The Hindu : Geelani removed from Hurriyat executive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 25, 2003

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Geelani removed from Hurriyat executive

Srinagar May 25. In an attempt to moderate the extremist voices in the Hurriyat Conference, the Jamaat-e-Islami has removed its firebrand leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, from the executive body of the separatist amalgam.

Shiekh Ali Mohammad, who took up the Jamaat position in the executive, following Mr. Geelani's arrest last year, will be the permanent representative of the party, highly-placed sources in the 25-party conglomerate told PTI here.

The Jamaat-e-Islami chief, G.M. Bhat, recently sent a letter to the Hurriyat chairman, Abdul Gani Bhat, informing him about the party's decision to replace Mr. Geelani on the executive council, the sources said.

The move was aimed at marginalising Mr. Geelani in view of the latest thaw in Indo-Pak relations and avoiding a confrontation with the People's Conference representative in the Hurriyat, Bilal Gani Lone.

Mr. Geelani and the People's Conference have been trading charges and counter-charges without naming each other since the Jamaat leader was released from a Ranchi jail earlier this year.

However, the Jamaat chairman said the decision to replace Mr. Geelani was owing to his health condition and there was nothing more to be read between the lines. The arrangement was temporary and Mr. Geelani would resume his duties within the Hurriyat as and when his health permitted him.

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