"LET'S START AFRESH": Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressing a news conference in Srinagar on Tuesday. Senior Hurriyat leaders Abdul Gani Bhat and Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari are seated to his right. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad

SRINAGAR: A day after Pakistan asked the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference to get united, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of a faction headed by him, offered to step down. He suggested that both factions be disbanded and the erstwhile alliance with seven executive members be restored. Politically, it was the most "crucial and decisive stage" for the process of resolution of the Kashmir issue, he said.

After a marathon meeting of the Hurriyat executive council, attended by Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulvi Abbas Ansari and Bilal Lone, the Mirwaiz told a crowded news conference here that he was ready to step down as chairman provided Syed Ali Shah Geelani, head of the rival faction, did the same and all the individual constituents came together to restore the structure of Hurriyat Conference as it existed in September 2003, the time it was split. "I am ready to resign," he said.

Admitting that the people were "confused and disillusioned" at the situation prevailing in the separatist camp and over the manner "we behave ourselves," the Mirwaiz said that "we can start afresh and have the same executive of the Hurriyat which can deliberate upon the structural changes if needed." There was no harm in bringing about the changes if suggested.

On Monday, Pakistan asked the moderate and the hardline factions to unite, saying that a solution to the Kashmir issue was "nearer than ever before." The Mirwaiz dismissed the setting up of negotiating committees as a delaying process and said, "these things will not solve the problems and we should look beyond that and come with an open mind to get united in the larger interests of the movement." Mr. Geelani's faction recently constituted a five-member committee to talk with the other group on the unity issue. The Hurriyat is ready to go to any extent if unity is based on principles for achieving the goal," the Mirwaiz said adding that this was the "most crucial and decisive stage of resolution of Kashmir issue."

Stating that the two-day executive meeting discussed issues including the meeting with Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf, the Indo-Pak peace process and the latest situation in Kashmir, he suggested a joint meeting between two Hurriyat factions and all those separatists out of its ambit. For the last two years there had been an effort for unity but nothing concrete had come out. He hoped that the other faction would respond positively so that a new direction was given. "People want the separatists to unite to take the movement to its logical conclusion," he said.

Taking a dig at the mushrooming of new separatist political parties in the State, the Mirwaiz said: "It is unfortunate that instead of uniting we have new parties coming up every now and then which has created confusion among the masses. Such parties are encouraged to merge themselves with bigger groups with ideological similarities."

The Mirwaiz supported the peace process between India and Pakistan but said it needed to be strengthened. He, however, called for steps to end what he alleged were "continued violations of human rights in Kashmir" to make the peace process meaningful. About 150 people were killed last month, he said. "Time has come when Kashmiris have to be included in the dialogue process. I would suggest that the Indo-Pak peace process should be renamed as resolution process," added the Mirwaiz.

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