SRINAGAR: It has come to forefront that children and other family members of over a dozen senior separatist leaders, are pursuing education and doing jobs in various foreign countries.
According to sources in MHA as many as 210 kin of 112 separatist leaders have been settled in various foreign countries, doing jobs or studying in reputed institutions. These include names of 14 prominent separatist leaders, whose children, family members are abroad while as they themselves continue to instigate the Kashmiri youth to indulge in stone pelting, joining militancy and other anti-national activities, thus destroying their career and future.
As per some newspaper reports, Khalid Ashraf and Aabid Ashraf both sons of separatist leader Ashraf Sehrai are working in Saudi Arabia and are well settled there and enjoying all privileges of life. Similarly, Mohammad bin Qasim and Ahmad bin Qasim, the two sons of Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi are studying in top educational institutions in Malaysia and Australia respectively.
Two daughters of Altaf Ahmad Fantoosh, who is the son-in-law of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and is affiliated with Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, are also abroad. One of them is doing MBBS in Pakistan and another is a journalist in Turkey, the reports said.
Likewise, Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s sister is a doctor in United States of America. Three wards of People’s Conference leader Bilal Lone, who is also affiliated to Hurriyat Conference, are also settled abroad. One of his daughters and son-in-laws are in London, another daughter is studying in Australia.
Son of former Jamaat-e-Islami Aamir, GM Bhat is a doctor in Saudi Arabia while son of Mohammad Shafi Reshi, who is a separatist affiliated with Democratic Political Movement is pursing PhD in United States of America.
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Ashraf Laya’s daughter is pursuing MBBS in Pakistan while son of Zahoor Geelani, who is also affiliated with Tehreek-e-Hurriyat is settled in Saudi Arabia and is working in prominent Saudi Airlines there.
Naeem Geelani son of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman, hardline faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference has also studied MBBS from Pakistan.
Daughters of Mohammad Yusuf Mir and Farooq Gatpuri, both separatists affiliated with Muslim League are also studying Medicines in Pakistan. Son of Khwaja Firdous Wani, the leader of Democratic Political Movement, too is doing MBBS in Pakistan.
Daughter and son of Nissar Hussain Rather, the separatist leader of Tehreek-e-Wahdat-e-Islami are well settled in Iran. His daughter is doing job in Iran.
There are reports that over 300 family members and relatives of 112 separatist leaders were doing jobs or studying abroad.
Source of funding of the studies of the separatists’ kin is also a major issue on which the Central Intelligence agencies were working. There were reports that funds received by the separatists from abroad to create unrest in the Kashmir valley have been used by them for studies of their children, reports said.
