Mirwaiz leaves for New York for Islamic meet

Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq left for New York on Monday to attend the Organisation of Islamic Conference and also hold a meeting with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

"The Mirwaiz has gone on the invitation of secretary general of OIC Akmaluddin to brief world leaders on the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir during its five-day session beginning September 19," the separatist conglomerate said in a statement.

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He is also scheduled to meet Musharraf during the tour that assumes significance, coming close on the heels of the maiden meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Hurriyat leaders at New Delhi on September 5, the statement said.

Before leaving on his trip, the Mirwaiz extended an open invitation to all pro-freedom groups to join the Hurriyat Conference to strengthen it at this "crucial juncture".

The OIC's Kashmir committee will deliberate upon various aspects of the freedom struggle and the need for resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the state, it added.