Shah Faesal’s party opens fourth office in state

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 21

Just over a month after its launch, bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal-led Jammu Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) opened its fourth office in the state on Sunday.

The office was thrown open in Ganderbal main town, as part of JKPM’s efforts to expand its base across the state.

The party was launched on March 17 and the Ganderbal office is an addition to the party headquarters at Harco House, Raj Bagh, besides Sonawari constituency office in Sumbal main town and the Jammu province office in Narwal.

It was inaugurated by JKPM leader Shehla Rashid. Speaking on the occasion, she said the opening of an office in Ganderbal “signifies an important development as Ganderbal is considered as a game changer in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir state”.

Though the party has decided to stay away from the ongoing Parliamentary elections, Faesal said it had been done to prepare for the assembly polls. In the past one month, he has been holding rallies and functions across the valley, especially in native Kupwara district. The JKPM has also held a series of functions in Jammu as Faesal said the party was not confined to any region.

“Our decision to first build a sound base and not contest the (upcoming) Parliamentary elections is being widely hailed by the people. I could have joined an existing party and become MP or MLA but we are here for ‘door ki ladai’,” Faesal had stated at a rally in Lolab recently.

Besides Shehla, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and minister Javed Mustafa Mir is among the known faces to have joined the JKPM.

Among other leaders present at Sunday’s function in Ganderbal were JKPM state executive member Iqbal Ahmed Rather, JKPM women’s wing in charge Rufaida Mansoor, Ganderbal constituency in charge Raja Parvaiz and district in charge Mohammed Amin Sofi.