The death of Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, president of Jamiat-e-Alhi-Hadees (JAH), in an IED blast March 8, has brought to fore the deep fissures within the separatist camp. The soft-spoken cleric was ironically killed at the doorsteps of Gaw-Kadal mosque where he was going to lead the Friday prayers. The murder has been condemned by all in Kashmir. Perhaps his killers too were present at the mourning, paying him rich tributes. This treacherous behaviour irrespective of the hardliner and moderate divide has been the worst feature of the separatist leadership. The leaders who lead the whisper campaign smearing the credibility of Moulana, which probably pushed him towards the graveyard, were first to condemn the JAH chief’s death. This was the third assassination attempt on Moulana’s life.
Usually in case of a high-profile political killing in Kashmir, the subsequent events have proved to be more dramatic than the tragedy itself. Alhi-Hadees universally is known to be a hardline puritanical sect; it draws inspiration from Wahabis of Saudi Arabia. Alhi-Hadees is widely thought to be a pro-violence sect — this is a wrong notion. J&K Jamiat-e-Alhi-Hadees since its inception has proved to be pro-establishment. In comparison Jamaat-e-Isalmi (JeI) considers J&K’s accession with India a disputed one. While JeI in the past has participated in elections, it has tacitly supported the gun culture. Hizbul-Mujahideen, the largest local militant group, till recently officially recognised JeI as its parent organisation. Conversely, JAH had no such background. Activities of this Sulfi sect by and large have remained confined well within the socio-religious spheres.
In the historical context, Sulfi is a new addition to Kashmir’s religious milieu. Traditionally Kashmiri Muslims follow the Sufi ways — the emphasis is on find the truth by discovering self and caring for fellow human beings. It may be noted without any exaggeration that Sulfi school of thought along with other puritanical movements has become popular in Kashmir for being practical and ritualistic; it can be learnt and adopted through preaching and following the book. Mastering Sufi tradition is a laborious and long journey, which cannot be acquired without the guidance of a living master. Real masters in the age of materialism are slowly becoming extinct; the fakes, because of their immoral practices, are the main reason for the Kashmiri youth to move away from the traditional and insightful Sufi traditions.
From a few thousands in 1990, the number of JAH followers in Kashmir has swelled roughly to 7,00,000; JAH now controls the management of more than 800 mosques in the Valley. During the period of militancy, devoid of politics, JAH solely remained focused on its religious activities avoiding any direct confrontation with the state. To remain in the good books of the authorities Moulana Showkat a few years ago had termed the stone pelting as an un-Islamic act. And to pursue his proposal of Trans World Muslim University, he along with his colleagues had even met the then Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha. Due to the Amarnath land row Sinha was the most unpopular figure in Kashmir.
What sealed Moulana’s fate was his association with JKLF chief Yasin Malik (pro-Pak militants consider Yasin too moderate). To maintain his separatist credentials he was forced to have an alliance with Yasin Malik. Influenced by extreme Pakistani groups like Lashkar-i-Jhangvi/Sipah-e-Sahaba some of the radicalised sections accused Moulana of diluting Kashmiri jihad. The confluence of many deadly influences like: group rivalry within, hardliner-moderate divide in the separatist camp, radicalisation of some youth, created an atmosphere which led to the killing of Moulana.
Acting-JAH-chief has asked Muzafferabad-based United Jehad Council to probe the killing. But what surprised many was the bold statement of the acting chairman of JAH, Ghulam Rasool Malik: “I want to clear one thing. The government gun is controlled by the government. And then there are different jihadi outfits. Jihad is no longer jihad”. It is for the first time that leader of a religious sect has declared so bluntly that ongoing violence in Kashmir is not jihad.
Apparently moderate separatists have joined hands and avowed to expose the killers. Yasin Malik has been giving an impression that he knows the killers and will expose them: “We are telling the killers that we have decided to get you even if it means going to extreme whether you are from within the movement”. But when confronted by a young man if he knows the killer what stops him from naming them, Yasin simply chickened out: “There are two guns — government and Tehreek (movement). The former is with the Army, BSF, CRPF and STF while the latter is the public gun. We have to question both guns”. After every killing it has been the standard practice of the separatists to confuse the issue by blaming both India and militants. Separatists may thunder but they will never be able to name the real culprit, which has given rise to the immune culture of unknown violence in Kashmir.
(Firdous Syed, formerly a separatist, is an analyst based in Kashmir)
