US, Pak should clear stand on Fai’s arrest: Shiekh Hassan

Srinagar, July 21: Amir Jamiat-e-Islami (JeI), Sheikh Mohammad Hassan, Thursday asked US and Pakistan to clear their stand on the arrest of prominent Kashmiri separatist leader, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, by FBI in US.

Hassan said, “When National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party talk about resolution of Kashmir issue, nobody objects to it. Why is it crime if Dr Fai and others say so? He (Fai) was talking about Kashmir issue at diplomatic levels.” The Jamat chief said his organization had no contacts with Dr Fai from the last 25 years. “30 years back he was a clerk in Jamat office but since then we had no contact with him. He (Fai) never invited any Jamat leader to US for conferences though other separatist leaders were hosted by him frequently,” he said.

Asked whether they will support Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s protest call on Dr Fai, he said, Though Geelani sahib’s call doesn’t need anybody support, we will support it as Dr Fai was working for Kashmir cause. Strike is the only tool with us to protest.”

On the arrest of soon-to-be bride from Sopore, Qurat-ul-Ain, Hassan said, “It is highly condemnable. She should be released immediately.”

He welcomed resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue. “But it shouldn’t for the sake of dialogue. Our stand is that Kashmiris should be included as basic party in the talks and it should be result oriented” Hassan added. (KNS)