The National Investigation Agency on Monday summoned separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's son Nayeem Zafar Geelani for questioning in its investigation into foreign funds allegedly being used to finance protests in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA had earlier questioned the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chief and his personal secretary Peer Saifullah, who has been in police custody since Saturday, The Indian Express reported.
The Hurriyat claimed the NIA had earlier "harassed and questioned" party leaders Ayaz Akbar, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and Syed Geelani's son-in-law Altaf Ahmad Shah. It added that the NIA had been directed to investigate these "fabricated cases" as an attempt at "pressurising the leadership" because authorities have been unable to control the clashes in Kashmir. "These inhuman, immoral and undemocratic tactics will not deter the pro-freedom people from advocating their just cause," the Hurriyat said.
Nayeem Geelani, a doctor, served in Pakistan for 12 years before he returned to Kashmir in November 2010. The NIA has summoned him to its guest office Srinagar's Shivapora on Tuesday and bring his details of his bank accounts with him, The Times of India reported.
On August 19, the agency had said it would draw a list of Kashmir residents with suspicious banking activities, as it believed that militant groups and their sympathisers were using "hawala channels" to transfer money to finance "terror activities". Officials had explained that the "handlers" left 1% of the amount transferred to the individuals as commission and withdrew the rest within 48 hours of the transaction.
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