Hurriyat patch-up on cards?

Senior separatist Fazal Haq Qureshi, nominated by Hizbul Mujahideen as its pointman to hold parleys with New Delhi following the truce calle...

Senior separatist Fazal Haq Qureshi, nominated by Hizbul Mujahideen as its pointman to hold parleys with New Delhi following the truce called by the outfit in July 2000, has been asked by Hurriyat leader Moulvi Abbas Ansari to strike a deal with the dissident faction headed by hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Qureshi, a member of the Hurriyat general council and who chose to remain equi-distant from both groups, is respected by the leadership that supports Geelani. Even Geelani acknowledges that Qureshi has tirelessly worked for the 8216;8216;cause of Kashmiris8217; struggle8217;8217; and perhaps for that reason alone, he may face no opposition from the militant leadership.

Though Ansari denied that Qureshi was 8216;8216;specially8217;8217; assigned this task, conglomerate sources reveal that his services are indeed being sought to bring the 8216;8216;two deviating groups on one line8217;8217;.

Qureshi was present at the executive council meeting called by Ansari on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by two former Hurriyat chairmen 8212; Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat 8212; People8217;s Conference representative Bilal Gani Lone and Ansari himself. Three executive constituents 8212; the JKLF, People8217;s league and Jamaat-e-Islami 8212; did not attend the meeting held at Rajbagh headquarters.

Sources said the four executives later met Qureshi and gave him the brief to 8216;8216;forge unity among all separatist leadership of all hues8217;8217; 8212; a fact confirmed by Ansari. 8216;8216;We are in the process of getting separatists from all ideologies under one umbrella. We will nominate a committee to talk to general council members, including those who support Geelani and outsiders like Shabir Ahmad Shah to further strengthen the amalgam,8217;8217; Ansari said.

Though the Hurriyat executive issued showcause notices to eight general council members who showed support for Geelani, sources said Qureshi had expressed a desire to talk to the dissidents.

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