Eight separatist outfits, including former constituents of the rival moderate faction of the Hurriyat, today joined hardline Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani here.
"The pro-freedom organization which today joined the Hurriyat include Jammu Kashmir Peoples Movement (Jammu), Kashmir Freedom Front, Tehreek-e-Mazahamat, Islamic Political Party, Gojer Phari Forum, Muslim Khawateen Markaz, Pairvan-i-Villayat and prominent separatist leader Hakeem Abdul Rasheed," Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said.
Rasheed, who was heading a breakaway faction of Muslim League in the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led moderate faction, parted ways with the conglomerate along with five other second rung leaders last month.
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Others who left moderate Hurriyat included Salvation Front chairman Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Shahid Saleem (Peoples Movement, Jammu), Yasmeen Raja (Muslim Khawateen Markaz), Syed Salim Geelani and Syed Bashir Andrabi.
Earlier in January last year, four senior leaders - Shabir Shah (Democratic Freedom Party), Nayeem Khan (National Front), Azam Inqulabi of Mahaz-e-Azadi and Mohammad Yousuf Naqash of Islamic Political Party - left the moderate amalgam and later formed a third Hurriyat called the Jammu Kashmir Hurriyat Conference (JKHC).
Akbar said the new constituents signed an agreement "Meesaq-i-Hurriyat" at a function chaired by Geelani and vowed to work for right of self-determination.
