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People's Conference splits in J&K

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR AUG. 31. The Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference, a constituent of the All- Party Hurriyat Conference, has plunged into a crisis with its jailed general secretary, Ghulam Ahmed Gulzar, expelling Sajjad Lone and Bilal Lone, who assumed the party's leadership after their father, Abdul Gani Lone, was assassinated. Another leader, Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi, has also been expelled for joining the fray in the coming elections to the State Assembly.

Mr. Gulzar, lodged in the Central Jail here, said in a release that the formation of the supreme council and the takeover of the party leadership by the junior Lones was "unconstitutional and undemocratic.'' Sajjad and Bilal, by fielding dummy candidates, had compromised the sacrifice of the martyrs including that of their father. "The act amounts to treason and treachery with the tehreek (freedom movement).''

"The three members have been expelled from the basic membership of the party for directly or indirectly taking part in the elections and indulging in anti-freedom activities,'' the release said adding that the general secretary had urged the party executive council to consult the vice-chairman, Ghulam Muhammad Hubbi, also in jail, to elect a new chairman within three months. He had also suggested that for the time being, an interim chairman be nominated to run the affairs of the party and represent it in the Hurriyat. And he had called upon the Hurriyat chairman not to deal with the Lone brothers.

The development will have far-reaching consequences for the Lones, who are now virtually faced with a revolt. The Hurriyat is meeting tomorrow to discuss the filing of nominations by the PC affiliates in Kupwara.

Reacting to Mr. Gulzar's statement, a People's Conference release said that the party's general council had unanimously elected Sajjad as chairman and Bilal as representative of the party in the Hurriyat after Abdul Gani Lone was killed. And that Sofi, who was contesting from Handwara, had already resigned from the party membership. ``Both Gulzar and Hubbi have been expelled from the party for conniving with a senior Minister of the National Conference,'' the release alleged.

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