Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is heading a faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, has dissolved all its positions and administrative structure, taking complete “administrative control.” The development came at an extraordinary meeting of the Hurriyat executive council, which was supposed to deliberate on New Delhi’s offer of quiet dialogue. The meeting, chaired by the Mirwaiz himself, did not discuss the issue, but dissolved all the administrative positions and banned members of the general or executive council from issuing personal statements.
The Mirwaiz told The Hindu that the administrative set-up was dissolved to streamline things. “It is part of the usual restructuring and organisational process.” The meeting, attended by all executive members, “only discussed the restructuring of the conglomerate.”
Apparently irked by the anti-dialogue statements issued by some members, the Mirwaiz said these created confusion in the minds of the people. “The Hurriyat cannot tolerate any indiscipline. All the members have been asked not to issue any personal statements. Everything will come out from the platform,” he said, warning of action against those violating the directive. The Mirwaiz said the general and executive councils remained intact. The Hurriyat would meet soon after Eid-ul-Azha to decide on the future course of action and the organisational structure.
“The controversial statements and parallel processes are not only violating the constitution but also harming our movement and cause. Individuals cannot hold the Hurriyat hostage,” he said.
As for the dialogue, the Mirwaiz said: “We are yet to decide on that, and a visit to Pakistan has not been decided. We will discuss that after Eid.” He reiterated that the Hurriyat was not against the dialogue, but “we have to discuss things before we go ahead with it.”
On his proposed visit to China, and the controversy over visa, he said: “I will do what everyone is doing.”
