The makings of a political goliath

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference is in the news again, telling Pakistan and India quit Kashmir and discuss the matter with the Kashmiris at the negotiating table.

Made up of 32 organisations, the APHC was set up in 1993 to provide the separatists with a strong political platform in Kashmir. It's key players, besides the many social and religious organisations, are the strongly anti-India Awami Action Committee of the later Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq and the Jamaat-e-Islami headed by Syed Ali Geelani. The APHC has been headed right since its creation by the young Mirwaiz Maulana Omar Farooq. Omar Farooq came into prominence after his father was killed by unknown assassins.

Just 17 when he became the APHC chairman in 1993, Omar Farooq appeared a bit young for the job. But he has strong support in the "Bakras", traditional followers of his family, who have always been at the forefront of all anti-India politics in the valley. This loyal and well-to-do following number more than two lakh in downtown Srinagar, providing a strong base for the Mirwaiz family.

The second most effective power in the APHC is the Jamaat-e-Islami, headed by the 75-year-old ex-school teacher, Syed Ali Geelani. Known locally as a puritanical Muslim with a strong sense of politics, Geelani has often been known to be able to rally the rest of the APHC around him because of his experience. Part of Geelani's clout is attributed to the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen, allegedly the armed wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, but Geelani has often denied it.

Next in the APHC hierarchy comes the Chief of the Peoples's Conference Abdul Gani Lone. Lone is an old, shrewd politician, even serving the previous government as a cabinet minister. With his smoothness, he has the advantage over the inexperienced Omar Farooq and the aggressive Geelani. He has been able to win the confidence of the separatists in the State despite his pro-Indian past.

The most vocal member of the APHC is Prof Abdul Gani Butt, the chief of Muslim Conference. Once a professor of Persian, he was sacked from government service by the then Governor Jagmohan. He is known for his good humour.

Also part of the APHC is the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, headed by Yasin Malik. Malik, leader of the only pro-independence militant group in Kashmir, has naturally had his differences with the other APHC leaders. But like the others, Malik too has realised that safety lies in numbers.

One leader who alienated himself from the APHC, Shabir Ahmad Shah, may even return to the fold soon. Shah made comments which led to the APHC demanding that he explain some of his statements. Angered, Shah dissociated himself from the APHC and tried -- unsucessfully -- to establish a separate political platform. Now, with opposition against him dwindling in the APHC, he looks like he will be back there soon.

Among the APHC's members are some organisations of government employees, which joined up in 1993, protesting against human rights violations and atrocities against government employees.

The militant pro-Pakistan groups in the APHC include the Hizbul Mujahideen, the Al-Umar Mujahideen, the Al-jehad, the Hizbullah and the Al-Burq.

Most Islamic countries have recognised the APHC as the sole political separatist voice of the Kashmiris. A recent Organisation of Islamic Conference invitation to the APHC chairman extended the protocol usually given to a head of state.

In contrast, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has been claiming the APHC lacks mass support in Kashmir. In return, the APHC has refused to recognise the elections in which Abdullah's National Conference came to power with a two-thirds majority in the State.

Related Story:Pak too must quit Kashmir, says Hurriyat