Geelani appeals for boycott of municipal polls

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, Tuesday appealed the people to boycott upcoming municipal elections, likely to be held in April and May in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference at his uptown Hyderpora residence, Geelani said, “The government attempts to cover its human rights violations in the state with these elections. We appeal to the people to completely boycott the municipal elections for the sake of sacrifices of martyrs.”
Challenging the government to allow Hurriyat to run their anti-election campaign, he said, “If we are allowed to run the anti election campaign not more than two percent people will vote. Government puts the Hurriyat leadership under arrest and then claims that there was large percentage of voting.”
The dates for municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir are yet to be announced but the government has indicated the same will be held before the onset of summer.
Asked whether he would travel to Pakistan on the invitation to him by the Pakistani government to visit their country, the Hurriyat (G) Chairman said, “I have no passport. How can I travel?”
“Last year I had approached to court to get a passport. But I didn’t receive any communication from the passport office yet,” he added. (KMW NEWS)