Hizbul chief to address human rights seminar in Srinagar

A day-long seminar on the 'role of pro-freedom leader's vis-a-vis Kashmir issue' is being organised in Srinagar by the International Forum for Justice and Human Rights.

Ahsan Untoo, chairman of the human rights group, said the seminar will be attended by several senior separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik.

But the highlight of the seminar will be a tele-address by Muzaffarabad-based United Jihad Council chairman and supreme commander of Hizbul Mujaheedin Syed Salah-ud-Din.

UJC general secretary Akil-ur-Rahman is also scheduled to address the conference.

"I have invited all the top separatist leadership to attend the conference, and seven leaders have confirmed their participation in the conference," Untoo told rediff.com.

This will be the first time that a senior militant commander from across the Line of Control will directly address a seminar.

Earlier Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference, and hard-line APHC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatist leaders have addressed conferences in Muzaffarabad via the telephone.