Masarat Alam to skip Pakistan Day function in Delhi

Separatist leader Masarat Alam, who was invited for Pakistan National Day celebrations at the High Commission in Delhi on Monday, will not be attending the event.

Recently-released hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam will not attend the Pakistan Day function organised by Pakistan high commission in New Delhi on Monday.

“I have received the invitation from the Pakistan High Commission and will, however, not travel to Delhi due to personal engagements and health problems,” said Alam on Sunday.

Alam (42) heads Muslim League, a constituent of hardline Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Geelani.

He is believed to have played a pivotal role during the 2010 street protests and was in the eye of a political storm recently when he was released on March 7. Chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed drew flak from the centre too.

However, other separatists went to Delhi to hold separate meetings with Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit on Pakistan Day.

Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, reached Delhi on Sunday to participate in the Pakistan Day celebrations and met the high commissioner Abdul Basit to discuss the Kashmir issue in context of the recently concluded foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan.

According to sources, ‘various aspects of the ongoing political developments in Kashmir and with regards to the foreign secretary-level talks were discussed’.

(With inputs from agencies)