New Delhi, July 23: Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat today denied that any decision on his extension had been taken and said that a final view would be taken within a week after meetings with various constituents. "No such decision has been taken so far but we will come out with an answer within a week's time," Bhat, whose tenure comes to an end tomorrow, said. Asked whether he would continue to hold the post, he said, "till the next chairman is elected, I will have to." Referring to the election procedure, he said, "My predecessor's (Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani) term had ended in April while the elections were held in July. We follow certain rules." Maintaining that no decision had been taken so far, he said, "Hectic consultations among the constituent parties were on to choose the next chairman of the amalgam." Bhat said that the Hurriyat was passing through a critical phase and the next chairman would have to undertake a daunting task. Meanwhile, amalgam sources said that in the absence of three executive members -- Geelani, JKLF leader Yaseen Malik and Peoples' League chief Sheikh Aziz, who are in jail under Public Safety Act, a one-year extension to Bhat was imminent.
Pressures from "other quarters" including militant groups was also being exerted on Bhat to continue as chairman as there was no one for the time being to replace him, the sources said.
Bureau Report