Syed Ali Shah Geelani Monday resigned from Hurriyat Conference faction he headed for years, citing the failure of the separatist amalgam's constituents to "resist" and "lead the people" against the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status among several reasons for his decision.
The 90-year-old Geelani, however, maintained there was no change in his ideology and he would continue to fight against "Indian imperialism" till his last breath despite his failing health.
In the letter written to APHC members, Geelani accused constituents of open rebellion, indiscipline, overstepping their bounds, non-cooperation and attempts to create a “parallel structure” within the amalgam.
“In view of the present circumstances after pondering over the entire issue, I have decided to dissociate from the Hurriyat Conference,” Geelani said.
“It's my firm belief that everyone is responsible for their own actions. It is beyond my capacity to be answerable to the faults and errors of my colleagues, who are free to take their own decisions."
Terming Abdullah Geelani as his representative in Pakistan, Geelani slammed the Hurriyat leadership in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK) for using their clout to get close to the power structure.
"As you know, the Azad Kashmir chapter of Hurriyat Conference is nothing more than a representative forum and devoid of powers to take any individual or collective decisions. But for past two years there have been a bevy of complaints against it," he said.
Geelani said although some members were dismissed based on an enquiry, some of them had thought of the process as beneath their dignity and began to call meetings on their own and issued orders to reframe the organizational structure.
He said to evade accountability, the representatives of the constituents had disobeyed the convener and launched a propaganda campaign under which "my statements and messages to the nation were distorted beyond belief."