Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) led by senior Kashmir separatist leader Shabir Shah split on July 24, with its general secretary Saleem Geelani claiming to be the president of the outfit, hours after he was expelled by Shah from the party.

Announcing the formation of an acting body of JKDFP at a press conference, Geelani said the decision to remove Shah was taken after a two-day joint meeting of central executive and working committee of the party.

Geelani has been appointed as president of JKDFP after removing Shah from the presidentship for his "authoritarian way of functioning and violating the party constitution", Geelani loyalists claimed.

Earlier on July 24, Shah had expelled Geelani and senior party leader Bashir Ahmad Wani from the primary membership of the party on charges of anti-party activities.

In a statement, Shah said he expelled Geelani and Wani for their anti-party activities after a thorough investigation into the serious allegations against them. However, he did not divulge any details.

However, Geelani, who was flanked by senior JKDFP members including Abdul Salim Rather, claimed that the joint meeting of the central executive and working committee unanimously dissolved the old executive body of the organisation and formed an ad-hoc body in order to re-activate and strengthen the organisation.

Shah has been always dogged by splits, had to see exit of his one time loyalist Nayeem Khan in late '90s. He himself was suspended by Hurriyat executive.

PTI