Yaqub Vakil, the former confidant of Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, on Wednesday joined the Peoples Democratic Party, an ally in the Jammu and Kashmir government.
Vakil, who resigned as secretary to Mirwaiz in 2005, announced his decision to join the PDP in Srinagar on Wednesday.
PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, president Mehbooba Mufti and other senior leaders welcomed him in the party.
Vakil started his political career in 1964 as an active member of Awami Action Committee headed by Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq.
Vakil worked as personal assistant, public relation officer and press secretary to the late Mirwaiz till his assassination. Later, Vakil became one of the founder-members of Hurriyat Conference. For 15 years he remained secretary to Mirwaiz Omar till 2005 when he resigned from the Awami action Committee and the Hurriyat Conference.
Clarifying that there was no political difference between him and AAC, Vakil said he resigned from the party on some personal grounds.
Vakil, who was also a member of Hurriyat delegation that visited Pakistan in 2004, said, ''We visited Pakistan via the Srinagar-Muzaffrabad road and the opening of this road was the contribution of Sayeed. Repealing of POTA, reining in the Special Task Force, troop eviction from government and private buildings, establishment of schools, colleges and universities, hospitals and a big network for roads are some of the highlights of this statesman's contribution.This changed my mind and I decided to work under his able leadership.''