The tenure of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani as chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (movement for freedom) has been extended for an year as the the party was unable to hold elections in 2016.
The executive council of the party extended Geelani's term after a resolution in this regard was moved by senior executive member and party general secretary Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai
“All executive members unanimously passed a resolution and an amendment was passed to extend the tenure of the chairman and executive by one year,” a spokesman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat said in a statement.
The spokesman said keeping in view the consultative and democratic setup of the party, elections to the executive council and office-bearers are held every three years.
The election was due in August 2016, but was deferred due to unavoidable circumstances and public uprising last year, the statement said.
The resolution was supported by all members and later an amendment in this regard was permitted, the statement said. “All members requested Geelani to continue to lead the party for another year,'' the statement stressed.
''We are striving against Indian’s forcible control, unification among Muslims and adoration of Islam,'' the statement quoted Geelani as saying in the meeting. ''Social, political and religious aspects of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat are unique and since its inception, (it has) presented unparalleled sacrifices. Our party activists, during detentions, are exhibiting exemplary persistence in jails and interrogation centers.”
Tehreeek-e-Hurriyat is part of the Hurriyat Conference G (Geelani faction). The party was formed in August 2004 after Geelani separated from the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, considered as moderates.
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat souces said the elections could not be held largely because of the disturbance in Kashmir in 2016 and also because many supporters and workers of the party have been detained by police.
