Geelani seeks passport for visit to Pakistan

Srinagar, Jan 22: Chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani has moved a fresh application in the Regional Passport Office (RPO) here, requesting a passport so that he could undertake a visit to Pakistan next month.

HC spoksman Aiyaz Akbar told sources that Mr Geelani had applied for a fresh passport on October 24, 2005. His earlier passport was impounded in 1990 for his alleged separatist activities.

However, no action was so far taken by the RPO on the application, the spokesman said.

He said Mr Geelani in his application today said that he was invited by the Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) for a visit.

The invitation from the Pakistan JeI was enclosed with the application, he said.

''I am interested to visit Pakistan and therefore you are requested to issue the passport,'' Mr Geelani wrote in his applcation.

Mr Akbar said there is no justification for the authorities today a passport to Mr Geelani.

''When other separatists leaders were allowed to visit Pakistan, why cannot Mr Geelani go'' he queried.

He said Mr Geelani wants to reach Pakistan in February 5 to attend a conference. If allowed, this will be his first visit to Pakistan.

Mr Geelani was allowed to perform haj pilgrimage last year after his applications were being rejected by the State Haj committee for more than five years following adverse reports from intelligence agencies.

The three member delegation of the other faction of the HC-- chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, former chairman Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Gani Lone--is presently in Pakistan.

They had already met President General Pervez Musharraf and other leaders in Pakistan and are scheduled to meet leaders in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) before flying back here.

However, Mr Geelani has already reject the visit of Mirwaiz and other leaders to Pakistan, saying it was nothing but a ''picnic.''

UNI