The Jammu And Kashmir Liberation Front on Wednesday began its statewide signature campaign, to gauge public opinion on the recent Indo-Pakistan peace talks, at Kokernag in south Kashmir's Anantnag district

They collected nearly 9,000 signatures on the opening day. 

Led by chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik, an executive member of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference, a team of senior JKLF leaders began the campaign from Zalangam in Kokernag area, meeting thousands of people and obtaining their opinion on a format.

Respondents were asked to decide if they favoured the active involvement of Kashmiris in the expected dialogue between India and Pakistan, JKLF spokesman Tahir Ahmad Mir said.

He said the team, which also included senior vice president Bashir Ahmad Bhat and Javid Ahmad Mir, Shoukat Ahmad Bakshi, Noor Mohammad Kalwal and Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, visited the Larnu Daksum, Wuyal, Sofshali, Bhindu, Wanigam, Nobu and Kokernag town besides Zalangam.

He said the signature campaign, which would continue in the district for next eight days, will be launched in other districts from tomorrow.

Asked about the significance of starting the campaign from south Kashmir, the spokesman said the district witnessed 'minimal Hurriyat or JKLF activity' in the recent past. "It will be a testing ground for the campaign and the response so far has been encouraging," he added.