Mirwaiz’s offer to forgo int’l mediation against APHC constitution: Geelani

Srinagar: Citing the APHC’s 1993 constitution, the Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference Wednesday said the chairman of the parallel Hurriyat faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had gone overboard with his offer to forgo international mediation on Kashmir 

According to spokesman Ayaz Akbar, during a meeting of its advisory council today, the Geelani-led Hurriyat discussed threadbare the Mirwaiz’s recent statement at the 19th Annual Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at Geneva, Switzerland, wherein he had said the “APHC is willing to forgo international facilitation provided both the governments of India and Pakistan agree that the APHC leadership will be fully associated with the peace process at a later stage.”
“Although we have decided to abstain from any sort of rhetoric leading to confrontation, putting forth our stand on this issue was imperative in order to inform the nation and the international community about our reservations regarding this stand( of Mirwaiz Umar),” the Geelani-led Hurriyat said.
The meeting termed the statement of Mirwaiz Umar “beyond the Hurriyat constitution,”
saying UN resolutions formed the basis for the resolution of Kashmir issue and the international status of Kashmir issue gave justification and credibility to the struggle of Kashmiris.
“India has been trying to present the Kashmir issue as a bilateral issue between herself and Pakistan, and dropping the demand for international mediation will cause immense harm to the cause of Kashmiris and could also undermine the immense sacrifices offered by Kashmiris ,” the Hurriyat faction said.
Addressing the meeting , Geelani said at the time Hurriyat Conference was formed in 1993 and its constitution framed it was made amply clear that the “UN resolutions provided the best democratic and implementable solution to the Kashmir issue and the APHC would take forward its struggle on the basis of right to self determination .”
“The Hurriyat constitution also states that if the implementation of UN resolutions calls for tri-lateral talks these would be held under the supervision of United Nations or some friendly country ,” Geelani said.
He said the Hurriyat Conference was the “guardian” of Kashmiris’ sacrifices and represented their wishes and aspirations. “Therefore, it is our responsibility that we protect the freedom movement and express our reservations regarding decisions which could harm it,” he said.
Geelani said there was no question of “having any personal grudge against anybody.”
“We respect everyone but as far as the collective cause of the nation is concerned it is important that we put forth our stand so that there is no confusion among people,” he said.
Geelani said any attempt to put the Kashmir issue in cold storage will add to the political uncertainty in South Asia and cause more loss of human life.” (KMW NEWS)