over the reported ban imposed by the United Kingdom on Fazl travelling to the UK.
Election for chairpersons of two more standing committees -- the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Water and Power -- will be held on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani congratulated Fazl on becoming the chairman of the Kashmir Committee.
In his message, the prime minister hoped that Fazl would be a great source of inspiration for the Kashmiri people and would benefit their cause.