Geelani meets US embassy officials for visa, submits passports

Srinagar, Mar 16 (UNI) Ailing Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) today gave a detailed brief to New Delhi based embassy officials of the United States about his proposed visit to that country.

Mr Geelani was called by the US officials in the embassy at 1430 hours and interviewed for about one hour and 15 minutes this afternoon, spokesman of the HC Aiyaz Akbar told UNI.

The US will take a decision about granting visa to him on Monday, he said.

The United States had informed on March 14 that it will take at least one month to grant visa to him, his wife and son.

Mr Geelani, his wife and son had applied in the US embassy for a visa on Monday for taking him there for specialised treatment.

He said Mr Geelani, his wife and son were asked questions today about the reason for their visit to US.

Mr Akbar said Mr Geelani has informed the US officials that they wanted to visit US for specialised treatment in a hospital there.

When asked by the US officials if he has ever been arrested by the government, Mr Geelani admitted that he has been arrested a number of times for demanding implementation of the United Nations resolution on Kashmir.

Kashmir is a disputed territory and needs a permanent resolution as per the wishes of the people of the Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of their religion, region and language, Mr Geelani has said.

Mr Akbar said Mr Geelani and others were later asked to deposit their passports.

The decision about issuing of visa to them will be conveyed to Mr Geelani on Monday, he added.

MORE UNI