Washington, Feb 13: A United Nations body has declined to accord special consultative status to the organization of Kashmiri separatist Ghulam Nabi Fai, who has been arrested and charged for illegal lobbying for Pakistan.
The Committee NGOs, entrusted with the task of granting special consultative status to non-governmental organizations has removed the more than decade-old accreditation application of Kashmir American Council (KAC) headed by Ghulam Nabi Fai.
Currently chaired by Maria Tzotzorkova of Bulgaria, the committee in its meeting held this week at the UN headquarters in New York decided to remove the KAC application seeking consultative status with the United Nations, which dates back to 1999, after Fai's organization failed to respond to its questions and also the three reminders send to it.
While UN officials did not say what were the questions asked to the KAC, diplomatic sources familiar with the issue said it was asked about its source of funding.
Indian officials had raised objections to the application every time it came up for review. In all, applications of 20 NGOs including at least two from India, were closed by the committee.
The Committee will complete its work on February 17, 2012 when it adopts its report.
