Mirwaiz likely to address Friday congregation in Kashmir after 19 months

Srinagar: After 19 months, chairman of his faction of Hurriyat conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq is likely to address the congregation at historic Jama Masjid this Friday as the government claims that he is no longer under house detention.

Mirwaiz was under house arrest since August 5, 2019, when special status of J&K was abrogated and the state was downgraded into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Hurriyat leader was among 7500 persons including politicians, activists, civil society members and businessmen, detained in wake of passing of J&K Reorganization Bill on August 5 and 6 by the parliament.

While the police and administration hasn’t officially announced the release of Mirwaiz, the possibility of the same happening on Friday, is seen as a silver lining in the frozen political space in Kashmir. “Ultimately government has to give space for politics in Kashmir. We are demanding a peaceful and long lasting resolution of Kashmir issue,” a senior Hurriyat leader told ET. He further said that ‘the regime change in the United States has had its impact on the policies of New Delhi vis a vis Kashmir.’ Mirwaiz’s release also coincides with the recent DGMO level talks between India and Pakistan, in which they have agreed for upholding ceasefire along Line of Control and other border areas.

A senior official claimed that another meeting between the officials of two countries is slated for later this month and if all goes well in that meeting, some more Hurriyat leaders might be released soon. “Some politics might be allowed to happen on ground now,” another senior official said.

The regional political parties including National Conference and People’s Democratic Party also welcomed the reports regarding release of Mirwaiz reiterating the necessity of dialogue between India and Pakistan.

“Reports of allowing Mirwaiz Umer Farooq to offer congregational prayers at Jama Masjid after 18 months also gives an insinuation about the changed attitude we hail on account of it being in sync with our stated policy underscoring good will between India and Pakistan as means to foster peace in J&K,” said Omar Abdullah, vice president of J&K National Conference, while addressing party meeting here in Srinagar.

The PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, said that Mirwaiz’s release from arbitrary detention was a good step.

“…I hope that hundreds of Kashmiri men languishing in jails in and outside J&K will also be released soon. It’s time they returned home to their families,” said Mufti.

Meanwhile, members of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, a conglomerate of religious bodies from across Kashmir, held a meeting in Srinagar demanding immediate release of Mirwaiz from detention. Mirwaiz was supposed to chair the meeting but he could come there, so Aga Syed Hassan Al Mosavi Alsafvi presided over the meeting.

“The pulpit of the largest religious and spiritual centre of J&K—Jama Masjid Srinagar – has fallen silent for the last 82 Fridays… this greatly hurts the sentiments of the muslims,” read the official statement of the MMU. The participants observed that as per media reports government officials have said that the curbs on the Mirwaiz have been lifted. “We hope that the authorities will honor their word and release him from house detention immediately,” read the statement. (Agency)