Jamiat calls for all party meet in Kashmir

The Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith has called for an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss the assassination of its head, Maulvi Showkat Shah, two days earlier. Maulvi Showkat was killed in a pinpoint strike by an improvised explosive device as he was entering the mosque to lead Friday prayers. If the call is answered by the major political parties, it will be the first time in two decades of violence that Kashmir’s political class will have collectively responded to the issue of targeted killings by militants. “This business has gone on too long. Even Maulvi Showkat had survived two earlier attempts on his life. Who is behind all this? What is this hidden hand that targets people at will? We want to discuss this with everyone,” said Abdul Rehman Bhat, general secretary of the Ahl-e-Hadith. The invitation is not confined to separatist groups; even mainstream political parties are invited.