Jamaat-e-Islami to stay away from LS polls

Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir today announced that it will not take part in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"Jamaat-e-Islami will follow its practice of not taking any direct or indirect part in the parliamentary elections," the socio-religious party said in a statement after a meeting chaired by Ameer-e-Jamaat (head of the party) Mohammad Abdullah Wani.
Jamaat was taking part in elections since its inception till the eruption of militancy but has since boycotted the poll process, seeking resolution of Kashmir issue.
It was active in the separatist movement and had a representative in the executive council of the undivided Hurriyat Conference.

After the split in the separatist amalgam in 2003, Jamaat has focussed its attention on socio-religious and education aspects only.
While hardline Hurriyat Conference faction headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a boycott of the elections, other separatist outfits including moderate Hurriyat faction and JKLF have termed the poll exercise as futile and an attempt to hoodwink the international community on Kashmir issue.