All Parties Hurriyat Conference

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) is an alliance of 26 political, social and religious organizations formed on March 9, 1993 as a political front to raise the cause of Kashmiri independence. This alliance has historically been viewed positively by Pakistan as it contests the claim of the Indian government over the State of Jammu and Kashmir.^[1][2][3]Ghulam Muhammad Safi was elected as its convener in January 2010.^[4]

As per Indian sources, Hurriyat is encouraging youth of Kashmir for stone pelting and to leave their studies for a "bigger cause" while their own children and family members are getting the best education in other parts of India and foreign countries.^[5][6]

History

The origins of the Hurriyat are traced to the 1993 phase of the Kashmir insurgency. The initial euphoria of armed struggle against Indian security forces, which surrounded terrorist violence during the late 1980s and early 1990s had subsided in the face of counter-insurgency operations launched by Indian security forces. The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) with its "pro-independence" ideology had been marginalised as a terrorist outfit and replaced by a network of extremist Islamic outfits sponsored and controlled by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).^[7]

Parallel to this, Pakistan was aggressively pursuing an agenda of attempting to portray its proxy war against India as an indigenous uprising against Indian sovereignty and internationalise the issue. It was in this context that the Hurriyat was formed as an umbrella body for all over-ground secessionist organisations. Since the international community frowned upon the resort to violence by non-state actors, the Hurriyat was an ideal platform to promote the Kashmiri secessionist cause.^[7]

Another version claims that the Hurriyat is a creation of the US interests in Kashmir and was formed through the efforts of a Washington-based think-tank US Institute of Peace (USIP) under the then presidency of Robert Oakley, a former US ambassador to Pakistan. Certain developments do indicate that it has had active backing from US official sources, particularly the US embassy in India (when prominent Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone was injured during a security force action in the early 1990s, he was reportedly rushed to New Delhi and visited each day by officials from the US embassy).^[7][8][9]
When Robert Oakley, the retired US Ambassador in Pakistan, took over as the head of the US Institute of Peace (USIP), Kashmir issue became a project of this institute. The USIP, an instrument of the US foreign policy, came into existence by an Act of the US Congress, which also undertook its funding without being answerable to the US President. It cooperates too closely with the US Administration, and being known for fondling with controversial problems, its methodology has been given the name of 'Track II diplomacy receiving tactical support of the US Government'.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Ideology and Role

Ideology

According to the Hurriyat Conference, Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and ‘India's control’ on it is not justified. It supports the Pakistani claim that Kashmir is the ‘unfinished agenda of Partition’ and needs to be solved ‘as per the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.’^[11]

The APHC perceives itself to be the sole representative of the Kashmiri people.^[11]

The outfit's primary role has been to project a negative image of counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and to mobilise public opinion against the Indian security forces. The alliance has consistently followed up local allegations of security force excesses, and in several documented cases, allegedly distorted facts to suit its propaganda. For instance, the Haigam firing incident of February 16, 2001 was portrayed as an assault on a peaceful gathering whereas, as later indicated in news reports and official clarifications, the army contingent fired upon the mob only when they were blocked and prevented from moving.^[11]

The APHC enjoys an observer's status in the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). Incidentally, the OIC had dropped hard-line Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, from its guest list and instead invited Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for its June 2005 Foreign Ministers Conference in Yemen.^[11][12]

Split

There are currently two factions of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The Mirwaiz-led group, also referred to as the ‘moderate faction’ along with non-Hurriyat leaders like Yasin Malik undertook, between June 2–16, 2005, the first formal visit of Kashmiri separatists to Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) and subsequently, though unsanctioned by Indian authorities, to Pakistan.^[11]

Internal fissures within the Hurriyat Conference had culminated in a formal split on September 7, 2003,^[13] with at least 12 of its 26 constituents 'removing' the then Chairman Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari 'replacing' him with Masarat Alam as its interim chief. The dissenters reportedly met at the residence of hardliner and pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and decided to depose Ansari and 'suspend' the seven-member executive committee, the highest decision-making forum of the APHC. A five-member committee was formed to review the Hurriyat Constitution and suggest amendments to reverse what the dissenters perceive as 'autocratic' decisions taken by the executive committee.^[11]

Since then, Geelani has formed his own faction of the Hurriyat called the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir. On October 12, 2004 he was unanimously elected as its Chairman for a period of three years. A 25-member strong Majlis-e-Shoora (advisory council) to assist and advise the Chairman was also announced on the same day. A statement released by the faction said 21 members were elected to the 'shoora' and the Chairman was authorised to nominate four members. It also said all the 14 districts of the State were duly represented in the 'shoora,' the highest decision-making body of the outfit. The Geelani reportedly has 16 constituents.^[11]

The Hurriyat Conference again split in 2014; the moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq faced the split after four senior leaders raised a banner of revolt against the chairman and other members of the conglomerate.^[14] Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Ahmad Shah, National Front chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Mahaz-e-Azadi chief Mohammad Azam Inqlabi and Islamic Political Party Mohommad Yousuf Naqash were up in arms against Mirwaiz after he dashed a letter to the convener in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Mohommad Yousuf Naseem, asking him not to entertain the leaders who have left the conglomerate on their own. On 9 September 2015, the leader Shabir Shah and his lieutenant Nayeem Khan along with Shia leader Agha Hassan joined Hurriyat Conference (G) led by Syed Ali Geelani.^[14]

Views on right to self-determination

All JKLF factions support the Right to Self-determination as per UN Security Council Resolution 47. Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan & Azam Inquilabi demand Right to Self-determination as per UN Security Council Resolution 47.
Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is unclear on the Right to Self-determination with Abdul Ghani Bhat repeatedly stating that the UN resolution for Right to self-determination is dead.
Members of the Executive Council of the original APHC were:

• Peoples Conference, Abdul Ghani Lone
• Jamat-e-Islami, Syed Ali Shah Geelani
• Awami Action Committee Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
• People's League, Sheikh Abdul Aziz
• Itehad-ul-Muslimeen Mohammad Abbas Ansari
• Muslim Conference, Abdul Ghani Bhat
• JKLF, Yasin Malik

Criticism and Controversies

Misguiding Youth

• Hurriyat leaders have been criticized for inciting youth for Jihad & stone pelting and to leave their studies for a ‘bigger cause’ while their own children and family members are getting the best education in other parts of the country and even abroad.^[5]
• Syed Ali Shah Geelani: Geelani's elder son Nayeem Geelani is a medical practitioner in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Nayeem’s wife is also in the same profession there. Geelani’s second son, Zahoor Geelani, along with his family lives in New Delhi. Izhaar Geelani, grandson of Geelani, is a crew member of a private airliner in India, while his daughter Farhat Geelani is a teacher in Jeddah and her husband is an engineer there.^[5]
• Asiya Andrabi: Her elder son Muhammad bin Qasim, is living with her sister in Malaysia. He is captain of his university cricket team.^[15] Most of Asiya’s relatives have shifted to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, England and Malaysia.^[16] Her one nephew Zulqarnain is a captain in the Pakistan Army and second nephew Irtiyaz-un-Nabi is an aeronautical engineer and lecturer in the International Islamic University, Islamabad.^[16]

Dr. Darakshan Andrabi who is President of Socialistic Democratic Party of Jammu and Kashmir said in 2010, "I was the first one to talk about the duality that Asiya was adopting. We were happy that she wanted her son to secure an Indian passport and study IT in Malaysia but this should apply for all Kashmiri youth. Asiya should ask all Kashmiris to secure an Indian passport and educate themselves. Instead she exhorts the youth to shun everything and anything that is India."^[6]

Relations with Pakistani ISI

Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, a senior leader of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference and son of Sheikh Abdullah criticised Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for working on "dictations" given by Pakistan. He accused Geelani of being "a double agent" on "the payroll of Pakistan's ISI".^[17][18][19]

Kamal said "Geelani has tried to 'ignite and incite' people by 'hollow slogans and destructive emotionalism', whenever even a Pakistani clerk comes to India and summons this ex-lawmaker(Geelani), he rushes to Delhi to take dictation about how to ensure that uncertainty prevails in the state."^{[17][18][19][20][21]}

Pakistan also openly supported Geelani and Hurriyat, Pakistan have had several meetings with Hurriyat leaders. The three-member delegation from Pakistan High Commission led by Abdul Basit met Geelani at his Malviya Nagar residence in March 2015, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit assured Geelani of complete support conveying that the country's stand on Kashmir remains unchanged despite regime change in New Delhi.^[22][23][24] Basit also invited Geelani for Pakistan Day function on March 23. Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, ritually invites pro-separatist leadership of Jammu and Kashmir for the function every year.^{[21][23][24][25]}

Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI), an American government intelligence agency, in their first ever open acknowledgement in 2011 in US Court said that Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI), Pakistan’s spy agency, sponsors terrorism in Kashmir and it oversees terrorist separatist groups in Kashmir.^{[26][27][27][28][29][30]}

Staging Fake "Freedom Struggle"

Geelani and his Hurriyat has been accused by the Indian media for staging a fake protest or fake 'freedom struggle' by paying money to local unemployed youth.^[31][32] According to stone pelters who were arrested, each stone pelter is paid Rs 400($6–7) every Friday. Police said the money is being raised locally by Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani's followers. Most of the money comes from fruit markets and saw mills, Pakistan-based LeT terrorists also participate in stone peltings,^[32] the police said.^{[31][32][33][34]}

However, there is potential these are real protests due to human rights violations.^{[35][36][37][38]}

Appeal to Boycott of Elections

Geelani and Hurriyat had appealed to people of Kashmir to boycott the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections completely, arguing that "India has been holding elections in the Valley using the power of gun and so such an exercise is not legitimate".^[39] But despite of repeated boycott appeals, 2014 assembly election recorded record voter's turnout of more than 65% which was highest in 25 years of history and higher than normal voting percentages in other states of India.^[40][41][42]

After record voting percentage in Kashmir, Hurriyat and its leaders have been heavily criticised by mainstream media for misleading people of Kashmir and for not representing true sentiments of Kashmiri people.^{[43][44][45][46]}

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi said on high election voter turnout,"Separatist militants are frustrated because they are feeling that despite the use of guns and bombs and killing people, democracy is still alive in this state. I want to congratulate those voters of J&K who have voted in large numbers and made democracy victorious irrespective of the outcome."^[47]

The European Parliament, on the behalf of European Union, welcomed the smooth conduct of the State Legislative Elections in the Jammu and Kashmir.^[48] The EU in its message said that, "The high voter turnout figure proves that democracy is firmly rooted in India. The EU would like to congratulate India and its democratic system for conduct of fair elections, unmarred by violence, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir".^[48][49][50] The European Parliament also takes cognizance of the fact that a large number of Kashmiri voters turned out despite calls for the boycott of elections by certain separatist forces.^[49]

Current members

Current members All Parties Hurriyat Conference include:

Hurriyat Conference has three factions: Hurriyat led by SAS Geelani, Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Hurriyat led by Shabir Shah, Azam Inquilabi & Nayeem KHan. JKLF is not part of these factions.

See also

• Syed Ali Shah Geelani
• Asiya Andrabi
• Kashmir conflict
• Burhan Muzaffar Wani
• Timeline of the Kashmir conflict
• Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir

References

External links

• Hurriyat Conference News
• Kashmir Global - News and opinion website
• Chowdhary, Rekha. "Electoral Politics in the Context of Separatism and Political Divergence: An Analysis of 2009 Parliamentary elections in Jammu & Kashmir". South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal, 3, 2009.
• Asianage.com
• Sananews.net
• Dailypioneer.com
• Deccanherlad.com
• Jkaphc.com

Kashmir separatist movement Political parties All Parties Hurriyat Conference All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party Jammu Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party United Kashmir People's National Party Separatist organisations Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (Yasin Malik) Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Hizbul Mujahideen Lashkar-e-Taiba People Mohammad Abbas Ansari Sheikh Abdul Aziz Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Syed Ali Shah Geelani Amanullah Khan (JKLF) Asiya Andrabi Masarat Alam Ashiq Hussain Faktoo Hashim Qureshi Ayub Thakur Afzal Guru Yasin Malik Muhammad Ahsan Dar Sayeed Salahudeen Maqbool Bhat Hafiz Saeed History Kashmir conflict Nationalism Kashmiriyat Elections Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election, 2008 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election, 2014