With discordant voices within the Hurriyat Conference threatening to erode credibility of the separatists’ behind-the -scenes engagement with New Delhi, chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Monday asked Hurriyat members not to issue “any statement to the media independently” and abolished several posts.

The gag order comes in the backdrop of some leaders within the Hurriyat making “controversial statements” about the “quiet dialogue” underway between Hurriyat and New Delhi, and, along with the abolition of various posts, is seen as a move to silence these voices. Now on, only Mirwaiz would be authorised to talk to the media “after consultation with the Executive Council and the General Council”.

The abolition of posts means chief spokesman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, who had raised a storm by saying Hurriyat was ready to sit with mainstream political parties like National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party to find a solution to Kashmir dispute, has lost his post. And, Nayeem Khan, who had criticised Mirwaiz for his approach to the dialogue with Centre will no more be provincial president. Khan, along with Shabir Shah, had also rejected Bhat’s idea of sitting on the table with the mainstream politicians.

Mirwaiz has also dissolved several other key posts including that of the media advisor. The Human Rights Cell and the Legal Cell has also been abolished.

Sources said the Hurriyat chairman was unhappy with the “contradictory statements” made by some leaders. On Sunday, some members of Hurriyat’s General Council had raised objections against the ongoing dialogue, saying the Executive Council of the conglomerate can’t take “any decision on dialogue” without taking them into confidence.