The Pakistan-occupied Kashmir president has convened a conference in Islamabad to discuss “Kashmir and emergence of Hindu Extremism in India” which will be attended by controversial Independent MLA of
The Pakistan-occupied Kashmir president has convened a conference in Islamabad to discuss “Kashmir and emergence of Hindu Extremism in India” which will be attended by controversial Independent MLA of Jammu and Kashmir Sheikh Abdul Rashid even as separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani declined the invitation.
The two-day conference convened by PoK president Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan from January 20 has the theme “The Kashmir conflict: Its ramifications for Pak-India relations and peace and security of South Asia”.
“Rashid will be crossing over to Pakistan via Wagah border point for attending the conference,” his spokesman said. Geelani, who heads the Hurriyat Conference, has refused to attend the conference because the organisers have invited mainstream politicians like Rashid and CPI(M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami for the event. “Members of the advisory council feel the Hurriyat should not participate in any conference (in Pak) in which members of the (J&K) Assembly or pro-India politicians have been invited,” a spokesman said.
The spokesman said participation in any such event can have “negative effects on the Kashmir movement”.
The Hurriyat has also decided to issue show cause notices to such constituents of the amalgam who have helped in conduct of the conference without its concurrence.
Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq welcomed an invitation to him but said he would not be able to attend the conference in the absence of travel documents.
“I wish to attend the roundtable conference but unfortunately due to non-availability of travel documents, I cannot attend it,” Mirwaiz said.
