All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who was scheduled to visit the United States next week, might not be able to do so as his travel documents are not in order. "My passport has expired and I am awaiting the renewal of the travel documents so that I can travel abroad," Mirwaiz told rediff.com from his residence in Srinagar on Thursday night."I am confident that some positive developments would take place during their meeting," he said.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on the talks between the prime minister and the Hurriyat Conference.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir had high expectations from the Prime Minister's visit with regard to the political resolution of the Kashmir issue."
The Hurriyat says on the one hand India and Pakistan should talk to each other and on the other the Hurriyat leadership would have separate dialogue with India and Pakistan.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat faction, was put under house arrest and prohibitory orders clamped in Srinagar on Saturday as separatists called a strike against the visit of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to Jammu.They said the step was taken as a precautionary measure to prevent the Hurriyat leader from visiting Shopian, 55 kms from Srinagar, to take part in a protest to mark the first anniversary of the alleged rape and murder of two young women.
Mirwaiz to lead Hurriyat delegation to PoK
However, he said the Centre needed to fulfil its previous commitments.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday evening released chairman of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik and chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.They were arrested ahead of their march to Lal Chowk last month. Geelani was taken to a hospital in Srinagar on Monday evening, after he complained of sickness in police custody.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was placed under house arrest on Wednesday, a day ahead of his proposed rally to commemorate the death anniversary of his father who was assassinated by gunmen in 1990, the conglomerate said.
Musharraf assured the delegation that any resolution of the Kashmir issue will be finalised only after ascertaining the wishes of the the Kashmiri people. \n
A notice, served at his Delhi residence, said his passport was being suspended under section 10 (A) of the Passport Act as government was satisfied that his travel abroad was not in the interest of the nation.
The meeting is seen as a rebuff to Jamaat leader and chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has been asking Pakistan to stay away from the Hurriyat's moderate leadership.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the All Party Hurriyat Conference denied the charges levelled against him by Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. Speaking to rediff.com from his residence in downtown Srinagar, the Mirwaiz said "the charges levelled by the chief minister were baseless and unfounded".
"There is a need for stage-wise progress in the process and the first step would be to withdraw all army and paramilitary troops from the state," he said.
The Shia organisation had previously sided with the hardline leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
"The presence of troops in residential areas is a grave threat... the sooner the rulers understand this, the better," Mirwaiz said addressing a religious function at Reshi Mohalla locality of Habbakadal in downtown city, shortly after authorities lifted restrictions on his movement.
Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq Friday claimed that the initiative of the separatist amalgam for "trilateral talks" with India and Pakistan has been received well in Islamabad.
In significant remarks, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has called for an end to armed struggle to resolve the Kashmir issue as it has only created "more graveyards", and said the dialogue process should be given a chance.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of APHC leaders in Srinagar, Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said: "The decision to visit Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir was taken at a meeting of the conglomerate here."
The Hurriyat leader has initiated some steps for return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley and held talks with their representatives in this regard.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq may have had a secret meeting with the head of Pakistan intelligence agency Inter Services Intelligence Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha in Europe, although he denies that.
Kashmir issue: Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz meets Musharraf in New York
Chiefs of both factions of Hurriyat Conference -- Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq -- were on Saturday placed under house arrest in the national capital as a preventive measure following the hanging of Afzal Guru in the Parliament attack case.
The youth wing of Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday attacked Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq's car when he was entering Foreign Correspondent's club in New Delhi to attend a seminar.
"What is the point of holding discussion with the government to government level by New Delhi?" askeed the Mirwaiz.
The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference on Wednesday asked people to cancel the reception arranged for its seven-member delegation returning from Pakistan on Thursday.
The Mirwaiz has accused Dr Singh of not living up to the promises he made.
Breaking the ice, the Centre's interlocutors on Kashmir talked to Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq over the phone discussing the situation in the state and seeking time for a meeting.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances