July 30, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1424

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SRINAGAR, July 29: A group demanding Indian Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan elected a new leader overnight, an official said on Tuesday.

Mr Nazir Ahmed Kashani, 70, a moderate, was elected head of the Jamaat-i-Islami separatist group on Monday evening at the Jamaat’s headquarters in Srinagar, party official Shabir Ahmed told AFP.

Mr Kashani, who is more an Islamic scholar than politician, defeated his nearest rival and former chief Ghulam Mohammed Bhat by 37 votes in the 97-member house of representatives.

He is known to want to take Jamaat back to being a religious movement rather than a political party with religious leanings.

Mr Bhat, also a moderate, was vying for his third consecutive term. He has served as Jamaat head for six years.

Jamaat is an important constituent of Kashmir’s main separatist alliance the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

Its representative in Hurriyat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has not been attending Hurriyat meetings as he has been demanding action against another important constituent, the People’s Conference (PC), for allegedly fielding proxy candidates during last year’s state elections.

The PC says three candidates who chose to contest polls have been sacked. The Hurriyat had boycotted the vote saying it was no substitute to the right of self-determination.

Mr Bhat has made unsuccessful attempts to get Geelani replaced in Hurriyat.

Jamaat sources said the election of Kashani as new chief will consolidate Mr Geelani’s position in Jamaat.

“Mr Kashani has won with the support of Mr Geelani and his men,” a source said.

Mr Bhat was not even elected as member of Jamaat’s Majlis-i-Shoora — the 25-member decision-making body.

Mr Geelani, who was re-elected as Majlis member, has threatened to launch a separate party if action is not taken against the PC. Molvi Abbas Ansari, Hurriyat’s new boss, however, has given a clean chit to the PC.

Mr Geelani has the tacit support of all rebel groups active in the scenic Himalayan region.—AFP