Nishan-e-Pakistan for Geelani, will he accept?

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 28

Pakistan senate’s resolution to confer the highest civilian award “Nishan-e-Pakistan” on Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who had resigned as chairman of his faction of Hurriyat Conference in a clear protest against Islamabad’s interference in his group, is seen as a volte-face by the establishment there to appease pro-Pakistan sections in the Valley through this award to him.

Geelani is quite miffed with Pakistan, the way Pakistan had replaced his wing of the All Party Hurriyat Conference in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir with that of its own, indicating infighting within the Pakistani establishment.

Now he is seen being compensated with the highest civilian award that will bracket him in the category of heads of state and governments from time to time.

That Pakistani senate passed the resolution when Pakistan is preparing for what it calls “a show of solidarity with Kashmiris” on the Indian side in the post August 5 era has not been lost on the people as to how Pakistan is desperate to regain its lost fortune that was represented for years together by Geelani.

August 5, 2019 represented a big political and diplomatic defeat for Pakistan for its narrative of “Kashmir issue”. In desperation, now it is making all tempts to show that it is with the Kashmiris, as there has not been a single statement after Geelani’s resignation in June about Pakistan exclusively.

Kashmiris have seen the fate of Geelani, the loudest pro-Pakistan voice in Kashmir. He was also leading the campaign of “Kashmir becoming part of Pakistan” to validate the “two-nation theory”. But his participation in Assembly elections in J&K was seen as a contradiction until August 1989 when he was forced to resign by Pakistan to set up a new campaign of secessionism in the Valley.

It would be interesting to see whether he accepts the award or rejects it. Those who know Geelani say he would accept it sooner than later.