Srinagar, Feb 18: Terming the trial of Afzal Guru as ‘flawed and a farce’, human rights activist based in Delhi, Professor S A R Geelani Monday claimed that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was well aware of the fact that Afzal Guru will be hanged soon after Ajmal Qasab.
” Remember the day when Kasab was hanged? The secrecy was maintained. Go and see what Omar Abdullah tweeted then. He said that if this can be done in secrecy, others could be done as well. He was hinting at Afzal Guru. There is no reason not to believe that Omar Abdullah was not aware about it or rather, knew about it,” Geelani told Srinagar based News gathering agency CNS and added that execution of Guru was not judicial but a political decision.
 “Afzal Guru gave requests at least five times, seeking legal aid. He gave the names of the lawyers. Neeraj Bansal was made his counsel. If you see the records, you will find that Neeraj Bansal gave an application to the court saying that he doesn’t want to be Afzal’s advocate. The court asked him to do the job for assisting the court. So, he was not fighting the case for Afzal, he was assisting the court. It is completely a case of justice denied and today I can say that an innocent man was hanged,” Geelani said.
Geelani claimed that it was not only Omar Abdullah but other mainstream parties were also taken into confidence on the Afzal issue. “It is irony that despite knowing everything the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister is singing a different tune in Valley now. These political leaders are all responsible for the murder of Afzal Guru. Their crocodile tears will not work anymore. They have got fully exposed.’’ He said.
Lashing at Indian media for repeatedly airing the confession statement of Afzal Guru on their channels, Geelani said the even Supreme Court maintained that this statement was under duress. “They go on lying to the people till they are convinced that what they hear is the truth. They say that we should have respect for the courts, but do they have? The Supreme Court has declared the confession by Afzal illegal but they are showing it repeatedly even after his death. They are like vultures who want their pound of flesh from a dead man,” Geelani said and added that no institution is coming forward to help Kashmiri people who are being suppressed and whose voice is being muzzled.
(CNS)

Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
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