Geelani poster at Wagah: BSF lodges protest with Pakistani Rangers

Amritsar, August 29

The Border Security Force (BSF) has lodged a protest over Pakistan’s move to display a poster of Kashmiri separatist and Hurriyat leader late Syed Ali Shah Geelani at the Wagah border.

The poster was put up by Pakistan on its side of the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post where thousands of Indian and Pakistan nationals watch the retreat ceremony every evening.

The poster is clearly visible from Attari (Indian side). Dr Atul Fulzele, Inspector General, BSF, said they had lodged a protest with Pakistan Rangers soon after the objectionable poster was put up.

“We have maintained that the location is meant exclusively for regimental and ceremonial purposes and it should not be misutilised for provocative political purposes. They (Pakistan) are not yet remove the poster. We will follow up the matter,” he said.

Geelani, a controversial leader in the Kashmiri separatist movement, had died nearly three years ago.

The move to put up his poster is being viewed as a deliberate attempt by the Pakistani authorities to draw global attention to the state and trigger tension in view of a rise in terror-related incidents and upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir.