The moderate wing of the Hurriyat Party held its first meeting on Tuesday since the abolition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by top leaders of the Hurriyat Conference. Senior leaders including Liberal Party members Abdul Ghani Butt and Bilal Ghani Long attended the meeting chaired by moderate chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq.
After the abrogation of Article 370, a new National Conference government was formed in Jammu and Kashmir. This meeting of the Hurriyat Party is considered very important in the changing political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. Events and meetings of Liberal leaders have continued across the state since last year. It is understood that the splinter camp may take the path of change. However, the Liberal leader made no official statement following the meeting.
Mirwaiz posted a video on X
Mirwaiz posted a video of the meeting, which took place at his residence, on social media account “X”. He wrote in the article: “Alhamdulillah! After more than five years, I had the opportunity to sit with my dear colleagues Professor Sahib, Bilal Sahib and Masroor Sahib. It was an emotional experience to feel the absence of colleagues who were not incarcerated .but it is good to see that dear Prof. Saheb is in good health at this age.
Since 2018, the central government has continued to take action against separatist organizations and their leaders in Jammu and Kashmir and banned their political activities. Many leaders were imprisoned for various cases. Some have been placed under house arrest. Liberal leaders have also not met or been unable to meet in five years.
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, leaders of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, who have distanced themselves from separatist politics and are on a path back to mainstream politics, are participating in the elections.
Who is Mirwaiz Umar Farooq?
Omar Farooq is the chairman of Hurriyat Conference, a Kashmiri separatist group. He was born on March 23, 1973. Mirwaiz is a position of Islamic religious leader that has existed in Kashmir for a long time. Mirwaiz is the director of Jama Masjid in Srinagar. Omar Farooq was given the title of Mirwaiz at the age of 17 after the murder of his father, Maulvi Farooq. Let us tell you that Omar Farooq was also included in the list of Asian heroes by Time magazine.
Under house arrest in 2019
Umar Farooq was detained in August 2019 after Jammu and Kashmir revoked Article 370. He was subsequently released in September 2023. Omar Farooq reiterated the stance of his separatist alliance after his release from four years of house arrest. During this period, he said that the Jammu and Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. The people of Kashmir believe in peaceful coexistence between communities and nations. During this time, he also mentioned Kashmir Pandit and said that we always invite Pandit brothers to return to the valley. We have always refused to make this a political issue. This is a humanitarian issue.
