Srinagar, Feb 11 (KNS): Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation front (JKLF), Muhammad Yasin Malik on Saturday said that ‘father of Kashmiri nation’ Muhammad Maqbool Butt’s struggle, sacrifices, intellect and ideology doesn’t only represents the nation of Kashmir but all those oppressed nations and people who are striving for their freedom and liberty.
In a statement issued to KNS, Malik said, “Feb 11, “the Maqbool Day”, provides us a new hope and fresh energy to withstand against the forces of evil and oppression.”
Terming Butt as ‘a symbol of resistance, resilience and sacrifices’, JKLF chairman who along with Muhammad Yasin Butt, Ghulam Muhammad Dar and Gazi Javed Baba remains lodged at central jail Srinagar, said, “Father of Kashmiri nation was an ideologue who not only offered an idea but also showed the practical way to implement that idea.”
Malik said that Butt was a man of practical, man of wisdom and a visionary who saw a dream, perused that dream with passion and sacrificed his life for the fulfil of that dream.
Terming Butt’s struggle and sacrifices as ‘a beacon of light for Kashmiri nation’, JKLF chairman said that soon after his martyrdom on gallows in 1984, the nation of Kashmir gave birth to a new breed of Maqbool’s who treading along the footprints of the great leader initiated a historical people’s revolution in 1990 and started a fresh resistance movement against illegal occupation, oppression, tyranny and injustice.
Malik said, “The clear evidence of martyr Maqbool Butt being alive is that today after 33 years of his illegal execution by Indian state, he is remembered and celebrated throughout the world and Kashmiris living across the globe pay homage to him and curse those who hanged him.”
Calling the continuous denial of Indian state to hand over his mortal remains to Kashmiris as ‘an example of Hitlerism in the garb of democracy’, JKLF chief said that Indians after Killing Maqbool even feared from his corpse and buried him inside the Jail premises. “Indians were thinking of eradicating every memory of Maqbool from the hearts and minds of Kashmiris but they failed to do so as Maqbool has become the main recognition of Kashmir and Kashmiris,” Malik added.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Meanwhile, the JKLF spokesman said that Maqbool was remembered today throughout the world as Kashmiris living across the globe recalled his struggle, vision and sacrifices and held seminars, symposiums, rallies, exhibitions protests in many cities throughout the world. “In United Kingdom protest was held outside the Indian embassy and a memorandum was handed over to the authorities demanding the return of mortal remains of martyr Father of nation Muhammad Maqbool Butt and Muhammad Afzal Guru,” the statement reads.
The spokesman said that similar programs are being held in various cities of Europe, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Holland, USA, Canada etc. in Saudi Arabia a grand program was held in which Maqbool and his legacy was recalled.
“In United Arab Emirates (UAE) a commemoration meeting led by senior vice chairman JKLF Abdul Hameed Butt was convened in which participants paid rich tributes to the great martyr,” the spokesman said, adding that similar programs were held in other Middle East countries also.
“This day was also observed across Pakistan and in cities like Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Multan etc. Protest marches and sit-in were also held in Azad Kashmir cities like Muzafarbad, Kotli, Mirpur, Rawalakot, Bagh, Hinjeera, and Gilgit in which the vision and sacrifices of Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Butt were highlighted. It is worth to mention that many such programs will continue for many more days,” the spokesman said.
“In Indian held Kashmir besides a complete shutdown, various protest programs were held across the cities and villages. A protest program was held at Trehgam, the birth place of Maqbool Butt Shaheed’ in which various JKLF leaders including JKLF vice chairman Master Muhammad Afzal, Front organizer Mir Siraj ud din, JKLF leaders Zahoor Ahmad Butt, Prof Javaid, Muhammad Hanif Dar, Muhammad Azeem Zargar and others participated and addressed people and threw light on the struggle and sacrifices of Shaheed Baba I Quom,” the spokesman said.
He said that yesterday evening, a candle light march was also held in this regard in which thousands of people including women and children also participated with fervor. (KNS)