Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 9: Three senior separatist leaders, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Agha Syed Hassan Al Moosvi Al Safvi, today joined the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
The formal announcement of joining Geelani’s faction by the trio was made here in a press conference at Hyderpora today. Speculations were rife that Shah and Nayeem would join the Geelani’s faction as Pakistan had started pressurizing separatists to gather around 86-year old Geelani since March this year.
The three separatists who joined hands with Geelani were earlier part of the Hurriyat faction headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Shah and Nayeem joined the Mirwaiz’s Hurriyat in 2008 but left the amalgam after they developed serious differences with the functioning of the conglomerate in 2013.
Nayeem Khan, who is also chairman of National Front, termed the decision to join Geelani’s amalgam “historic”. “Today is a big day. The historical resistance forces and righteous leaders are present before you,” he said, “Our culture and Islamic identity is being threatened. There is aggression from the other side. And, who else other than Geelani can represent us in rightful manner,” Khan continued.
Khan said that the efforts to unite the separatists were started in 2008 and last year they started deliberations with Geelani over the unity. He said that the “unity of separatists was the long pending wish and demand” of the people and invited other separatists to become the part of “joint platform” led by Geelani. “Let’s all join hands against the Indian aggression,” he said in an apparent reference towards Mirwaiz and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik.
Agha Hassan this year wrote a letter to Mirwaiz and expressed dismay over the amalgam’s working and announced his separation from the Hurriyat. Hassan, who also heads Anjuman-e-Shar-e-Shia, said: “In the larger interest of nation and freedom movement, I announce my participation in the form led by Geelani.”
Shabir Shah, who is the chairman of Democratic Freedom Party, said that the earlier efforts unite to the separatists were hampered by arrests in 2010. Shah credited Geelani and his team for their participation in the amalgam. “We will have to try to carry on this movement by joining our hearts, minds and hands,” he said. The separatist leader said that it was the wish of the people and friends across the world that they should unite the leadership of Geelani.
He said that they are not enemies of India or its people. “Our fight is against the Government of India and not its people,” he said. He praised Pakistan for its stand vis-à-vis Kashmir and said the country is “well-wisher” of the Valley.
The octogenarian Geelani, who was sidelined by former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf during his tenure, welcomed the three separatists and said that those who are ready to accept his amalgam’s unity charter can join the conglomerate. He said that these people (Shah, Nayeem and Agha Hassan) were also earlier with them “but now they are formally with us”.
Geelani slammed mainstream political parties including National Conference, People’s Democratic Party and People’s Conference and called them “enemies” of Kashmiri people. The Hurriyat chairman, who recently supported a shutdown call of traders seeking rehabilitation package from Central Government, said: “The development and other perks are secondary for us. Our first preference is ‘freedom’.”
The pro-Pakistan separatist said that their “fight” is not against any country, sect, religion or community. “We are for brotherhood on the basis of humanity. Our fight is not against anyone but the Government of India,” he said. Geelani called on Pakistan government to ensure the safety and equal rights for country’s Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Ahmadis.
Asking Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led Government to lift restrictions around separatists, he said: “Imprisoning us and shrinking our political space will have serious consequences. You can’t imprison us like this. Allow us to carry our religious and political activities.”
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