The People's Democratic Party (PDP), the main Opposition party in Jammu and Kashmir, has decided to support a resolution in the Assembly favouring clemency for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

"The heavens would not fall if the resolution is passed. We want the capital punishment to be relaxed into life-imprisonment," PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly would discuss and put to vote an extraordinary resolution moved by independent legislator Sheikh Abdur Rashid on September 28. The resolution that seeks clemency for the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, has triggered a political debate in the State. While ruling coalition parties National Conference and Congress are unclear on their response to the resolution, the PDP on Friday declared that its legislators would favour the resolution.

"We have been consistently voicing against capital punishment. For several years, since the capital punishment was awarded to Afzal Guru, we have been protesting against it and sought clemency. When the Home Ministry approached the President to reject the mercy petition of Afzal Guru, we again objected to it," Mehbooba said.

The PDP chief drew parallels between Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution in favour of the convicts on death row in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and the Parliament attack convict. "Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was no less a symbol than Parliament. When a resolution was passed in favour of his assassin Nalini, what is the problem if a similar resolution is passed in favour of Afzal Guru. I don't think heavens are going to fall," she said.

The controversy over Afzal Guru's hanging erupted earlier this month when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah commented on Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution questioning as to whether the response would have been similar if the same resolution was passed in J&K Assembly in favour of Afzal Guru. Replying to the query himself, the Chief Minister doubted on microblogging site Twitter that the response would not have been the same. The Chief Minister came under attack from Opposition BJP for commenting on such a sensitive matter.

Soon after the Chief Minister's comments, Rashid moved a resolution, which was selected through draw of lots for discussion in the forthcoming Autumn Session of the Assembly starting September 26. Sources said that the Congress is likely to abstain from voting after taking part in the discussions.