Jammu, Jan 5 (IANS) Stressing that he was relentlessly pursuing the lifting of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas in the state, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday said consultations were on with the central government on the issue.

Abdullah, who had announced at a function in October last that the AFSPA would be lifted from some parts of Jammu and Kashmir within the next few days, told reporters on the sidelines of a function here that the “issue is being pursued with the centre and the talks are also being held at the state level”.

The Indian Army and defence ministry have said that any such move would weaken the security network in Jammu and Kashmir and could result in “creation of sanctuaries for terrorists”.

Regarding the recent incident of firing in which a protester, Altaf Ahmad was killed in Baramulla district, Abdullah said a magisterial probe has been ordered. “We are waiting for the report on the basis of which law will takes its course.”

He denied that he was opening a door of confrontation with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) allegedly involved in the firing incident in which a youth protesting against shortage of power in the Valley was shot.

“No. I am not for any confrontation with CISF,” he said.

During his visit Tuesday to Boniyar village where the incident occurred, the chief minister had blamed CISF for “using excessive force”. He had also described the death of the protester as “murder”.