Ajaz Ahmad Guru, the elder brother of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, will contest the upcoming Jammu Kashmir assembly elections as an independent candidate from the Sopore segment.
Ajaz Guru, who retired from the animal husbandry department in 2014 and is now a contractor, plans to submit his nomination form either Tuesday or Wednesday, with the final deadline for filing set for Thursday, Hindustan Times reported.
At 58, Ajaz Guru stated he is entering the election race to address issues related to youths allegedly wrongfully arrested, including his own son, Shoiab, who has been detained for nine months under what he claims are false charges.
He pointed to the recent success of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid’s son Abrar Rashid in campaigning for his father as inspiration for his own candidacy.
Afzal Guru was executed and buried at Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013, for his involvement in the 2001 Parliament attack, a decision that sparked widespread protests in Kashmir.
His body was not returned to his family in Sopore, fueling ongoing criticism among activists and residents.
Ajaz Guru emphasized that his campaign will not leverage his brother’s name but will focus on his own political views and the broader dissatisfaction he feels with past political leadership in Kashmir.
He criticized political leaders for betraying the people of Kashmir under various pretenses of autonomy and freedom.
This time, around a dozen local candidates, including Ajaz Guru, are vying for the assembly seat.