Political Activities of JKIM

JKIM appeared on the political scene of Kashmir in 1963 amidst the Holy Relic Movement when the episode of disappearance of Holy Relic of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him and his household) from Hazratbal Shrine appeared in the Valley. To channelise people’s anger against the unfortunate episode of the theft of Holy Relic, a united front called “Holy Relic Action Committee” came into being which later assumed political overtones and guided people of Kashmir. JKIM president Maulana Abbas became its spokesman. The whole population rose as one man demanding not only the restoration of the Holy Relic but also the withdrawal of Indian occupation forces from the State. Ultimately the Holy Relic was restored.
JKIM was also instrumental in forming a political party named “Peoples Action Committee” in March 1964 to seek the right of self determination for the people of Kashmir. The government of India took serious exception to the activities of JKIM and Maulana was arrested in 1964. He was arrested again in 1965 for 15 months.
JKIM vehemently opposed the holding of “State political convention” in 1967-68 and described it as deviation from the path of truth. JKIM president reminded the participants that real solution to Kashmir Problem is in the right of self-determination & this Ideological stand saw him again behind the bars. During 1971 Indo-Pak conflict he once again advocated confinement of right of self determination to the people of Kashmir and to silence the voice he was again arrested.
After Indira Gandhi-Sheikh Abdullah accord of February 1975 the Plebiscite Front was wound up and Sheikh Abdullah revived his National Conference. JKIM opposed this accord tooth and Nail and described it as unacceptable to the people of the state. Consequent upon the signing of the accord, JKIM brought all the people of Identical Ideology on a single political platform and declared creation of “Peoples United Front” to work against the sell out. The then Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto gave a call for strike on 28th February to protest against the accord and due to the hard efforts of JKIM & Peoples United Front the strike was total and telling.
The period 1975 -85 witnessed the continuous struggle of JKIM & Maulana Abbas against the occupationists and brutalities and atrocities of their puppet regimes in Kashmir. JKIM played the role of opposition leader when it was mandatory for a political party in Kashmir to seek blessings from Sheikh Abdullah. During this period JKIM always stood for the right of self determination. JKIM also launched the campaign against liquor trade in Kashmir. Ruling regime took strong opposition to these activities and Maulana was again detained and charged with mutiny and conspiracy against the Indian government. Trial was conducted in a closed room in central jail, Srinagar.
In 1986 JKIM assembled Muslim scholars, politicians and parties from all sects and sections on a single platform named "Muslim United Front" (MUF), on the fundamental issue of strengthening Muslim community. Its stance on Kashmir was clear and unambiguous; that it has been occupied by fraud and brute force and its people had yet to exercise their right of self determination. Maulana was selected conveyor of the Front. In 1987 Front accepted the challenge of the then chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to fight elections of state assembly to show the world that kashmiri’s does not consider itself to be a part of India emotionally. Although all the previous elections of the state legislature were massively rigged by the pro-Indian ruling parties, front fought elections. This election was the proverbial last straw for the people of valley. This was the turning point in the history of Kashmir which culminated in armed rebellion against Indian authority.
JKIM leadership along with Maulana Abbas was arrested in April, 1990 and released after two years of detention. After his release from jail Maulana Abbas along with his other colleagues has tried to give the right direction to the independence movement. He once again started organizing different political, religious, social and humanitarian organizations and played an outstanding role in the formation of "All Parties Hurriyat Conference" (APHC) in 1993. This forum provides a common platform and guidance to the ongoing freedom movement under a collectively and unanimous political leadership.
JKIM on the platform of APHC kept up its campaign for a just solution to the Kashmir issue, and continued, at every level, to discharge its duty of guiding the Kashmiri people and articulating their aspirations. The ruling clique, perceiving the historic alliance as a threat, was always on the lookout for a chance to break it and crush all efforts aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue. Putting these plans into practice, Maulana Abbas Ansari was arrested once again in September 1999.
The APHC on July 12, 2003 unanimously elected JKIM chief patron Maulana Abbas Ansari, as its Chairman at a meeting of the Executive Committee members. Out of the seven constituents, representatives of six parties were present at the meeting. Abbas Ansari was the fourth chairman of the Hurriyat who replaced Abdul Ghani Bhat on the latter’s completion of his three-year term. Ansari is also, incidentally, the first Shia to head the Hurriyat Conference.
As the true voice of the people of Kashmir and the person who represents the changing mood in Kashmir, Maulana Ansari headed the Hurriyat at this crucial juncture. Soon after taking over as Chairman, he called for an immediate ceasefire between the security forces and the militants. He also suggested the re-opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road so that the people of both parts of Kashmir could meet their kin.
During his tenure as Chairman of APHC Maulana 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 Maulana Abbas Ansari negotiated with deputy prime minister of India L. K. Advani in New Delhi on 22nd Jan 2004. The APHC delegation stressed that an honorable and durable solution should be found through dialogue. 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. The next round of APHC discussion with Indian government took place in the latter part of March.
On May 21, 2004 in a crowded Public gathering at martyrs’ graveyard in Iddgah, Srinagar Hurriyat chairman Maulana Abbas Ansari announced that he was resigning his post in an effort to bring about the reunification of the coalition's factions.
On 7th April 2005, 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 Maulana Abbas Ansari visited Pakistan and Muzaffarabad in June 2005 crossing LOC by bus.