GEELANI RESIGNS AS HURRIYAT OUTFIT CHIEF
HIS LIEUTENANT ASHRAF SEHRAI IS THE NEW PRESIDENT
SRINAGAR: Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Geelani on Monday gave the reins of his Tehreek-e-Hurriyat party to his longtime aide Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai which many in Kashmir believe was long overdue.
Like Geelani, Sehrai, 72, is considered one of the staunchest supporters of Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. An open admirer of ‘Two-Nation’ theory, Sehrai has spent some 15 years of his life in jails, more than Geelani total jail time.
“He has always been a close confidant of Geelani,” said GA Gulzar, spokesman of Geelani’s Hurriyat Conference.
Born in a well-off zamindar family at Lolab in the border district of Kupwara, Sehrai joined Kashmir’s most influential politico-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami at the age of 14 in 1959. Not formally educated, Jamaat members say that he is a selftaught man, particularly after his stints in jail and outside.
Sehrai is also known for his oration, writing skills and political analysis. In the 1970s, he would come out with a newspaper Tulu-i-Sehar from Geelani’s hometown of Sopore.
Jamaat members say that owing to his energy and political and religious understanding, he went on to climb the policy echelons of the organisation to serve as its deputy chief and secretary general when he left it for Geelani’s Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in August 2004.
“He has always been a staunch advocate of Kashmir issue. He has never compromised on his stand of ‘Freedom for the sake of Islam’. He never changed his stand,” said the former chief of Jamaat, Mohammad Abdullah Wani.
Owing to his ‘staunch allegiance’ to Geelani, observers say he could not ‘grow beyond’ Geelani.
“He was overshadowed by Geelani and could’nt establish his individuality. Otherwise, he could have emerged bigger than Geelani,” said Rashid Ahmad, a former journalist.
Many believe that the change of guard at TeH means that Sehrai will ultimately succeed Geelani as chairman of the Hurriyat Conference as well. However there, he would have to compete with another veteran Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi and the young and charismatic Masarat Alam.