Srinagar, May 27: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has asked the people to observe a Valley-wide shutdown on Saturday to protest against the visit of the United Progressive Alliance chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, to Jammu.     
 “Even if Congress president Sonia Gandhi limits her visit to Jammu only, the people of Kashmir will still register their protest against the criminal policies being pursued by the Congress party and Indian rulers vis-à-vis Kashmir. The people will, therefore, observe complete shutdown on May 29,” Geelani said in a statement.
 “Jammu and Kashmir is one unit. Both regions are parts of same body,” it added.  The statement said the Hurriyat (G) Chairman is scheduled to address a Friday prayer meeting on May 28, at Narbal.  “After congregation prayers protests will be staged across the Kashmir against the death sentence to Muhammad Afzal Guru and conviction of other Kashmiris in Lajpat Nagar case and also against the deplorable plight of Kashmiri detainees in jails,” it added.
 Geelani also expressed serious concern over the frequent raids on the residence of senior Hurriyat leader Raja Meraj-ud-Din, who was recently released from jail on court orders. He alleged that police today raided Raja’s residence and harassed the inmates including children and women.
 The Hurriyat chairman expressed concern over continued detention of Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Gen Musa, Masrat Alam Bhat, Muhammad Yousuf Nadeem,  Muhamamd Qasim Faktoo,  Muhammad Rafiq Ganai, Mir Hafizullah,  Altaf Khan, Sonnaullah mir, Muhammad Yousuf Mir,  Ashiq Sofi, Manzoor Khan,  Bashir Ahmad Dar, Bilal Badyari, Zaffar Habib,  Shakeel Ahmad, Javid Najar and Nazir Ahmad.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 27 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 27 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 IST