M A I N   N E W S

Hizb under Jamait-e-Islami control
From M. L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 11 — The right wing Jamait-e-Islami in Pakistan has brought the Hizbul Mujahideen under its control.

In a development of far reaching consequences the Amir (chief) of Jamait-e-Islami, Pakistan, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, has taken the control of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir by declaring a partial merger of the two organisations. He has announced the formation of a 12-member committee. The committee, to be headed by him, would ensure better coordination and cooperation between the two organisations.

The committee will have Jamait-e-Islami and Hizbul Mujahideen representatives from Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir. It will be a united Hizbul Mujahideen headed by Syed Salahuddin. It will have two naib amirs, one from Kashmir and another from occupied Kashmir. The chief commander operations, Abdul Majid Dar, has been allowed to retain his post.

Inside reports said Pakistan-based Jamait-e-Islami had been upset over the divergent stand taken by the Hizbul Mujahideen over the proposed peace talks. As such it did not want a situation in which the Kashmir-based Hizb leaders and activists snapped ties with the Pakistan-based Hizb leadership. In addition to this the Jamait-e-Islami in the Kashmir valley has been plagued by severe differences between the faction led by Amir G.M. Bhat and the one headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Though the differences were ironed out at a recent meeting of the Majlis-e-Shoora of Jamait-e-Islami, still the mistrust between the two continues.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed has debarred the Hizbul Mujahideen from taking any important political or diplomatic decision. The 12-member committee headed by the Qazi has been empowered to take all decisions. Hizbul Mujahideen field commanders and other leaders have been told to consult the Jamait-e-Islami on all matters connected with the ongoing jehad in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Qazi has tightened his grip over the Jamait-e-Islami.

Earlier, the Hizbul Mujahideen was treated as the military wing of the Jamaat. At one stage the Jamait-e-Islami leadership in Jammu and Kashmir had denied this fact. Now the Qazi Hussain Ahmed’s action has made the two organisations work together.

In order to buttress his position vis-a-vis the ruling elite in Pakistan the Qazi needed the direct support of the Hizbul Mujahideen.