Ashraf Sehrai in new role, but little scope for changes

Azhar Qadri

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Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 21

A day after Ashraf Sehrai was named the interim chief of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, the office-cum-residence complex of Syed Ali Geelani was quiet. A police vehicle had barricaded the entrance and policemen were restricting the entry.

The members of separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference — of which the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat is an important constituent — were allowed in. The policemen carried out their routine checking on Tuesday and the headquarters of Kashmir’s influential separatist political party maintained their routine.

The supporters of Geelani welcomed the smooth change of command in the main constituent of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference and many expressed contentment about Sehrai being the choice.

“It is the contribution, dedication and sincerity which matters. Whether he is from the clan or outside, hardly matters,” Syed Naseem, Geelani’s younger son, wrote on Facebook.

Sehrai, who is in his mid-seventies and has served as general secretary of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, has had a long association with Geelani and their parent organisation Jamaat-e-Islami, both of which date back to almost five decades. Sehrai hails from Tekipora village of north Kashmir’s Kupwara and now resides in the city for the past many years.

The change in command in the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, which was founded by Geelani in August 2004 after fissures between him and the Jamaat-e-Islami, is also a possible indicator of the succession debate in the Hurriyat Conference.

Imtiyaz Haider, a senior member of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat who said he grew closer to Sehrai during their recent jail terms, described the new interim chairman as “highly dedicated”. “What he has in his heart, he says it in his words. His commitment is flawless,” Haider said.

Several party members said Sehrai would glue together the activists of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat as Geelani continued his role of chairman of the faction of the Hurriyat Conference and was a key member of the separatist troika called Joint Resistance Leadership.

However, there is little policy change that Sehrai can influence in his new interim role, which will be overshadowed by the dominating presence of Geelani.

Advocate and activist Syed Babar said the change of guard in the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat has come “too late”. “The internal and external politics and narratives are changing and these will be least affected by this current change,” Babar said.

50-year association with Syed Geelani 

• Sehrai, who is in his mid-seventies and has served as general secretary of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, has had a long association with Geelani and their parent organisation Jamaat-e-Islami, both of which date back to almost five decades.
• He hails from Tekipora village of north Kashmir’s Kupwara and now resides in Srinagar. 
• There is, however, little policy change that Sehrai can bring in his new interim role, which will be overshadowed by the dominating presence of Geelani.