Hurriyat factions may launch ‘JCF’
Geelani faction to deliberate today, Hurriyat (M) welcomes move

SRINAGAR June 15: Factions of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq may form a joint strategy against the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which has been in news for past many months in connection with the alleged illegal land acquisitions at Various places across Kashmir, sources said on Sunday. They added the possibility of setting up a “Joint Consultative Forum (JCF)” comprising members of separatist groups, lawyers, academics, representatives from industry and civil society will be discussed during a consultative session, which the Hurriyat (G) has convened on Monday.

Senior counsel and former Bar President, Mian Qayoom confirmed to Rising Kashmir that the possibility of launching a joint effort against SASB would be discussed in Monday’s meeting in which he would participate as the special invitee. “We will also be discussing if there is any such arrangement with Hurriyat (M), but I can be clear about it only after the meeting on Monday concludes.”

For his long association with the separatist politics and legal acumen, Qayoom, according to sources, is likely to be appointed as head of the proposed committee.

Pertinently Qayoom was actively involved in Itehaadi Force, an adhoc body set up in 2004 to forge unity among the embittered factions of Hurriyat Conference. The body was dissolved after the factions refused to bury hatchet and stuck to their respective claims.

Meanwhile Hurriyat (M) has also convened a special session on Monday to devise strategy against the SASB’s land acquisition agenda.

Senior leader of the faction, Shabir A Shah told Rising Kashmir that Hurriyat (M) was open to any kind of joint effort against “this burning issue”.

“We are already sharing the ideology of self-determination and issue of common concern. This (land transfer) issue is most crucial and concerns us all. If we launch a joint movement against the land transfer to SASB we shall be able to make this movement against the civilizational onslaught even more productive. I as a constituent of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz sahib personally welcome it.”

Sources said that the terms of reference and other mandatory details about the proposed front are yet to be finalized however and tentative unity between the contending factions of Hurriyat Conference is actively being considered in connection with the agitation against the SASB issue. However the forum is learnt to function as a civil society back up for the political resistance against the land transfer issues, which evoke public outcry.