July 14, 2015
News
Geelani not to attend Eid gathering at Pakistan HC, to show a symbolic protest
Hurriyat leader says Nawaz and Modi ignored fate of over 10 million Kashmiri peopleNEW DELHI/SRINAGAR – Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has decided against attending the Eid get together being hosted by the Pakistan High Commission in the Indian capital on July 21, the Zee News channel reported.
The channel reported that the reason behind Geelani’s surprise move was the Jammu Kashmir issue, being ignored at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia last week. The Hurriyat leader said that he would register his protest by not attending the Eid gathering as the two prime ministers did not discuss the Kashmir issue during their talks in the Russian city of Ufa on July 10.
“As the two prime ministers ignored the fate of over 10 million people of Jammu Kashmir in their meeting, we reject being a part of any of their (Pakistan’s) celebration,” Geelani said. “The Kashmir issue is question of life and death for us. Nobody can take us for granted. And I will not attend the Eid Milan in New Delhi to register a symbolic protest,” he said.
The channel reported that no member from Geelani’s party will attend the event. The scheduled Iftar party at the high commission earlier this month – which was to be attended by Hurriyat leaders from various factions – was canceled to create a favourable atmosphere for meeting of the two prime ministers.
“It is unfortunate that Kashmir issue was neglected in the (Ufa) meeting. The main issue between the two countries is Kashmir – and they chose not to talk about its resolution. The cancellation of Iftar party was to create a feasible environment for the (Sharif-Modi) meeting,” ythe channel quoted Geelani’s aide as saying.
On Monday, Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had said that the Ufa meeting served the purpose of achieving an understanding that tensions and hostility between the two countries need to be reduced in order to engage in dialogue pertaining to bilateral issues, including Kashmir.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk