New Delhi: Amidst raging controversy over alleged funding of separatist movement in
Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan High Commission through Hurriyat leaders, the 25-party
amalgam would be meeting soon to discuss the issue, which has raised several
eye-brows in the Valley.
Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat is facing tremendous pressure from within the
amalgam to explain his position after its activists, arrested for receiving money
from the Pakistan High Commission, alleged they had taken the funds for him, a senior
leader of the amalgam said on condition of anonymity.
Bhat was also facing some problems from Pakistan as Hurriyat's mentors across the
border wanted to remove him from Chairmanship of the amalgam, he said.
The Hurriyat leader said the executive meeting of the amalgam was likely to be held
this week during which the future strategy would be chalked out.
Meanwhile, statement of Anjum Zamrooda Habib, chief of Muslim Khawateen Markaz, and
main accused in alleged funding of separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir, was
recorded before a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
As per the POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) law, she would have to confirm the
statement before a judge after which it would be taken as "confessional" statement.
Habib and Shabir Dar, Delhi-based spokesman of Hurriyat, arrested by Delhi Police on
February 6 for accepting money from Pakistan High Commission, have alleged that it
was meant for Bhat for funding separatist movement.
Habib had also confessed before the designated POTA judge S N Dhingra that she had
visited the Pakistan High Commission at the instance of Bhat and the amount of Rs
3.07 lakh recovered from her was to be given to Bhat as "nazrana" (token
money).
In the meantime, Delhi Police was likely to take a decision about questioning Bhat.
The police was also studying the data of 27 floppies, 23 audio cassettes, 27 video
cassettes and 26 MP3 cassettes seized from the office of the Hurriyat Conference
during a raid last week.
The raid followed the arrest of amalgam's Delhi-based spokesman and the recovery of
Rs two lakh from him.
The Delhi Police, on a tip-off from the intelligence agencies had arrested Habib for
receiving Rs 3.07 lakh allegedly from expelled Pakistan Charge d' Affaires Jaleel
Abbas Jilani.
Habib had revealed during interrogation that Dar also used to receive money from
Pakistan High Commission.
The expelled diplomat has also been named in the FIR registered in this connection.
The controversies over bunglings in funds has been dogging the Hurriyat ever since
its inception with senior Jamaat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani facing criticism from
various militant groups for allegedly swindling crores of rupees meant for victims of
Chrar-e-Sharief in late 1990s.
JKLF (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front) chairman Yaseen Malik was arrested in 2002
under similar charges which was followed by arrest of Geelani for allegedly supplying
money to militant groups.
PTI
