Octogenarian Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, known for his hardline stance on dialogue process and engagement with New Delhi, on Monday appointed his long-term aide Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai to lead his party Tahreek-e-Hurriyat Kashmir (THK), a constituent of a faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Geelani. This is seen as important step in drawing curtains on Geelani’s political career spanning more than half a century, which saw him elected as member of the legislative Assembly for 15 years before quitting the electoral politics and joining separatist campaign in Jammu and Kashmir.
Observers say that Geelani’s departure from active politics would have far-reaching impact on the politics of Kashmir. The 89-year-old leader has been continuously put under house arrest for the past 8 years. He has rarely been allowed to move out of his house in uptowan Hyderpora locality that remains under round-the-clock security vigil. Geelani is not keeping well for the past several years. His one kidney has been removed and has underwent heart by-pass surgeries.
The decision to appoint Sehrai as the interim leader of THK was taken in an extraordinary meeting of the party’s highest decision making body or Majlis-e-Shoora here. “Sehrai will take over as the interim Chairman till the elections are held later this year,” a spokesman of the party said.
The spokesman lamented that the state authorities has gagged political activities and THK workers have specially been targeted.
“Gagging the political environment, jailing the entire man force of the organisation and judicial onslaught on our workers has left us with no other option than to fight back with more will and vigor. Neither the mission of TeH is alien nor is the path chosen to achieve it unique. Everywhere and anywhere suppressed and oppressed nations struggle and strive to get rid of forceful occupation. We all have chosen this rough and torturous path willfully and wishfully and every testing endeavour makes our resolve hard and strong,” he was quoted as saying.
Referring to his perpetual house-arrest, Geelani said that he was not able to contribute to the party’s activities. “Merely holding a position without practical contribution is injustice not only with the post but to the conscience as well. So, today I willfully step-down from the chairmanship and advise the shoora to arrange an alternative at the earliest,” he said.
later, the Shura unanimously appointed Sehrai as interim chairman.
Sehrai is Geelani’s long-term aide. Both parted ways from their parent organization Jamaat-e-Islami in 2003 under an agreement to float Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, close on the heels of Hurriyat Conference’s split in 2003. Geelani parted ways from Hurriyat Conference saying that several leaders of the grouping tacitly supported Assembly elections in 2002.