SRINAGAR: To finalize the modalities for unity between two Hurriyat Conference factions and finalize program of Martyrs Day on July 13, delegations of both groups held a meeting on Wednesday at Shabir Ahmad Shah’s Sanatnagar residence here. Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar said that a joint declaration was signed by both the parties after the meeting. “Both the parties agreed to observe July 13 jointly and Geelani Sahib and Mirwaiz Umar Sahib would address the people at Mazar-e-Shuhada Naqshband Sahib at 2:30 pm.”

Both the Hurriyat have called for a strike on July 13. However, public transport has been exempted from the strike. The Hurriyat (G) delegation was represented by Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Masrat Alam, General Musa and Ayaz Akbar while Shabir Shah, Faz-ul-Haq Quershi, Sheikh Aziz, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Shabir Ahmad Dar represented Hurriyat (M). “The meeting lasted for more than two hours and apart from July 13 Programmes, modalities for unity were also discussed,” sources added. Confirming that the meeting was held at his residence, Shah said, “It was held in a cordial environment and leaders from both sides expressed their views freely.” The Hurriyat unity efforts started after Mirwaiz Umar appealed Syed Ali Shah Geelani, JKLF chairman Muhammad Yaseen Malik and Peoples Conference leader Sajjad Ghani Lone from Martyrs Graveyard on May 21, 2008 to form a united platform. On June 19, Geelani and Mirwaiz held a marathon six-hour meeting after which both the leaders jointly briefed the media and announced the formation of a committee to hammer out the modalities for unification of the two factions, which had parted ways in September 2003.

Both Hurriyat then jointly fought against forest land transfer to SASB. Both the factions supported the Action Committee against Land Transfer. Last Friday Geelani and Umar were expected to address people at Hazratbal, but were put under house arrest by the authorities. Today’s meeting, observers say, was significant in the backdrop of recent developments. “There is tremendous pressure from people on both the factions to unite after the recent popular uprising against the land transfer to SASB,” a senior pro-freedom leader said.

The committee constituted by the Hurriyat Conference regarding the unity of the two factions of Hurriyat, has made progress in its assignment and it is likely to submit its findings and format for the united Hurriyat very soon. Meanwhile both the factions of Hurriyat have decided to observe the martyrs’ day on July 13 together.

Sources in Hurriyat said that the committee has made a lot of progress and the announcement about the unity will be made very soon. Hurriyat Conference had constituted a six-member committee to work out the modalities for the reunification of Hurriyat Conference and the set-up which the united Hurriyat would adopt.

Both the factions of Hurriyat had nominated three members from their respective sides and the committee is headed by Shabir Ahmad Shah, senior pro-freedom leader. This became possible after the transfer of land to SASB in the valley generated enough resentment thereby bringing the two factions closer in an effort to oppose the move in a united manner. Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar addressed a joint press conference following a seven-hour long meeting during which the formation of the committee was announced. Since then the two factions of the Hurriyat Conference are in constant touch even as the committee is doing its job assigned to it.

Meanwhile both the factions of Hurriyat have decided to observe the martyrs’ day on July 13, together. Senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said that Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq would together go to Martyrs’ Graveyard and would address the gathering there.
It is in place to mention here that the two Hurriyat leaders, Geelani and Mirwaiz were supposed to address the people after Friday congregation at Dargah Hazratbal, but the government thwarted that effort by putting both the leaders under house arrest. Some Hurriyat leaders, however, managed to reach the Dargah. Mohammad Ashraf Sehrayee and Shabir Shah later addressed the people.