Print

Hurriyat:ItsHistory,RoleandRelevance

HurriyatleaderSyedAliShah
Geelani
WhilethereasonforthecancellationoftalksbetweentheNationalSecurityAdvisers(NSAs)ofIndiaandPakistanwasNewDelhis
insistenceonkeepingKashmiroffthetableanddiscussingonlyterrorism,thedecisiontodisallowacustomarymeetingbetween
KashmiriseparatistleadersandPakistaniofficialsinNewDelhiaheadofthebilateralbecameakeychapterinthefiasco.
ThePakHighCommissionhadinvitedbothfactionsoftheHurriyat,JammuandKashmirLiberationFront(JKLF)chiefYasinMalik,
andShabirShahforameetingwithPakNSASartajAziz.NewDelhisnewredline,excludingtheKashmirissueandtermingthe
separatistleadershipasthethirdparty,andIslamabadsrefusaltoaccepttheseconditions,hasrefocussedattentiononthe
Hurriyat,thepoliticalplatformoftheseparatistmovementformorethantwodecadesnow.
ShareThisArticle

RelatedArticle

AmiduncertaintyoverIndoPaktalks,separatistleaderShabir
ShahleavesforDelhi

PakistaninvitetoHurriyatleadersnothingnew:Valleyreactsto
deadlockovertalks

NSAtalks:Paksayswon'ttakedictationafterIndia'sstern
warningoverseparatistsmeeting

NSAtalks:PakistaninvitesHurriyatleadersforreceptionpartyof
SartajAziz

Thetoughtalkbegins

DayafterIndiacancelledtalks,HurriyatleaderGeelanimeetsPakenvoy

ThisisthesecondtimethattalkshavebeencalledoffovertheissueofPakofficialsmeetingKashmiriseparatistleaders.New
DelhihadcalledoffaForeignSecretarylevelengagementforthisreasonlastyear.
BirthoftheHurriyat
TheAllPartiesHurriyatConference(APHC)wasformedonJuly31,1993,asapoliticalplatformoftheseparatistmovement.Itwas
anextensionoftheconglomerateofpartiesthathadcometogethertocontestAssemblypollsagainstaNationalConference
Congressalliancein1987anelectionthatwaswidelyallegedtohavebeenrigged.Theconglomerateofdisparateideologies
washeldtogetherbytheircommonpositionthatJammu&KashmirwasunderoccupationofIndia,andthecollectivedemandthat

thewishesandaspirationsofthepeopleofthestateshouldbeascertainedforafinalresolutionofthedispute.
Atatimewhenmilitancywasatitspeak,thisconglomeraterepresentedthepoliticalfaceofthemilitantmovement,andclaimedto
representthewishesandaspirationsofthepeople.Ithadbroughttogethertwoseparate,butstrongideologies:thosewhosought
J&KsindependencefrombothIndiaandPakistan,andthosewhowantedJ&KtobecomepartofPakistan.Mostofthegroupsthat
werepartoftheHurriyathadtheirmilitantwings,orwerelinkedtoamilitantoutfit.
BeforetheformationoftheAPHC,therewasanotherpoliticalplatformtheTehreekiHurriyatKashmir(THK).Itwasheadedby
theadvocateMianAbdulQayoom,andconsistedof10groups:theJamateIslami,JKLF,MuslimConference,IslamicStudents
League,MahazeAzadi,MuslimKhawateenMarkaz,KashmirBarAssociation,IttehadulMuslimeen,DukhtaraneMillatand
JamiateAhleHadees.Butthisfirstseparatistpoliticalplatformdidnothavemuchinfluence.
OnDecember27,1992,the19yearoldMirwaizUmarFarooq,whohadtakenoveraschairmanofJ&KAwamiActionCommittee
(J&KAAC)andbecometheheadpriestofKashmiraftertheassassinationofhisfatherMirwaizFarooq,calledameetingof
religious,socialandpoliticalorganisationsatMirwaizManzil.Theaimofthismeetingwastolaythefoundationofabroadalliance
ofpartiesthatwereopposedtoIndianruleinJ&K.Sevenmonthslater,theAPHCwasborn,withMirwaizUmarFarooqasitsfirst
chairman.
TheAPHCexecutivecouncilhadsevenmembersfromsevenexecutiveparties:SyedAliShahGeelaniofJamateIslami,Mirwaiz
UmarFarooqofAwamiActionCommittee,SheikhAbdulAzizofPeoplesLeague,MoulviAbbasAnsariofIttehadulMuslimeen,
ProfAbdulGaniBhatofMuslimConference,YasinMalikofJKLF,andAbdulGaniLoneofPeoplesConference.
Oftheseleaders,SheikhAzizwaskilledinpolicefiringnearSheriinBaramullainAugust2008.AbdulGaniLonewaskilledby
militantsinMay2002.
TheHurriyatalsohada21memberworkingcommittee.Thisincludedthesevenmembersoftheexecutivecouncil,plustwo
membersfromeachofthesevenparties.
Therewasalsoageneralcouncil,withmorethan23members,includingtradersbodies,employeeunions,andsocial
organisations.ThemembershipoftheexecutivecouncilcouldntbeincreasedaspertheAPHCconstitution,butthegeneralcouncil
couldaccommodatemoremembers.TheHurriyathadobserverstatusattheOrganisationofIslamicCooperation(OIC).
TheBattleWithin
BecausetheHurriyatwassuchamixedbagofideologiesandpersonalities,infightingwasanearpermanentfeature.
Disagreementsoftencameoutintheopen.
InSeptember2003,theHurriyatsplitonthequestionsofitsfuturestrategies,theroleofmilitancyintheseparatistmovement,and
dialogue.TheSyedAliShahGeelaniledgroupwasfirmthattalkswithNewDelhicouldtakeplaceonlyafterthecentral
governmentacceptedthatJ&Kwasindispute,whilethegroupledbyMirwaizwantedtalks.
Geelanihasntdepartedfromhisstancethatthestrugglewillcontinuetillcompletefreedomorareferenduminaccordancewith
UNresolutions.TheMirwaizgroupbackedformerPakistanPresidentPervezMusharrafsfourpointformulathatenvisaged
suzeraintyandajointmechanismbetweenthetwopartsofJ&K,withoutchanginganyexistingboundaries.TheMirwaizgroupalso
enteredintoadialoguedirectlywithNewDelhiduringPrimeMinisterAtalBihariVajpayeestenure,andheldtalkswiththethen
DeputyPM,LKAdvani,in2004.
TheleadersoftheMirwaizfaction,alongwithYasinMalik(whowasnolongerapartofHurriyatbythen),visitedPakistanthrough
theSrinagarMuzaffarabadroadinJune2005toholdtalkswithvariousMuzaffarabadbasedKashmiriseparatistleadersandthe
Pakistanestablishment.ThisvisitwasfacilitatedbytheVajpayeegovernment,whichhadcomeupwithSrinagarDelhi,Delhi
IslamabadandSrinagarIslamabadtracksaspartofitsKashmirpeaceprocess.
ThoughtherewerestarkideologicaldifferenceswithinthetwofactionsoftheHurriyat,thetriggerforthesplitcameonthequestion
offieldingproxycandidatesbyaHurriyatconstituent,PeoplesConference,inthe2002Assemblypolls.Geelanivehemently
criticisedthedecision,andsoughttheevictionofthepartyledbyAbdulGaniLonessons,BilalLoneandSajjadLone.
OnSeptember7,2003,theGeelanifactionremovedthethenHurriyatchairman,AbbasAnsari,andreplacedhimwithMasarat
Alamasinterimchief.Theyalsosuspendedthesevenmemberexecutivecouncil,andsetupafivemembercommitteetoreview

theHurriyatconstitution.
GeelanialsolefttheJamaateIslami,andformedhisownparty,theTehreekeHurriyatJammuandKashmir,inAugust2004.
TheMirwaizfactionsplitin2014,whenfourofitsleadersDemocraticFreedomPartypresidentShabirAhmadShah,National
FrontchairmanNayeemAhmadKhan,MahazeAzadichiefMohammadAzamInqlabiandIslamicPoliticalPartychiefMohammad
YousufNaqashleft.
TheHurriyatConstitution
TheAPHCconstitution,describesitasaunionofpolitical,socialandreligiouspartiesofthestateofJammuandKashmir,setupto:
*WageapeacefulstruggletosecureforthepeopleofJammuandKashmirinaccordancewiththeUNcharterandtheresolutions
adoptedbytheUNSecurityCouncil,theexerciseoftherighttoselfdetermination,whichshallincludetherighttoindependence.
*MakeendeavoursforanalternativenegotiatedsettlementoftheKashmirdisputeamongstallthethreepartiestothedispute
India,PakistanandpeopleoftheJammuandKashmirundertheauspicesoftheUNoranyotherfriendlycountry,providedthat
suchsettlementreflectsthewillofthepeople.
*Projecttheongoingstruggleinthestatebeforenationsandgovernmentsoftheworldinitsproperperspective,asbeinga
struggledirectedagainsttheforcibleandfraudulentoccupationofthestatebyIndia.
RelevanceofSeparatists
TheseparatistleadershipacrosstheideologicaldividerepresentsamajorpoliticalconstituencyinJ&K,whichwilllikelyremain
relevantforaslongastheissueisnotresolved.Thispoliticalrealityonthegroundcanbeunderstoodbylookingatthepublic
politicalagendasofthetwomajorproIndiapoliticalgroupstherulingPeoplesDemocraticPartyandtheoppositionNational
Conference.ThesetwopartiessharethesupportofthelargestchunkoftheelectoratethattakespartinAssemblyandLokSabha
elections.WhiletheNCseeksautonomyandareturntothe1953positionwhereNewDelhihadauthorityonlyoverDefence,
CommunicationsandForeignAffairs,thePDPsdeclaredpoliticalagendahasbeenselfrule,whereintheyseekautonomy,plusa
jointmechanismbetweentwopartsofJ&KtoturntheregionintoafusionofIndiaandPakistan.
Thesepoliticalagendas,whicharewidelypublicisedduringelectioncampaigns,borderonseparatistpolitics.Thereis,infact,very
littledifferencebetweenthelargerpoliticalframeworkfortheresolutionoftheKashmirissuethatispubliclyenvisagedbythe
MirwaizfactionandthePDP.ThedifferenceisthattheMirwaizgrouphasnotagreedtojointheelectoralbattlepriortoasolution.
ItisobviousthatifthetwomajorproIndiapoliticalgroupsseekvotesforanagendathatseeksdifferentdegreesofseparationfrom
theIndianUnion,theseparatistpoliticaldiscourseremainsrelevant.Besides,thereisaninherentflawinanassessmentthatseeks
tojudgetherelevanceofseparatistleadersbythesameyardstickthatisappliedtoleadersparticipatinginelectoralpolitics.
Theseparatistsarerelevantbecauseofasentiment,whichisnotvotedoninanyelection.Theotherreasonwhytheyremain
relevantistheirutilitytothestateattimesofcrises.WhenKashmirwasupinarmsduringthepublicagitationsfrom200810,New
Delhisenthighleveldelegationstospeaktotheseparatistsinabidtocalmtempers.
ThefactthatPakistanconsiderstheseparatistsasrepresentativesofthepeopleisalsoanimportantreasontothinkofthemas
relevantontheground.
PAKCONNECTION
NewDelhidrewtheredlineonIslamabadtalkingtotheHurriyatinAugust2014,andreiterateditspositionthismonth.However,
PakistaniofficialshavebeentalkingtotheseparatistsaroundthetimeofIndiaPakdialoguesfor20yearsnowMAY1995:
PakistansPresidentFarooqAhmadLegharimetseparatistleadersinNewDelhiwhenhecametoattendtheSAARCmeeting.It
wasLeghariwhobeganthetraditionofmeetingtheseparatists.
JULY2001:GeneralPervezMusharrafmetseparatistleadersinNewDelhibeforetheAgrasummitwithPrimeMinisterAtalBihari
Vajpayee
APRIL2005:PresidentPervezMusharrafagainmetseparatistleadersfromKashmirinNewDelhi

APRIL2007:PrimeMinisterShaukatAzizmetseparatistleadersatPakistanHouseonhisvisittoNewDelhi.AzizvisitedIndiaas
headofSAARC,andalsohadaseparatemeetingwithPrimeministerManmohanSingh.
JULY2011:PakistansForeignMinisterHinaRabbaniKharmetdelegationsledbyHurriyatleadersSyedAliShahGeelaniand
MirwaizUmarFarooqatthePakistanHighCommission.KharwasonavisittoNewDelhitomeetherIndiancounterpartSM
Krishna
NOVEMBER2013:PrimeMinisterNawazSharifsAdvisoronSecurityandForeignAffairsSartajAzizmetwithKashmiriseparatist
leadersatthePakistanHighCommission
TheHurriyatTopThree
SyedAliShahGeelani
Veteranhardlinerfaceschallengefromaharderline
TheoctogenarianGeelaniisthemostprominentpublicfaceoftheseparatiststruggleinKashmir.Geelaniwasaprimaryschool
teacheremployedbytheJ&KeducationdepartmentwhenhebecameamemberofJamateIslamiin1959.Thirteenyearslater,he
contestedthe1972AssemblyelectionsfromhishomeconstituencySopore,andwon.HewasreelectedtotheAssemblyin1977
asaJamateIslamicandidate.
In1987,GeelaniwasinstrumentalinbringingtogethertheJamateIslamiandseveralothersocialandreligiousoutfitsinthe
MuslimUnitedFront,whichfoughttheelections.Itiswidelybelievedthattheelectionsweremassivelyriggedandtriggeredarmed
militancyinKashmir,Geelanimanagedtowinforthethirdtime.
Afterthearmedresistancebeganin1989,GeelaniresignedfromtheAssemblyandtookaleadroleinseparatistpolitics.Whenthe
Hurriyatwasformed,hebecameitsmember,andlateritschairman.
In2002,whenMuftiMohammadSayeedbecameChiefMinister,Geelaniwasinjail.Onhisrelease,heaccusedPeoples
ConferenceleaderSajjadLoneoffieldingproxycandidatesintheAssemblyelections,andcalledforhisexpulsionfromthe
Hurriyat.WhentheHurriyatdidntaccepthisdemand,Geelanibrokeawayandformedhisownfaction.Afewmonthslater,he
divorcedtheJamaateIslami,hisorganisationfor45years,toformtheTehreekeHurriyat.
ThoughanardentsupporterofPakistan,GeelanivehementlyopposedPresidentMusharrafsfourpointformulaforresolutionofthe
Kashmirissue,callingitsurrender.Atthattime,theMirwaizfactionwasfavouredbybothIndiaandPakistan,whogaveitthe
centralroleinKashmir.By2008,however,theHurriyatmoderatesweremarginalised,astheyfailedtodeliverontheground.
Aheartpatientwholivesonapacemakerandamalignantkidney,Geelanistartedtoreemergeasanimportantleaderin2008,
whenhelaunchedanagitationopposingthetransferofgovernmentlandtotheAmarnathshrineboard.Theagitationwasrepeated
in2010.
GeelanisstrengthisseeninhissuccessfulmixofaconsistentanduncompromisingpoliticalstanceonKashmirandorganised
streetresistance.WithhisJamaatbackground,religionisanimportantpartofGeelanisworldviewandpolitics.Healsoenjoys
substantialinfluenceoverthemilitantmovement.
Forthefirsttimeindecades,itnowseemsGeelanisauthorityhascomeintoquestionfromthenewbreedofmilitantswithmore
hardlineviews.GeelanihasbeenpubliclycriticaloftheISISanditsmethods,andhasquestionedthewisdombehindagroupof
KashmiriyouthsraisingDaeshflagsduringprotestsinSrinagar.GeelanihadearlieropposedtheentryofalQaedaintoKashmir.
MirwaizUmarFarooq
ChiefclericofKashmirprefersnegotiations
Kashmirsheadpriestcarriesagreatdealofweightonhisyoungshoulders.TheheadpreacherofJamiaMasjid,Srinagar,Umar
wasanointedtheheadoftheAwamiActionCommittee(AAC),aconstituentoftheHurriyat,atjust17,aftertheassassinationofhis
father,MirwaizMohammadFarooq,inMay1991.Consideredamoderate,UmarfavoursresolutionoftheKashmirissuethrough
peacefulnegotiations.Thoughhehasneverdenouncedthearmedstruggle,hemaintainsasafedistancefrommilitantgroups.
ThoughtheAACwasonceconsideredproPakistan,Umarhaspreferredtoremainnoncommittalonwhetherhesupports
accessiontoPakistanorindependence.

YasinMalik
Militantcommanderturnednonviolentactivist
FromatopcommanderandpioneerofthemilitantmovementinKashmir,YasinMalikhascomealongway.Hegaveuparmsand
decidedtofollowthepathofnonviolenceastheonlymeansofstruggle.
YasinMalikwasoneamongtheseveralKashmiriyouthwhocrossedtoPakistaninthelate80sforarmstraining.Infact,hewas
oneamongfourareacommanders,theothersbeingHamidSheikh,AshfaqAjidandJavidMir.TheHAJYgroup,asitwasknown,
wasallegedlytorturedinpolicecustodyforitssupporttoMuslimUnitedFront(MUF)candidateMohammadYousufShahinthe
1987elections.MohammadYousufShah,ofcourse,isnowbetterknownasSyedSalahuddin,chiefoftheHizbulMujahideen.
Maliksstintasamilitantwasshortlivedin1991,hewasarrestedandjailedforthreeandahalfyears.
AfterhisreleaseonMay17,1994,Malikchangedhiswaysandbecameanardentadvocateofnonviolence.Heisnowinfavourof
anegotiatedsettlementoftheKashmirissue,butnotuntilKashmirisgetaplaceontheIndoPakbilateraltable.

Copyright2015TheIndianExpress[P]Ltd.AllRightsReserved