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.
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".
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.
"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.
"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.
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.
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.
"What is the point of holding discussion with the government to government level by New Delhi?" askeed the Mirwaiz.
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.
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.
The Mirwaiz has accused Dr Singh of not living up to the promises he made.
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 moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference today rejected Centre's latest initiative on Kashmir, saying it was 'disappointing' as it reflected lack of willingness to meet the aspirations of the people.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is not the only one to support Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 'cricket diplomacy' in inviting Pakistan President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to visit India and watch Wednesday's semi-final game between India and Pakistan at Mohali.
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.
Mirwaiz also alleged that 'human rights violations by security forces' are continuing in Jammu and Kashmir and there is an urgent need to put an end to them.
Mirwaiz extended an open invitation to all pro-freedom groups to join the Hurriyat Conference to strengthen it.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate faction of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, has welcomed United States President Barack Obama's stance on the Kashmir dispute."President Obama offered help in facilitating the negotiations between India and Pakistan as the trust between the two key parties has been shattered. We, the people of Kashmir, are happy with the outcome. We have never ever called for third party mediation," he said.
Altogether 45 participants from India and Pakistan, including retired generals, former bureaucrats, journalists and politicians are participating in the three-day meet on Kashmir.
Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on Friday welcomed Indo-Pakistan talks as a "good omen" and said bold initiatives were needed for the success of the bilateral dialogue process. "It is a good omen that India and Pakistan have agreed to write a new chapter in their history. There is a need for taking bold steps, leaving behind the past bitterness and the practice of complicating the issues," Mirwaiz said while addressing a Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid.
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.
Nasir was arrested along with two prominent businessmen.
Mirwaiz to lead Hurriyat delegation to PoK
Kashmir issue: Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz meets Musharraf in New York
Speaking to rediff.com from his residence in Srinagar, Farooq said that the issue would be debated on next Friday during the Hurriyat meeting in the Valley headquarters to take a view on the developments that have taken place since Sunday afternoon.
Kashmir remained the biggest hurdle in relations between India and Pakistan and it should top the agenda of any talks between the two countries, moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said on Friday.
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