Jamaat questions Geelani over property donation

The Jamaat-e-Islami, the parent body of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, Monday questioned the octogenarian leader's right to donate his property to an autonomous trust.

The Jamaat said in a statement that its central advisory council met Monday with its chief, Muhammad Abdullah Wani, in chair. The meeting was attended by all the Kashmir Valley-based members of the council besides district presidents and others.

"The meeting asserted that the property at Rehmatabad Hyderpora in Srinagar currently used by Syed Ali Geelani for residential and official purposes actually belongs to the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir.

"The meeting unanimously reaffirmed the decision previously taken by the Jamaat that the said property will remain in the lifelong possession of Syed Ali Geelani.

"Nevertheless, after Geelani Sahib, Jamaat will be authorized to take any decision about it."

The meeting decided to send a delegation of Jamaat to verify reports that property had been donated to some trust.

Geelani is respected by the Jamaat-e-Islami, to which he has belonged right since his early days.

After he formed his breakaway Hurriyat group in 2002, Geelani announced the formation of another separatist party, the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, which he heads.