Srinagar, Apr 09 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik Monday said Shaheed Itehad-I-Millat Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah was and will remain as a symbol of unity among Kashmiri masses.
“His charismatic and multi-dimensional personality is unforgettable and no Kashmiri can ever overlook his sacrifices and struggle. His struggle for freedom and efforts to wipe out Sectarian divide from Jammu Kashmir will always be remembered,” Malik said in a statement issued to KNS while addressing a gathering at JKLF headquarters today.
The meeting as per the statement was organized to remember Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah who embraced martyrdom on 8th April 2011.
The meeting was attended by various JKLF leaders and senior activists and besides Yasin sahib many people addressed the meeting and paid rich tributes to great scholar and religious leader.
In his address, Malik said that Moulana Showkat Shah worked relentlessly for forging unity and oneness among the ranks and files of Muslims. “His efforts to get rid of the sectarian divide from Kashmir, promotion of Quran and Sunnah and communicate it to the new generations, his philanthropy, his works in the field of education and social work, his dream of an Islamic University ,establishing free or nonprofit based heath care centers and his passion to strive for a free Kashmir and many qualities like these make him a legendary figure who cannot be ignored even by his enemies,” he said.
JKLF chairman said martyr Showkat was a great scholar, brave and straight forward human being, a loving and caring brother and a person who always gave priority to human cause and humility. “His social work, philanthropy and leadership will be always remembered,” said Malik.
He said that Showkat was a brave son of soil who despite many adversities remained steadfast to the cause, embraced martyrdom and attained immortal success but those who conspired and attacked Showkat got nothing but everlasting shame and disgrace. “Showkat through his valiant efforts in the fields of religion, social life and politics achieved a high place in history of Kashmir. He was a scholar, a prolific speaker, an educationist, a social worker; a political leader and a person who always loved to promote unity and love in the ranks and files of Kashmiri Muslims,” he said.
Taking a dig on some ‘so-called religious preachers’ who on social media are promoting hatred and sectarian divide among Muslims, Malik said a nation which has sacrificed more than hundred thousand people during last three decades and on a daily basis is receiving dead bodies of its loved ones cannot afford such divide and time has come when elders and Ulema from every sect should to take a leaf out of the life and struggle of Showkat Ahmad Shah and stop fringe among their ranks from polluting and poisoning the oppressed society by promoting sectarian strife and hatred.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
He said that it was Moulana Showkat’s wisdom and hard relentless work that unnerved many of his enemies and that is why they adopted modus operandi of Ibn-Maljam and conspired to kill Moulana Showkat.
“The freedom struggle of Kashmir is Indebted to these great martyrs and today when we remember this great soul, we pledge to take the mission of these martyrs to its desired goal,” he said.
Paying tributes to Budgam and Ganderbal martyrs who laid down their lives during parliamentary election in 2017, Malik said that frustrated by the exemplary election boycott, Indian occupational forces on 9th April last year showered bullets and pellets on common people at Dalwen, Beerwah, PakharPora, Chadoora, Rethsun, Kawoosa in Budgam and Baroosa in Ganderbal killing about eight innocents and injuring hundreds of others on a single day.
Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families of these martyrs, Malik said that “these martyrs made our whole nation proud and we are indebted to them.”
Meanwhile, Malik has strongly condemned the arrest of many women activists from Dukhtaran-I- Millat who have been detained by police at Pulwama recently.
Terming these arrests as ‘arbitrary and glaring example of police highhandedness’, JKLF chief said that mourning and condolences have been banned in Kashmir which is nothing but undemocratic and worst kind of despotism.
Malik said that police have booked JKLF chief organizer Siraj ud din Mir and Abdul Rashid Magloo because they went to express condolence to a bereaved family.
Similarly JKLF activists Molvi Abdul Rashid and Bilal Ahmad Dar have also been held by Budgam police and are in detention from last many days. It is pertinent to mention that JKLF vice chairman Showkat Bakhshi and JKLF Zonal president Noor Muhammad Kalwal are also in police custody and are languishing at central jail Srinagar. (KNS)