The Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees on Sunday sought an all-party meeting to formulate a “decisive line of action” to unearth the “conspiracy” behind the killing of its chief Maulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah, while declining to support protests or shutdown so as to “give a message of peace.”
“We are placing it before the entire society and every political party on Wednesday...and a decisive line of action will be drawn and implemented in due course of time,” Jamiat general secretary Abdul Rehman Bhat told journalists at the residence of Shah.
Shah, who headed the puritanical Islamic group and was considered a liberal voice, was killed on Friday last when an explosive device planted on a bicycle went off outside a mosque in Srinagar.
“We want to unearth the conspiracy and the person...We would like the facts to come to light,” Mr. Bhat, who was accompanied by the group's acting president Ghulam Rasool Malik, said.
Sword of peace
Earlier, Mr. Malik said the group would remain on its “peaceful course despite this grave provocation.”
“We want to give a message of peace not only to the people of Kashmir, but to the entire world, and today we have given a practical example of peace,” Mr. Malik said.
He said there would be no street protest or shutdown calls by the group, but warned the “people in the power” not to take them for granted.
“By the sword of peace, we will destroy these killers,” Mr. Malik said while addressing his followers.
He said they did not suspect any group or individual in particular but whichever group was involved in the killing would not be forgiven.
Mr. Malik also appealed to civil society, human rights organisations, State administration as well as religious and political organisations to “expose” the conspiracy behind the killing.
Shutdown called
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik called a shutdown to protest the killing.
Visits family
People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday called on the bereaved family. She consoled Moulvi Shah's mother, wife and children.
Voice of moderation
The PDP president said the killing of the Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees head deprived Kashmir of a highly respected voice of moderation and religious knowledge.
She asked the government to probe the murder and bring to book all those involved.
