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Bilal Lone, elder son of slain separatist politician Abdul Gani Lone, will take his father's place on the executive council of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference on Monday.
Bilal Lone will participate in the executive council meeting as the People's Conference representative. His younger brother Sajjad, who was named chairman of the party last week, confirmed this. "He [Bilal] will participate in the executive council meeting on Monday," Sajjad Lone told rediff.com
Bilal Lone is in New Delhi and will return to the valley to participate in the meeting, he added.
Bilal Lone has said that he will follow his father's policies in letter and spirit, adding that he prefers a dialogue over violence and will continue to fight for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
On Monday, the Hurriyat executive is expected to move an obituary motion condoling Abdul Gani Lone's death and welcoming his son Bilal as a new member.
Hurriyat sources said the visit to India of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and his comments about the separatist movement in Kashmir would also come up at the meeting. Straw has openly dubbed the Kashmiri separatists as terrorists.
In a related development, the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front, a constituent of the 23-party separatist conglomerate, is starting a series of demonstrations against the international community's role in the Kashmir conflict.
"The international community, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, is ignoring the sacrifices made by Kashmiris," said JKLF acting chairman Javed Mir. "Earlier Jack Straw's Labour Party was supporting us. Now suddenly they have changed track and are equating our movement with terrorism!"
EARLIER REPORTS: Second son Sajad takes over Lone's party My father is a martyr for peace: Bilal Lone Lone killed in firing at Hurriyat meeting
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