Never asked for security: Hurriyat leaders react

While reacting to the government decision of withdrawing the security of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and four other separatist leaders, moderate Hurriyat Conference on Sunday claimed the leaders had never asked for security from the government.

“Hurriyat leaders had never asked for security and that it was the government that insisted on keeping the personnel based on their threat perception,” a spokesperson of the Hurriyat said.

“The government and its propagandist anti Kashmir media had repeatedly been raking up the issue of police personnel provided to resistance Leadership to politicise, knowing fully well it has no bearing nor can it in any way change the reality of the lingering Kashmir dispute or the situation on ground or our principled stand and outlook regarding its resolution,” he said.

The spokesman said the issue of Kashmir will remain the same “with or without these police personnel at Hurriyat residence.”

He said whenever the security issue has been made centre stage, Mirwaiz has repeatedly said from the pulpit of Jamia Masjid that the Government can withdraw it.

The state government on Sunday issued orders withdrawing all security and any government facilities provided to the Mirwaiz, Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi and Shabir Shah.

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All security and any vehicles provided to them will stand withdrawn by today evening. No security forces or cover should be provided, under any pretext, to them or any other separatists, the order reads. If they have any other facilities provided by the Government, they are to be withdrawn forthwith.

Police Headquarter will review if there are any other separatists who have Government security or facilities and will withdraw these immediately, it added.