Jama’at to elect `sincere, determined’ leadership
By:Yasir,rajdeep
Srinagar, July 26: The chairman of the breakaway faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, today deferred till August 5 his decision to launch his own party, the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir, after he was assured of elections to elect the new leadership for the Jama’at-e-Islami. Hundreds of Jama’at activists met the senior leader at his residence to hold out the assurance and to persuade him to put his decision on hold. Geelani also called off the press conference he had called to make the momentous announcement of the party launch.
Following the stand taken by Jama’at-e-Islami not to join the rebel faction of the separatist conglomerate, Geelani had eventually decided to float his own party named Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir, and called a press conference today to make the formal announcement. All the arrangements for the purpose had been finalised and some 3,000 pamphlets were ready for distribution among the supporters. The membership forms for those likely to enroll with the new outfit had also been kept ready.
However, reports said, hundreds of Jama’at-e-Islami activists assembled at the Hyderpora residence of the party veteran this morning to tell him of the renewed efforts by the party rank and file to save it from split by electing a “determined and sincere leadership”. On the persistent demand of the members, Geelani not reserved his decision to launch his party but called off his scheduled press conference as well.
Reports said at the instance of the Jama’at activists, a public meeting was held at Hyderpora led by prominent separatist leader, Sadullah Tantray in which hundreds of party members and sympathisers participated enthusiastically. Apart from Geelani, several leaders, including advocate Qazi Ahadullah, Muhammad Ramzan Faheem, Ghulam Hasan Dar and Muhammad Abdullah Sheikh addressed the gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, Qazi Ahadullah, minced no words to accuse the present leadership of the party of contradictions between its precepts and practices which had dismayedand confused not only the rank and file of the organisation but the common people as well. He lauded Geelani’s role in the struggle to establish an a system based on the religion. Speakers accused the present leadership of reneging from its basic principles which had left its cadres confused and disappointed. They announced their support for Geelani. Qazi said a meeting of senior leaders which went deep into the night felt a revolt was simmering against the party leadership at various levels, including the districts and tehsils. He said Geelani was persuaded to defer his decision in the ineterest of preventing a split in the organisation. He urged Geelani to call a meeting of the the party members and the decision taken in that should be acceptable to all.
Addressing the gathering, Faheem said Jama’at-e-Islami alone would have to spearhead the freedom movement of Jammu and Kashmir for whose leadership Geelani was most suited.