Srinagar, Dec 06 (KNS): Ailing chairman of Jammu Kashmir liberation front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik on Thursday asked the authorities to have guts to allow peaceful political dissent and peaceful protests.
“Stopping candlelight protests against Human rights abuses and unleashing a spree of arrests shows the spinelessness of biggest democracy,” Malik said in a statement issued to KNS.
In his message from SKIMS Soura where he is undergoing treatment, JKLF spokesman quoted Malik as condemning the ‘ongoing military and police oppression’ in nooks and corners of Kashmir.
He said that “police and other forces have choked every little space of peaceful political activities in Kashmir. Even mourning and expressing grief has been banned by police and authorities and all this undemocratic and dictatorial job is being done in the name of democracy and peace.”
Condemning the arrest of social activists from Koker-Bazar Shakil Ahmad Batkoo and Shabir Ahmad Dabla by police, Malik said that yesterday Chairman economic alliance Muhammad Yasin Khan and today another trade union leader Farooq Ahmad Dar and many others have been arrested by police to put a halt on ongoing peoples protest against human rights abuses by forces and police.
“This spree of arrests and nocturnal raids only shows the level of frustration of rulers and their police as they are suffering from and this can only be termed as utmost cowardice and dictatorial,” Malik added.
Citing the example of Molvi Abdul Hamid of Younsoo Kupwara who is languishing in Kupwara jail from last three months, Malik said that this man is uncle of a slain lady Maysara Begum who was killed by ‘Army and SOG firing’ on 12th January 2018.
“This man is actually the only bread earner for his ailing old mother and also lone caretaker of 18 month old girl child of slain Mysara. Three months back, police called him to the police station with papers related to Maysara’s killing and when he reached police station he was detained and since then is languishing at Kupwara jail,” he said.
He said that this poor guy has a 90-year-old mother and an infant to look after but Police in a revengeful act have put him behind the bars leaving his destitute family in despair.
JKLF chairman said that this is what police is doing and this is how they are pushing Kashmiris to the wall.
He said that “after these barbaric acts and arrests of political and social activists, police shamelessly comes up with an excuse that if protesters had asked for permission, no ban would have been imposed on candlelight peaceful protest.”
Malik said that “I want to ask these people who are blatantly lying to conceal truth, that from 1990 how many times they have granted permission for political dissent and peaceful programs in Kashmir?”
“In fact, this tyrannical and colonial behavior of police is responsible for upsurge in violence and it is responsible for Kashmiri youth going to the path of ultimate sacrifices,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malik paid tributes to Ghulam Hassan Bhat @ Yawar Khan, Ishtiaq Ahmed Bukhari @ Badshah Khan and Abdul Rashid Dar on their anniversary.
While recalling the sacrifices of Yawar Khan and others, Malik said that their sacrifices will never go in vain. He said that “these martyrs are our real heroes and we will Insha-Allah take their mission to its logical end.”
A high level JKLF delegation comprising of JKLF district president Budgam Gulzar Ahmad Pahalwan and others visited Wagar Budgam and expressed solidarity with Yawar Khan’s family.
Leaders while praying for the heavenly abode of these martyrs also prayed for the success of their mission.
JKLF has also paid tributes to its activist Ghulam Rasool Hazari on his death anniversary today.
Terming Ghulam Rasool as a selfless man and passionate freedom seeker, JKLF chairman prayed for his heavenly abode.
Meanwhile, following JRL program, JKLF leaders and activists on fourth consecutive day today held peaceful candlelight protests.
JKLF leaders and activists gathered at Chatabal Veer Bemina Crossing and Harkar Molla Budgam and held candlelight protests after Magrib prayers. People from different walks of life also attended the program.
Holding glowing torches and candles the participants of these protests raised slogans against ‘growing and ongoing Indian state terrorism in Kashmir’.
Various JKLF leaders also addressed the protesters and delivered a message from ailing incarcerated chairman of JKLF to them. (KNS)