"Pakistan stands exposed" - NewsHour with Aurnab Goswami

by Koshur Mazloom

I welcome you to Newshour. Today our topic is Pakistan Exposed Again (as if it was never a topic, in fact it has been the only topic of Newshour since we started to watch that comedy show). I am Aurnab Goswami and joining me on the Newshour today is:

Mr. Niyazi from Karachi, former ambassador of the Terrorist State of Pakistan to the US.
Mr. K.C Singh, words most honest and intelligent political analyst and
Mahroof Raza, the one and only competent and most accurate defence analyst of the universe.

My first question goes to Mr. Niyazi:

Sir, Keeping in view the Osama Bin Laden’s killing in Abbatobad by US forces, how can you say now that Pakistan army was not shielding him? How can you prove to me that Osama Bin Laden was not your guest for all these years? Today! Pakistan stands exposed. He was there and you can’t say that you did not know that he is there. I want an honest answer, Mr. Niyazi. Say yes we shielded him. Say yes Osama financed our army. Say yes Osama was a key adviser to your army chief. Say yes Osama was ISI and ISI was Osama. Come on! World wants an honest answer, Mr. Niyazi…

Mr. Niyazi : Well, I cannot say that. Actually…. ( Aurnab interrupts )

Sir, This is sheer hypocrisy. When I said that, how can you refuse? Pakistan stands exposed. You cannot say that Pakistan does not stand exposed. My next question to KC.

Sir, As it is a known fact that Pakistan stands exposed, what should be our strategy to expose it further?
KC : Pakistan is a hub of terrorism. This is written even in our constitution. We cannot go against our constitution. It is a crime. Hence I repeat, Pakistan stands exposed.

Aurnab : But Sir, How can we expose it further ?
KC : Every suicide blast, every terror act inside Pakistan is the handiwork of Pakistan. Pakistan kills its own people through suicide bombings only to harm innocent Indians. This is the known fact. World knows it. They bomb their Army Installations and Police stations because their old Army Installations and Police stations lack facilities. They then fleece US and extract more money as aid to construct the new infrastructure. They destroy their old war planes and war equipment to replace it with the latest technology all supplied by US free of cost. They destroy their old dilapidated Mosques and Madrasas through suicide bombings only to raise new modern Mosques and Madrasas. They plant bombs in their market places only to demolish encroached upon streets so that they can modernize their towns. This way they strengthen their defences and create most modern infrastructure.

Aurnab: But Sir, what has India to lose from that?
KC : Our boys work day and night in US as cyber slaves, our brilliant people toil hard in the Call Centers of Bangalore to build a stronger United States of America. They pay taxes to the US government from their salaries and US diverts their hard earned money to Pakistan as aid and reward for fighting the war against so called global terrorism. This is unacceptable. We cannot afford to let our boys to work for the people of Pakistan. We are innocent victims of Pakistan’s cleverness.

Aurnab: My next question to my another guest. Mahroof as honestly stated by KC that India is the victim of Pakistan’s terror, how can India stop US from diverting Indian money to Pakistan ?

Mahroof : India is a superpower. It has Nuclear weapons. India has Prithvi missiles, India has INSAS rifles. India has Bollywood with superstars like Rajnikant and Sunny Deol. Indian superstars can destroy Pakistani army singlehandedly. India has strongest economy as per the PPP ratio which is directly proportional to the per capita GDP of the US budget divided by the Industrial output quotient of the foreign investment gained through FDIs which is further inversely proportional to the interest on foreign exchange reserves which is further equivalent to the 10 % of total per capita capital of the world economy divided by our proposed growth figure forecasts of 2065. This proves that India is a super economical power which the world has to acknowledge now. India can dictate to US. India should tell US that we will stop all the services rendered by our super intelligent minds if it does not stop US aid to Pakistan. US will fall to its knees and accept our demands. This is the only way to stop Pakistan from getting US aid. Madam Sonia Gandhi should tell US that either you are with us or you are against us.

Aurnab: Mahroof, your figures are startling. World must acknowledge our power and Indians should be proud of you Mahroof.

My question to Mr. Niyazi again.


Sir, keeping in view the immense power of India, how is Pakistan now going to cooperate with India in exposing itself further. Listening to the honest comments by our other guests, it is now 100 % proved that Pakistan is exposed. How can you run away from the facts now?

Niyazi : Look, whatever they said is not true. Basically ….. (Aurnab interrupts again)
Aurnab: Mr. Niyazi, you are actually trying to evade my question. This is in general, a Pakistani mindset which you are unfortunately having .Do not disagree with what Indians say. You can’t run away from the truth. Come-on, world is watching you. Do not say that whatever stated by my other two guests is a figment of imagination. Pakistan stands exposed again.

My next question to KC again.


Sir, Pakistan’s ISI created Osama, Mullah Omar, Zardari, Kayani, Shuja Pasha, Gilani, Imran Khan, Shahid Afridi, Davood Ibrahim, Syed Salahudin, Hafiz Mohammed Syed, David Coleman Headley, Suresh Kalmadi, Balwa, Raja, Choota Shakeel, Choota Rajan, Arundhati Roy, Sayed Ali Geelani, Nathu Ram Godse, Satwant Singh, Prabhakaran, Mehbooba Mufti, Bhindrawale, Maoits, Naga insurgents, ULFA and historian say even Ravan and Narad Munni too were ISI’s creation. How can Pakistan refute this, keeping in view all the evidences which India has? India has even the evidences that Mehmood Ghaznavi, Babbar, Aurangzeb and Mohammed Ali Jinnah too were ISI’s creation.

KC : How can they say that this is not true ? Let me give you more facts. As per the WHO data, all the female infanticides happening in India has ISI hand behind them. Even, every unexpected pregnancy in India is a handiwork of Pakistan. India has the proof and it will show it to the world. Pakistan stands exposed.


Aurnab: My question to Mahroof.

Mahroof, having given all the evidences, how can Pakistan refuse now. Noteworthy to mention here is that the P.A to the Deputy Secretary of the adviser of the Under Secretary of the Co Chairman on the house committee of the private US department on political strategy under the auspices of the think tank of widows of war veterans of Vietnam war of the US state of Alaska, Mr. Joseph Leibermann has clearly stated that Pakistan is involved in aiding and abetment of terrorism in India. How can Pakistan come clean? US too has vindicated Indian stand now.

Mahroof : India is a super power. It has won diplomatic wars on all the fronts since the times of Chanakya. Pakistan is in mess. India is emerging victorious now. Pakistan should accept its failures now and dismantle Pakistani army and its terror offshoot ISI. Otherwise it will be too late for them as India is a super economical as well as diplomatic power. (Mr. Niyazi wants to interrupt)

Aurnab: Mr. Niyazi, we are hearing you. You can say whatever you want to. We will give equal chance to speak to everyone on the Newshour today. Mr. Niyazi carry on….

Mr. Niyazi carry on, can you hear me. Mr. Niyazi, Mr. Niyazi…… Seems that there is some problem with the line. We are sorry Mr. Niyazi.

Thank you Gentlemen for your participation. I hope Pakistan will now understand that it stands exposed. Wrapping up the debate, a look at the headlines again.

• Pakistan stands exposed again on aiding and abetment of terrorism in Pakistan.
• US officials vindicate the Indian allegations about Pakistan’s role in the terrorist attacks inside the Pakistan and elsewhere in the world.
• Bomb blast in Peshawar. Five civilians injured.
• Davood Ibrahim buys Lamborghini from ISI money.
• Zardari planning to visit China next month.
• Pakistan’s inflation has risen to 7 %.
• Chennai Warriors have won their quarterfinal match against Mumbai Indians in IPL.
• Syed Ali Geelani put under house arrest after his plans to offer Friday prayers in a local mosque were promptly exposed.
• 16 CRPF personnel killed in a landmine blast in Chattisgarh.

Take care. Good night.

Koshur Mazloom © 2011

India bans The Economist for showing Jammu & Kashmir as disputed territory

The distribution of the latest edition of The Economist magazine was banned in India for showing Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory.

The map is used as an illustration for the front-page story of the latest edition of the magazine on “The world’s most dangerous border” between India and Pakistan.

The customs officers ordered that 28,000 copies of the influential news weekly should have stickers manually placed over a diagram showing the Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory.

John Micklethwait, editor in chief of the magazine, while talking to newsmen, termed the India’s action as an attempt of censorship over media and said that through such tactics the facts could not be hidden. He said that the map published in the magazine was impartial and accurate.

Democracy through intimidation and terror

Early this month when Syed Ali Geelani called for offering prayers (in absentia) for Osama Bin Laden, the administration responded quite unusually. Making a big departure from its past policy, it showed a great degree of composure and allowed Geelani to offer prayers. It was for the first time since he visited parents of Tufail Ahmad Matto, who was shot dead by police on June 11, 2010, Geelani was allowed to participate in any of his programmes.

Though Geelani led a large prayers’ meeting at Batamaloo, common people generally ignored his call. It was genuinely an occasion of great relief for the jerky administration. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a fit of joy, tweeted: “I do not want him (Geelani) to become a hero”. Chief Minister’s tweet was carried prominently by newspapers and news channels, giving the impression that Omar Abdullah has decided to give room for his critics. But it did not take chief minister even a week’s time to change his mind and try out his earlier method of muzzling the dissent. On April 13 and 20, Geelani was placed under house arrest and his public rallies at Shopian and Islamabad were banned.

Curbing peoples’ movement on May 21 to stop Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from holding a rally in Sri

nagar on the death anniversary of his father Molvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone was yet another reminder that the chief minister inherits a political culture where there is no respect for opposite views. It was for the first time that Mirwaiz was stopped from commemorating death anniversary of his father.

Treating its opponents with extreme contempt and disdain is rooted in the entire political and power history of the National Conference. History places the NC founder Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah—though praised for heroic fight against Maharaja’s rule in 1930s and 40s—as the most intolerant politician and bigoted ruler ever produced in south Asian region.

Democracy was first tried and tested in Jammu and Kashmir in 1951 when elections for the constituent Assembly were held under Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah’s premiership. Out of the 75 members of the House, 73 were declared successful unopposed. In two other seats—Habba Kadal and Baramullah—two independent candidates, Shiv Narain Fotedar and Sardar Sant Singh Giyani challenged the offic

ial candidates of the National Conference.

Late Ghulam Mohammad Mir Tawoos (who retired as divisional commissioner in 1975) wrote in his memoir—Yadoo’n Kay Aansoo’n—that both candidates were dubbed as Pakistani agents and mauled and hauled to such a degree by the NC cadres and state machinery that they had to withdraw from the contest to save their lives.

Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah repeated the same method of fear and terror during by-elections in Ganderbal and Devsar constituencies in 1975 where Sher-e-Kashmir and his deputy Mirza Afzal Beg were seeking election to the state Assembly. Abdullah had joined the Indian mainstream after divorcing the Plebiscite slogan (which he propagated for 22 years—1953-75) following an Accord with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to take over as the chief minister of the state.

This time it was Jamaat-e-Islami which tasted the fruits of opposing Abdullah. Jamaat had fielded two senior stalwarts—Ashraf Sahrai and Hakeem Ghulam Nabi—against Abdullah and Beg. Both Sahrai and Hakeem survived murderous attacks by NC activists. In one attack in Ganderbal, one of the senior Jamaat leaders Saadullah Tantray of Doda (he passed away in 2007) lost his left eye permanently. At least 20 Jamaat leaders and supporters had got injured in this attack.

Around 50 Jamaat supporters and leaders were wounded in another attack at Kilam village in Devsar constituency where Hakeem Ghulam Nabi and Syed Ali Geelani were the main target of the attack. Qasim Sajjad of Islamabad, who was then in the Jamaat, suffered serious head injury in the attack. It took him around two months to recover. Nobody had given any chance to Jamaat nominees to win from any of the two seats but NC employed all the vile and violent methods to crush them to defeat.

Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah did not stop here. Two days after the election, Shaikh Abdullah imposed ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, closed down its schools, arrested hundreds of Jamaat activists and leaders. The NC continued with its wrath on Jamaat in later years as well. Kashmir witnessed massive protests against the hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Pakistan. The NC directed all this anger against the Jamaat. Around 20,000 houses of Jamaat supporters and leaders were burnt, their orchards cut, and shops looted in the frenzy that gripped Kashmir for three days with state government acting at distant onlooker.

The NC’s terror campaign in 1977 was even worse when a multi-party alliance—Janata Party—including Awami Action Committee of Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq (barring Jamaat-e-Islami) dared to challenge Abdullah in Assembly elections. Noted historian Prem Nath Bazaz, who himself included among the top leaders of the Janata Party, has compiled a 222-page book—Democracy Through Terror and Intimidation—recording attacks on opponents, more particularly, Janata Party (JP) supporters by the NC activists.

In one of the attacks, Dr Jagat Mohni, the JP nominee for Habbakadal was hospitalized with serious head injury broken teeth and jaw-bones. Bazaz records a shameful incident when NC cadres attacked a young girl (17 year) at Budshah Chowk, stripped her naked by tearing up her clothes in full public view. Recounting his own experience Bazaz says: I along with Ghulam Mohiuddin Qarrah went to see Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah (he had fallen ill in the thick of the election campaign) at his Gupkar house. NC supporters present there attacked our car. A police officer escorted us to nearby Ghulam Mohammad Shah’s house. While seated in the living room, one after the other, Shah and Mohiuddin Matto entered and in a barrage of words hurled filthy abuses at us threatening to tear us to bits. All this happened in presence of Mirza Afzal Beg who did not utter even a word to stop them.

Salahuddin, Ashfaq Majeed, Ajaz Dar, Maqbool Illahi, Ahad Waza, Ashraf Dar, Yasin Malik, Javaid Mir and hundreds of militant commanders and leaders are also the creation of NC’s continued policy of terror and intimidation. Few have forgotten how NC’s combat squads captured polling booths, beat up polling agents, jailed poll campaigners and stopped candidates and counting agents of the rival Muslim United Front (MUF) from entering the counting halls in 1987 assembly elections. How brazenly those elections were rigged by the NC with the help of state machinery to its advantage everybody knows.

How NC unleashed Task Force and Ikwanis to settle scores with its political opponents between 1996 and 2002 must be fresh in everybody’s mind. What Omar Abdullah has been doing ever since he took over as chief minister in January 2009 is in continuity of his party history. His tweet on May 7 was just an aberration rectified right in time.

Two-day Intl Kashmir conference begins in Muzaffarabad

Kashmir key to peace in region: Gillani

Muzaffarabad: Pakistan's Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani Monday said Kashmir dispute is not only affecting India and Pakistan but also destabilizing the war-ridden Afghanistan.

Gillani was addressing the inaugural session of two-day International Kashmir conference here in Muzaffarabad.

He said Pakistan wants peace and friendly relations with all neighbouring countries including India but the delay in the Kashmir solution may put the south Asian countries peace at stake.

Pakistan believes in talks and having solved the Jammu and Kashmi dispute both India and Pakistan can prove to be the good markets of the world," he said.

Gillani said people of Jammu and Kashmir suffered a lot and world must come forward to settle this issue once for all. Gillani pledged that Pakistan will continue to provide moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Gillani said the government would ensure the free, fair and transparent elections in Pakistani Administered Kashmir and will facilitate Kashmiris to choose their representative for the next five years.

The Kashmir conference was also addressed by Prime Minister of AJK Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan , President Raja Zulkarnanin, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Watoo and Executive Director Kashmir American Council Dr Gh Nabi Fai while the Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Gillani addressed the moot via Internet from Srinagar.

It is pertinent to mention that first time such a conference was organized in which participants from the both sides of Line of Control (LoC) were present. The second session of the conference will start at City Campus University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad where speakers will discuss and share their views on Kashmir dispute.

Kashmiris worried over Karachi terror attack

The Karachi naval base terror attack has caused concern in Jammu and Kashmir, with many residents monitoring television closely Monday and saying any instability in Pakistan could have a serious fallout here.

As news of the Karachi attack spread in summer capital Srinagar, cell phones started ringing. Locals asked friends and relatives what had actually happened there. "I was in college when somebody told me the Karachi naval base had been attacked by terrorists. It is a matter of concern for all Kashmiris because developments in Pakistan have always had a serious fallout here," said Riyaz Ahmad, a college teacher here.

Even journalists rushed to their offices for updates on the massive attack which began Sunday night. Fierce gunfights raged after heavily-armed terrorists stormed PNS Mehran, Pakistan's first naval air station, destroyed two surveillance aircraft and left five personnel dead. The guerrillas also reportedly took an unknown number of hostages.

"First news came about the attack on the naval base in Karachi. This was followed by another report that the terrorists had taken many people hostage inside a building at the base. It is a matter of worry for every peace-loving Kashmiri," said Imran, a young TV news reporter here. "Whenever earth-shaking developments have taken place in Pakistan, we have a direct bearing of that in Kashmir."

For instance, when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged in Pakistan in 1979, protests in Srinagar claimed five Kashmiri lives. Protests also erupted in Kashmir when Gen Zia-ul-Haq, the man responsible for Bhutto's hanging, died in a plane crash in 1988.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed worry in a tweet. "How soon before someone in Pakistan blames India for #Karachi & draws parallels to #26/11. What's happening in Pakistan is bad for India".

Even Kashmiris with little access to technology talked of the Karachi attack. "After Osama's killing, it was always feared that Pakistan would have to face reprisal attacks from his supporters," said Mehraj-ud-Din, 42, a fruit seller, referring to the May 2 killing of Osama bin Laden by US forces.

"It is not good news at all. If the security of Pakistan is endangered, the situation in the neighbourhood would be adversely affected," said the seller who hawks fruits at the fashionable Residency Road area of Srinagar.

Youths with an informed outlook and who carry no baggage of the past also expressed concern.

"Times have slowly but steadily changed. Wisdom and better sense have started prevailing on the leaders in India and Pakistan. But instability in Pakistan can usher in another army dictatorship and dictators always thrive on tensions and wars."

Irfan Ahmad, 27, a university student here, said: "Karachi attacks are a huge blow to the political stability of Pakistan."

KASHMIR SELLS

By: Raashid Ahmed ( Editor In Chief Honour Magazine)

Even ridiculously incongruous and unreasonable things make front-page news here. That is why most journalists often like their stories (news reports) datelined Kashmir. The daily Telegraph (Kolkatta) came up with a news report which, in journalistic parlance could be termed as “fine piece of excellent absurdity”. In its December 13 (2010) issue, the newspaper reported that Syed Ali Geelani is mulling handing over the baton of his political struggle to his elder son Naeem Geelani. Ironically the incredulous story was written by none other than the newspapers’ credulous Roving editor Sankarshan Thakur.

Sankarshan is a regular Kashmir visitor and is an old at reporting from here. He is known for incisive reporting and elegant writing style. Most of his Kashmir copies are insightful and discerning. But his latest Kashmir copy is, in complete sense of term, below the common standards of journalism. He appears to have either been misled by his Kashmir contacts or has himself misread Geelani’s son’s home-coming. Whatever the facts, one thing is clear that journalists, howsoever high profile they might be, are vulnerable to “plants” and “fabricated” new stories in Kashmir. They too are often carried away by misinformation and propaganda. It is for this fact that the Telegraph “scoop” was completely ignored by Kashmir-based journalists.

Naeem Geelani recently returned from Pakistan. His 12-year stay in that country had all along been apolitical and personal. He left Kashmir in 1998 when counter-insurgent Ikhwanis were virtually ruling the Kashmir street. Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and workers and their relatives were the main target of Ikhwanis. Hundreds of Jamaat leaders and supporters including Abdul Razaq Mir (who represented Kulgam constituency in state Assembly twice—1972 and 1987), Budgam district head Mohammad Ismael Butt, Dr Mahmood Ahmad (chief medical officer Anantnag), Nazir Ahmad Nayak (Tehsil Ameer Shopian), Ghulam Hassan Lone (district secretary Pulwama), Advocate Mohammad Sultan Bhat, Master Abdul Khaliq Dar besides hundreds others had been killed by the counter-insurgent Ikhwanis. Hundreds of other Jamaat activists and supporters were forced to migrate from their localities to safer places.

Syed Ali Geelani, being the prominent face of the Jamaat, was no exception. The Ikhwanis shot dead Geelani’s brother-in-law Habeebullah Makhdoomi at Tujjar in Sopore. They sealed off Geelani’s house at Dooru throwing the inmates out on the road. The Ikhwanis later blasted the house by IEDs. By then Geelani, for political exigency, had settled in Srinagar. The Ikhwanis fired rockets and grenades at his house in Srinagar several times. He also escaped an attempt on his life when Ikhwanis intruded into his house at Hyderpora on December 31, 1997 allegedly to kill him. Geelani then alleged that the attackers had army’s cover. Timely intervention by police saved him. The Ikhwanis also hunted for Geelani’s relatives. A group of Ikhwan gunmen raided Soura Medical Institute to fix his son Naeem, who was a doctor there. Naeem somehow escaped the Ikhwan raid and fled to Delhi wherefrom he went to Pakistan. Naeem traveled to Pakistan on a valid passport. It is a widely known fact, including for all the government agencies, that Naeem restricted himself to his medical profession without indulging in political activism in Pakistan. That was perhaps the reason that the government agencies allowed his safe return. Reading politics in it would simply be exhibiting ignorance about how leadership evolves in Jamaat-e-Islami.

Personality cults and family legacy are not factors in the organizational and leadership building of Jamaat-e-Islami. It has a well-defined system of evolving new leadership where merit (of a person) counts as the only prerequisite. Before deliberating on the issue of leadership in the Jamaat it is important to understand what the party stands for and how does its organizational structure work.

Jamaat-e-Islami, in essence, is the Islamic revivalist movement based and evolved around a revolutionary concept of Islam. Its intellectual inspiration comes from the writings and thoughts of Syyed Abul A’la Maududi, who along with the great Islamic poet and thinker Dr Iqbal tremendously influenced contemporary Muslim thinking in south Asia. Jamaat was set up by Moulana Maududi on August 26, 1941 at Lahore.

“The objective of the Islamic movement, in this world, is revolution in leadership. A leadership that has rebelled against God and His guidance and is responsible for the suffering of mankind has to be replaced by a leadership that is God-Conscious, righteous and committed to following Divine guidance. This implies a change of leadership at all levels of life--intellectual, moral, technological, social, economic and political, national and international-- and the reorganization of human life to accord with the ideals and values revealed by God for the guidance of mankind. Striving to achieve this noble purpose, we believe, will secure God's favor in this world and the next” ("Objective of the Islamic Movement by Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi)

This makes Jamaat distinctively different from other political, cultural and social organizations. It also lays down the rules for the leadership in the Jamaat. It is the level of Islamic learning, commitment to following Divine Guidance, voluntary participation, dedication and contribution to the cause and party that matters most in the Jamaat. The supporters (of the party) are sorted keeping in mind their understanding, commitment and dedication to the party. The Jamaat hierarchy, at the bottom, begins with the sympathizer (Hamdard or Muttasir), then the Affiliate (Muttafiq), then associate member (Umeedwar-e-Rukniyat) and finally basic member (rukun). It is the rukun (basic member) who is qualified for any political or administrative assignment in the party. The first two categories (Hamdard and Muttafiq) have no official role in the party. They are those who favour Islamic order and help in spreading the message of the Jammat. They rather serve as a pool from which basic members are drawn.

No one can claim for basic membership (rukniyat) without traversing through the first two categories. It takes years (on occasions more than 10 years) to get the membership of the Jamaat. How difficult is it to become rukun of the Jamaat can be understood by the fact that despite being 65-year old party (Jamaat in Kashmir was formed in 1945) the Jamaat, in Jammu and Kashmir, has just around 2000 basic members (arkaan).

The arkaan too have been categorized differently according to their capacity, share of knowledge, Islamic learning, social service, public standing and, over and above all, dedication to the party and commitment to its cause. It is the degree of knowledge of Islam (Quran, hadith, Seerat—life of Prophet Peace Be Upon Him—Fiqah, history and other sources of Islamic knowledge) and “taqwa” (true love and fear of Allah manifested in pure acts of worship) that qualifies a rukun for a party post. The Ameer (party chief) has to be the most knowledgeable and God-fearing person. One is not entitled to any position in the Jamaat barely for being a son, daughter or a close relative of a party leader. That is why we do not see any of the sons of Moulana Maudoodi (the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami) occupying any position in Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami. In Kashmir too none of the sons of Jamaat founders Moulana Saad-Ud-Din, Qari Saifuddin and Moulana Ghulam Ahmad Ahraar or any other leader have ever held any position in the Jamaat hierarchy.

The rukniyat (basic membership) is not absolute. It is conditioned with the person’s continued dedication and commitment with the party. A rukun is supposed to lose his membership soon after he gets lackadaisical in performing the party duty. Syed Ali Geelani was suspended from the rukniyat of the party in 1977 for preferring his political engagements (he was MLA then) over party assignments. Moulana Hakeem Ghulam Nabi (late), one of the senior-most Jamaat leaders who after Moulana Saad-Ud-Din served as Ameer-e-Jamaat for maximum period, too was suspended for same reasons from the basic membership of the party.

Syed Ali Geelani is not in the Jamaat now but all the office bearers and cadres of his Tehreek-e-Hurriyat are from Jamaat-e-Islami. The Tehreek’s leadership, organizational structure, intellectual inspiration, political material, cadre building and operational methodology—all has been derived from the Jamaat. The Tehreek general secretary Ashraf Sahrayee has served Jamaat as general secretary for quite a long time. He is respected as the most selfless, committed and scholarly leader by Jamaat cadres. He has set the Jamaat standards in building Tehreek as a leading politico-religious entity. Dr Ghulam Mohammad Ganai, Shah Wali Mohammad, Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah, Ayaz Akbar, Altaf Shah, who form the Tehreek’s top leadership are all from Jamaat-e-Islami.

Syed Ali Geelani is well aware of these standard procedures and principles of leadership building in Jamaat. It would be naïve to think and say that Geelani would appoint his son or any other relative as his successor.

A middle-rung leader of the Tehreek told the Honour that, in 2007, Naeem Geelani briefly returned from Pakistan and applied for the membership of the Tehreet-e-Hurriyat. But Ashraf Sahrayee rejected his form saying “he (Naeem) does not qualify for the Tehreek membership”. He said that it was the only occasion when Naeem had exhibited interest in party and politics.
Moving beyond the Jamaat and Tehreek, dynasty politics and pedigree has no scope in freedom movements too. It is the personal investment in terms of commitment to the cause and the readiness to sacrifice for the cause that makes one relevant to the situations in freedom movements. In power politics it is easy to rise on the father’s shoulders but freedom movements demand personal involvement and investment. Despite having the baggage of mainstream politics, Syed Ali Geelani today stands tall of all leaders not for the stamina and stock he comes from. It is rather the honesty of the purpose, consistency, determination and perseverance that has elevated him in stature and standing of all other leaders.

There is no denying the fact that many people in Kashmir share little with Geelani’s ideology (he is pro-Pakistan) and methodology. But he is praised by his admirers and opponents equally. A few years back I, along with Nazir Masoodi (NDTV), happened to meet Gujjar spiritual leader Mian Bashir at his Baba Nagri residence in Kangan. He was all praise for Syed Ali Geelani. “I do not agree with his (Geelani) political or religious ideology but I respect him as the most honest political voice in Kashmir,” Mian said. “He has just one stand, and does not dither left and right,” he added though with some disdain for other leaders who claim to be espousing cause of freedom.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani recently featured in MENSXP.com’s nomination list of most powerful 20 politicians who influenced the course of year 2010 in India. Geelani achieved an average score of 9.30 out of 10 from the voters as compared to 3.9 to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The MENSXP.com defined the octogenarian Geelani as a prominent political leader from Jammu and Kashmir and the political face of 'Azadi'. The online magazine said Geelani’s ‘X’ factor has been his ability to lead despite surviving a renal cancer and his adamancy to court arrest and controversy for the Azadi cause. Geelani launched “quit Kashmir” campaign last year which paralyzed Kashmir for five months.

Today when age and health are not on Geelani’s side, deliberating on his successor is all but natural. As a neutral observer, one is constrained to say that the nominations and designations matter little in such movements. It is the appeal and attraction of the person that brings him into the focus of attention.

There is a battery of other leaders in Geelani-led Tehreek and Hurriyat Conference, who have carved out a niche for themselves by their conduct, commitment and conviction. Ashraf Sahrayee, Masarat Alam Bhat and Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi are three prominent faces who are known for their uncompromising and hardnosed character. While Ashraf Sahrayee’s leadership qualities are not hidden, Masarat Alam, as leader, made his impression during last year’s “quit Kashmir” movement. What makes them more relevant is the strong record of personal and

individual sacrifices they made.

The High Court Bar President Mian Abdul Qayoom is another man to be

watched. Mian Qayoom led a successful campaign in 2008 to force government to withdraw land allotm ent order to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. The land row agitation lasted for about three months during which some of the biggest ever freedom rallies (at Eid Gah, TRC Ground and Pampore) were held besides the attempt at a cross LOC march in which hundred s of thousands of people participated.

On the other side of the separatist spectrum Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Shah , Yasin Malik, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Gani Lone, Naeem Khan and several others could not be ignored. "Mirwaiz represents a strong family constituency in old Srinagar which serves as his ready-made audience. But he is facing a strange kind of conflict. While his followers are mostly pro-Pakistan, Mirwaiz is open to other ideas as well. That has made his position shaky even

among his own followers."For his long spell in jails and commitment to his cause, Shabir Shah is another contender. The pro-independence thought as propounded by JKLF is perhaps the most popular and commonly accepted in Kashmir. Its leaders in both camps (JKLF is divided in two factions) could exploit it to their advantage. Yasin Malik, the most prominent in all factions of JKLF has been trying to consolidate this ideological acceptance into grass-root level support. In the past he undertook two major ventures (signature campaign and Safar-e-Azadi) across the state to consolidate his support base.

However, if Geelani indicates his choice from among a few names acceptable to the Jamaat idealogy that may carry a lot of weight.