Srinagar, May 31: A crucial meeting of Jamaat-e-Islamia (JeI) began here today to decide on replacing its firebrand leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in the executive committee of the Hurriyat Conference. The Majilis-e-Shoora (command council) of JeI will also discuss the recent developments in Indo-Pak relations besides continuance of Geelani in Hurriyat.

Geelani had decided not to participate in Hurriyat meetings until the amalgam took action against people's conference for fielding proxy candidates in the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir last year.
The outfit had earlier announced it would decide on replacing Geelani with Ali Mohammad Sheikh in this meeting following which a number of militant outfits, including the Hizbul Mujahideen, had appealed to both JeI and the Hurriyat to desist from doing so.

Today's meeting is seen as a virtual show down between Geelani and JeI chief G M Bhat.

Bureau Report