Search the Internet          Tips

Schisms in People's Conference over participation in polls

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

The filing of poll nominations by four members of the People's Conference, an important constituent of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference, has exposed the schisms in the Sajjad Lone-led outfit, with rival factions 'expelling' each other from the party.

The four, including senior leader and close associate of slain Abdul Gani Lone, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Sofi, had filed their nomination papers from constituencies in Kupwara district.

Soon as Sajjad Lone expelled the four, including Sofi who is standing from Handwara, two jailed leaders of the party, Ghulam Nabi Hubbi, vice-chairman, and Ghulam Ahmad Gulzar, general secretary, expelled Sajjad Lone and Bilal Lone, the other son of Abdul Gani Lone, for 'anti-party and anti-movement activities'.

A statement issued by the duo said, "We have removed them for their participation in the election by fielding dummy candidates. They have betrayed the Kashmiri martyrs and also late Abdul Gani Lone."

They also requested the chairman of the APHC 'not to maintain any links with Sajjad and Bilal Lone'.

"An adhoc chairman will soon be nominated to represent the party in the Hurriyat executive," the statement said.

However, Sajjad Lone claimed both Hubbi and Gulzar were expelled from the party last week for 'their close links with a ruling party minister'. "People's Conference became an important constituent of the APHC in 1993. There is no post of vice-president and general secretary in our party and we have abolished all the senior positions of the party after the death of Abdul Gani Lone," he said.

The Hurriyat executive is meeting in Srinagar on Sunday to discuss the issue.

Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2002: The complete coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report