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Journalism of Courage
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today said the ‘‘enemies within’’ have killed Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone. He was speaking at an emotionally charged mourning ceremony where Abdul Gani Lone’s elder son Bilal was made president of the five-member supreme council of People’s Conference. Yesterday, Lone’s younger son Sajad took over the reins of the People’s Conference.
Avoiding to blame militants, he termed Lone’s assassination as a conspiracy to weaken Hurriyat and movement. ‘‘There are some, within us, who have nothing to do with freedom of Kashmir or Pakistan and have repeated their nefarious acts,’’ said Mirwaiz, who is founder-chairman of the Hurriyat Conference. Mirwaiz took over the reins of political leadership after his father Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq was assassinated in 1990.
‘‘Exactly 12 years ago on May 21, Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq was snatched away from us. It was the beginning of the movement and today when it had entered a decisive phase, Abdul Gani Lone was killed on May 21,’’ he said.
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Three killed in Valley
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SRINAGAR: Three persons were killed in separate incidents across the Valley since Thursday, police said. Three security personnel were also injured in an IED attack carried out by militants as well. One militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Nowpora Kulgam. (ENS) |
It was an emotional moment when Bilal broke down while being crowned by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. It was also a surprise for many a mourners, mostly from Lone’s ancestral Kupwara district, who had heard Sajad Lone say ‘‘Pakistan, ISI and Geelani are responsible’’ for the killing of his father on Tuesday. Sajad, the new People’s Conference chairman ate his words and said the allegations were an ‘‘emotional outburst’’.
Addressing the gathering, Geelani said he had a 50-year-long association and they had had their share of disagreements. Geelani said the ‘‘rigged’’ elections of 1987 was the reason behind emergence of armed rebellion in Kashmir. ‘‘Armed movement in Kashmir is the creation of India. They pushed us to the wall. We are a peace-loving people and not war-mongers. It has been thrusted upon us,’’ said Geelani.
Ridiculing the economic package announced by PM yesterday, Geelani said the people of Kashmir had not made sacrifices for any economic package. ‘‘It is the Kashmir issue which has taken India and Pakistan to verge of war. War is no solution. We wish India and Pakistan remain good friends but it is only possible when Kashmir issues is resolved,’’ he said.
