Mohammad Abbas Ansari
Quaid-e-Itthad Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen(JKIM) | |
---|---|
In office 31 March 1962 – 25 October 2022 | |
Preceded by | Position Established |
Succeeded by | Masroor Abbas Ansari |
Personal | |
Born | Pan Islamic Unity in Kashmir | 17 August 1936
Political party | |
Alma mater | Oriental College, Srinagar, Sultanul Madaris, Lucknow,
Chairman of Ittihadul Muslimeen |
Website | https://ittihadul.tripod.com |
Mohammad Abbas Ansari (
Early life and education
Abbas was born on 18 August 1936, in Srinagar to the influential Ansari family.[4] After his preliminary education at a local school in Srinagar, he graduated from the Oriental College in Srinagar. In 1950, he left for further studies in
Entry in politics
On 27 March 1962 Abbas founded the political party "Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen"(JKIM) (Unity of Muslims) with the main object of keeping the various sects of Muslims united.
Abbas appeared on the political scene of Kashmir in December 1963 amidst the Holy Relic Movement when people clandestinely lifted a relic[clarification needed] of Muhammad from Hazratbal Shrine of Srinagar. The "Holy Relic Action Committee" was formed as a response to that incident and Abbas was named coordinator after the removal of Mirwaiz Farooq. The group dissolved after the return of the relic.[6] Along with political leaders including Mohammad Farooq and Sofi Mohammad Akbar, he formed a political party named "Peoples Action Committee" in March 1964 to seek the right of
Political activities
During the
The period from 1975 to 1985 witnessed the continuous struggle of Abbas against New Delhi and democratic government in Kashmir. Abbas was opposition leader. During this period he always stood for the right of self-determination and launched a campaign against the liquor trade in Kashmir. The Government opposed these activities and Abbas was again detained and charged with mutiny and conspiracy against the Indian government. His trial occurred in a closed room in the central jail in Srinagar.
Muslim United Front
In 1986 Abbas assembled Muslim scholars, politicians and parties from various factions on a single platform named Muslim United Front (MUF), on the fundamental issue of strengthening the Muslim community. It argued that Kashmir was occupied by fraud and brute force and its people had yet to exercise their right of self-determination. Abbas was selected conveyor of the Front.
Diplomatic struggle
In a January 1967 letter to
After his release in May 2000, Abbas undertook an overseas tour to present the freedom movement of Kashmir and highlight the atrocities reportedly being perpetrated on Kashmiris. In the
All Parties Hurriyat Conference
In 1992, Abbas was released along with his political companions like
On 12 July 2003, the APHC elected Abbas as its chairman at a meeting of Executive Committee members.
Soon after taking over as chairman, he called for an immediate ceasefire between the security forces and the militants, saying that "the Kashmir issue is not a border dispute, but a humanitarian problem. It cannot be solved through gun, but only through negotiations."[12][13]
On 21 May 2004 Abbas Ansari offered to resign his post in an effort to bring about the reunification of the coalition's factions[14] and did so on July of that year.[15] Organization's founder-chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was asked to work towards restoring the Hurriyat's original executive council and send invitations to all the pre-split executive council members.[15]
Hurriyat-New Delhi Talks
During his tenure as Chairman of APHC, Abbas initiated a dialogue process with Indian government on the basis that it should be unconditional, level-based and exclusively centered on Kashmir problem. An APHC delegation led by Abbas Ansari and composed of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Ghani Lone and Fazal-ul-Haq Qureshi negotiated with deputy prime minister of India L. K. Advani in New Delhi on 22 January 2004.[16] The APHC delegation stressed that an honorable and durable solution should be found through dialogue.[17] It was agreed that meeting was the first significant step in the dialogue process and a step-by-step approach would lead to the resolution of all outstanding issues relating to Jammu and Kashmir. The APHC delegation was committed to the enlargement of the dialogue process to cover all regions of Jammu and Kashmir and concerns of all communities. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf termed these talks as "a very good beginning".[18] The next round of APHC discussion with Indian government took place in the latter part of March.
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road
During his tenure as APHC Chairman, Abbas advocated the re-opening of the Srinagar-Rawalpindi road so that the people of both parts of Kashmir could meet their kin and help survivors of the 2005 earthquake.[19] "The people on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) have been craving to meet each other. When India and Pakistan can resume the New Delhi-Lahore bus service, there is no harm in reopening the Srinagar-Rawalpindi road", Abbas said in an interview.[20] On 7 April 2005, the first passengers from either side of the Line of Control cross divided Kashmir as the first Srinagar Muzaffarabad Bus Service was launched. Hurriyat leaders including Abbas visited Pakistan and Muzaffarabad in June 2005 crossing the Line of Control by bus.
Death
Ansari died in Srinagar on the morning of 25 October 2022, at the age of 86.[21] Thousands of people attended his funeral.[22]
See also
- Hurriyat and Problems before Plebiscite
- Syed Ali Shah Geelani
- Kashmir conflict
- Tafazzul Husain Kashmiri
- Masroor Abbas Ansari
- Ghulam Rasool Noori
- Destruction of Kashmiri Shias
References
- ^ a b "Introduction". JAMMU & KASHMIR ITTIHADUL MUSLIMEEN. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
- ^ "Historic Kashmir talks bring hope". BBC News. 22 January 2004. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ^ a b c Swarup, Harihar (20 July 2003). "An important player in Kashmir's politics". Tribune India. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ a b c "Hurriyat: A crowded house, a divided house". The Indian Express. 23 May 2002. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ^ "RESOLUTION 47 (1948) ON THE INDIA-PAKISTAN QUESTION SUBMITTED JOINTLY BY THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR BELGIUM, CANADA, CHINA, COLUMBIA, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ADOPTED BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL AT ITS 286TH MEETING HELD ON 21 APRIL, 1948". Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ Devadas, David (20 July 2003). "If Ansari keeps Hurriyat and Geelani intact, it won't be a surprise". The Tribune India. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ "JKIM Leaders". Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ a b c "Kashmir separatists elect new leader". BBC. 12 July 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "World: South Asia Kashmir strikes under fire". BBC. 28 September 1999. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ Swarup, Harihar (20 July 2003). "An important player in Kashmir's politics". The Tribune India. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ^ "Abbas new chairman of APHC". dawn.com. 13 July 2003. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ^ Imam, Hasnain (1 August 2003). "Moulvi Abbas Ansari: The Hurriyat's New Chief". www.jammu-kashmir.com. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "There Should Be A Ceasefire From Both Sides". www.outlookindia.com. 28 July 2003. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ "I Will Quit If That Brings Hawks Home: Abbas Ansari". The Indian Express. 21 May 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ^ a b "Ansari exits, Mirwaiz enters". The Telegraph. 8 July 2004. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "Kashmir separatists prepare for talks". BBC. 15 January 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ "Historic Kashmir talks bring hope". BBC. 22 January 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ "Separatists meet Indian PM". BBC. 23 January 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- ^ "Hurriyat hopes for border crossings soon". India Daily. 19 October 2005. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ^ Swarup, Harihar (2 November 2003). "Ansari represents the new mood in Kashmir". Tribune India. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ^ "Maulana Abbas Ansari Is No More". Kashmir Life. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ "Public funeral for separatist Molvi Abbas Ansari". The Telegraph India. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
External links
- APHC open to US role on Kashmir
- on Proceedings.htm Senate meetings held on 12 & 18 June 2005 at Parliament House, Islamabad
- "Human rights violations and peace cannot go together": Maulana Abbas Ansari
- Abbas Ansari Threatens to Withdraw from Peace Talks
- Maulana Abbas Ansari asked India to respond "positively" to President Zardari
- Pakistan's stand on Kashmir 'historical'
- Ansari Addressed a huge public Rally in Muzaffarabad
- India suppressing Kashmiris' struggle by force: Ansari
- Maulana Abbas Ansari's views on dual currency proposal
- India is using brute force to suppress the freedom movement: Ansari
- Top Shia cleric Maulana Abbas Ansari placed under house arrest
- Ansari and others in jail 1999
- Amnesty international reports Ansari arrested 1999