SRINAGAR: In connection with the ongoing martyr’s week, a glittering seminar was held at the APHC headquarters at Rajbagh here to commemorate the martyrdom anniversaries of Shaheed-e-Milat Moulana Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq, martyrs of Hawal massacre and the Shaheed-e-Hurriyat Khawja Abdul Gani Lone. The seminar titled “The Importance of Dialogue in the Backdrop of Strained Indo-Pak Relations” was presided by the APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
All the Hurriyat leaders that include Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Gani Lone, Engineer Hilal War, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Sampat Prakash, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Jaffar Kashmiri, Tariq Ahmed Dar, a representative of Hurriyat (G) Owasi Sahab addressed the gathering; the seminar was moderated by Moulana Syed ur Rehman Shams.
In his address, Professor Bhat said that while stressing for the responsibilities to be shouldered by the resistance leadership, said that it is the prime responsibility of the leadership to lead the people of Kashmir on the track. He said given the changing global political scenario, we must adopt a route that can lead us to the final destination. Prof Bhat said that India and Pakistan must realize the need for resolving the Kashmir issue for the larger interests of the people of South Asia and for that the two nations must take some bold steps. Professor Bhat urged all the pro-freedom leaders and parties to work for a united Hurriyat like the one we had in 1993. He said let there be one single platform and a joint strategy so that we achieve our mission collectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari while paying rich tributes to Shaheed-e-Milat and Shaheed –e-Hurriyat said that true nations always remember their martyrs. He said martyrs never die and are alive in every heart of the nation they belong to. He said efforts should be made on all fronts to take the mission of martyrs to its logical end. Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari said that the doors of Hurriyat were always open and that those who are out of the forum must realize the need of unity and join the forum and remain under single platform.
In his speech, Bilal Gani Lone said that we must work altogether to strengthen the Hurriyat and its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq .He said it is our primary responsibility to make every effort to strengthen the hands of our leader as when our leader would be strong, Hurriyat would be strong and we all would be strong.
Delivering his presidential address, despite his ill health, the APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, termed the present prevailing situation in Kashmir as sensitive and painful stating that there is no let up in the policies of repression and intimidations as killings, harassment and CASOs continue unabated even in this holy month of Ramadhan. He said there were apprehensions whether the authorities would allow the seminar as last year, the then government had barred it and caged entire Hurriyat leadership. Mirwaiz said that the repressive measures are being taken to suppress the genuine voices of people of Kashmir.
Mirwaiz said that he was hopeful that once the new dispensation at New Delhi takes charge , it would revisit its Kashmir policy and analyse as to whether the existing policy on Kashmir had gone its favour or instead worsened things on all fronts. He said Hurriyat was hopeful that whosoever comes to power at New Delhi would admit the reality of Kashmri dispute and engage with the leadership to end the hostility so that a dignified solution is found to the vexed dispute of Kashmir.
Mirwaiz said that he was feeling the pain whenever any youth is martyred in government forces action or in encounters stating that that it was beyond doubt that the gun-wielding local boys were the products of the ongoing oppression and they are getting consumed in the ongoing unresolved conflict. He said emotions and repressions is driving the educated youth of Kashmir towards armed means of resistance as every scope for raising voices peacefully stand chocked.
Mirwaiz said that the Hurriyat had participated in the dialogue process with the former Prime Minister of India—Altal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh and also the then Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf. He said that it was Vajapayee who had realised the need for resolving the Kashmir issue as he advocated that Kashmir needs to be dealt with in the ambit of humanity.
Mirwiaz said that Hurriyat was ready to support all Indo Pak efforts aimed at ending hostility and seeking a peaceful solution of Kashmir issue . Mirwaiz demanded releasepf of all political prisoners , repeal of afspa and taking back all anti Kashmiri measures so that an atmosphere of trust is created in Kashmir that has been tormented by the worst every conflict in which thousands of people of Kashmir are already paying a heavy price.
Mirwaiz termed the martyrs especially Shaheed-e-Milat and Shaheed-e-Hurriyat and all the martyrs of Kashmir struggle as great assets and vowed to carry forward their mission with full vigour and zeal. (PTK)
