Islamabad/Srinagar  Feb 11: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front on Monday held functions across the world to observe the 29th martyrdom anniversary of its founder Muhammad Maqbool Bhat.
 A spokesman of JKLF said Kashmiris living across the globe organized several meetings, protests and rallies today to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of their leader.
 The spokesman said people in large numbers protested in Trehgam, Maisuma Srinagar ,Pattan ,Baramulla Islamabad(Anantnag), Pulwama, Doda and Rajouri,  Poonch.
 “Besides functions were also held in USA, UK, UAE, Europe, Holland, Canada, Saudi Arabia Pakistan etc,” the spokesman said, adding that protests were also held outside Indian High Commission in UK.
 While addressing a gathering at Mirpur in Pakistan Administered Kashmir, Malik said that Kashmiris were following the footsteps of Bhat.
 “It was on 11th February 1984, New Delhi sent Bhat to gallows and refused to hand over his body to Kashmiris and buried him inside Tihar jail .Now after 29 years when the world has become much more  civilized and open ,Indian leaders by sending Muhammad Afzal Guru to gallows and then burying him inside the same jail have proved that these so called democrats still live and follow the rules and laws of the medieval age,” Malik said.
 He said the civil society of India should break their silence and if they fail to do so they will also undergo through what Kashmiris are going through. 
 The JKLF chairman said that New Delhi should remember that they couldn’t end the freedom struggle of Kashmiris by sending Bhat to gallows.
 “They cannot do it either by hanging Afzal,” he said.
 Condemning the killing of a young boy at Watergam Rafiabad, who is the nephew of a JKLF leader Farooq Ahmad Dar and two youth at Batwina Ganderbal,  Malik lashed out at state Government for putting Kashmir under curfew. 
 “Banning TV channels, internet and other means of communication to suppress the voice of people, one wonders how can these rulers call themselves the democrats,” Malik said.
 On the occasion , JKLF supreme commander Amanullah Khan said that Bhat was alive and will remain alive in peoples’ hearts and minds.
 Later a procession was taken out to the Main Chowk of Mirpur. The participants raised slogans demanding the mortal remains of Maqbool Butt and Mohammad Afzal Guru be returned.
 Meanwhile, Trehgam, the hometown of JKLF founder Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, on Monday also witnessed massive protests to mark his 29th death anniversary.
 Reports said that hundreds of people, including women and children, took to streets and raised pro-freedom slogans.  They were demanding return of his mortal remains and handing over of body of Afzal Guru to his family.
 JKLF activists also took out procession at Maisuma here demanding return of the mortal remains of Bhat and body of Guru.
 The spokesman of JKLF said its leaders Noor Muhammad Kalwal and Ghulam Muhammad Dar were arrested by the police.
 At a separate function speakers at a seminar organized by All Parties Hurriyat Conference (M) Pak chapter today paid tributes to veteran Kashmiri leader Muhammad Maqbool Bhat.
 Held under the chairmanship of APHC convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, the seminar was addressed by Sardar Sagheer Khan Chugtai of Muslim Conference, APHC leaders Syed Yousuf Naseem, Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Abdullah Gialni whereas the prime minister of Pakistani administered Kashmir (PaK) Chaudhary was special guest on the occasion.
 Speaking on the occasion, the PaK Prime Minister said that the execution of Muhammad Afzal Guru was in clear violation of international law and against the spirit of dialogue process.
 Terming it as highly condemnable the PM maintained that the international community, the UN as well as the world human rights bodies must take notice of this “despotic and inhuman action”.
 Lauding the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiri nation he said, “Kashmiris are fighting for their cause and the people and the political leadership across the divide are one and united on the issue of right to self-determination”. He, however, observed that under the given circumstances there was a dire need that Kashmiri leadership should devise a comprehensive strategy to move forward in proper direction. He said that in order to seek support of the international community “We will have to be united”.
 While highlighting the sacrifices of the JKLF founder, the speakers on the occasion said that despite its repressive policies India could not subdue the political resolve of Kashmiri people. They said that with a view to suppress freedom sentiment in Kashmir India in 1984 sent Maqbool Bhat to the gallows.
 They said that during ongoing struggle hundreds and thousands of Kashmiris were killed by forces. They said that large-size and ever increasing grave-yards in Kashmir and unnamed mass graves spread in the length and breadth of Kashmir valley stand witness to the sufferings inflicted upon the people of Kashmir.
 Speakers also voiced concern over the prevailing situation in Kashmir and said that on one hand India keeps harping on dialogue while on the other life imprisonment and death sentences were being awarded to Kashmiri on the bases of fabricated and concocted evidences.
 Later the PaK premier and the APHC leaders presented a memorandum to the UNMOGIP officials in Islamabad. The memo addressed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon condemned the execution of Afzal Guru and termed it as “miscarriage” of justice on part of India.
 The communiqué said that the execution was a political move and an act of vengeance against Kashmiri nation who have been struggling against India for the implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST