Jammu, August 10
Sheikh Ghulam Hassan was elected today a Amir of the Jamait-e-Islami in Jammu and Kashmir after he received support of majority from the council of representatives which comprised the electoral college.
A spokesman of the Jamait-e-Islami, Mr Zahid Ali, said after a two-day long deliberations by the council of representatives Sheikh Ghulam Hassan received wide support as against Mr Mohammad Abdullah Wani.
Asked whether Sheikh Ghulam Hassan represented a moderate faction in the Jamait-e-Islami or belonged to Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s camp the spokesman said “in our organisation there is nothing like moderates and
hardliners. Whether a member or an Amir or any other office-bearer they have to follow the policies laid down by the Jamait-e-Islami.”
Though the outgoing
Amir, Mr Nazir Ahmed Kashani, and former Amir, Mr G.M.Bhat, had intended to contest Amir’s election they did not press their claim after they realised the majority of representatives were for a noncontroversial leader to be elected as Amir.
Inside reports said that since Syed Ali Shah Geelani, despite having been
suspended and sidelined from the organisation, continues to have a strong list of
supporters within Jamait-e-Islami the representatives, who were to elect the
Amir, thought it better to keep those, known for Geelani bashing, out of the race for the post of
Amir. It is in this context that neither Mr Kashani nor Mr Bhat were considered for the post of the Amir by the representatives.
The spokesman said that Mr Kashani and Mr Bhat were to be inducted as members of the 30-member-Majlis Shoura, the apex body of Jamait-e-Islami.
Reports also indicated that Sheikh Ghulam Hassan, being a highly noncontroversial leader, could prevent the organisation from a split between the loyalists and the supporters of Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
According to these
reports, there is no ideological differences between the loyalists and those in the Geelani
camp. The Jamait leadership has been critical of the way Mr Geelani has continued to support the gun
culture. The leadership has realised that Mr Geelani’s support to the ongoing armed struggle had resulted in the elimination of a large number of Jamait activists.
