Srinagar, Dec 02 (KNS): Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was released from house arrest today by the State authorities to offer Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid after five long months of forceful detention.
On reaching the Masjid people welcomed him as the mosque reverberated with pro Islam and pro freedom slogans. Inspite of severe restrictions imposed at various entry points towards the mosque a large number of people reached the Masjid. After delivering the traditional Friday sermon to an emotional audience Mirwaiz while addressing them commended and congratulated the people for their tremendous resilience and wholehearted support to their struggle for self determination while offering unprecedented sacrifices.
Mirwaiz said the conviction and commitment that people of the valley have exhibited in the past five months has few parallels in the current world history. He said people of Kashmir in the face of extreme oppression and collective subjugation have made it clear to India and the world that neither will they yield nor will they submit before India's military might and will continue to strive for their basic political right till they achieve it. Mirwaiz said only a nation which has deep commitment, determination and courage can sustain this kind of struggle.
Amid moist eyes paying glowing tributes to more than 100 people including children women young boys and the elderly murdered brutally by the state armed forces during the past five months Mirwaiz said that the nation is indebted to these innocent martyrs and their families for offering the supreme sacrifice of life for a free Kashmir. He said hundreds of people offered the sacrifice of their sight while thousands were maimed by an anti human regime. More than 15 thousand people have been detained in jails across the state and outside and the lawless law PSA slapped on thousands. Mirwaiz said all forms of oppression and collective torture has been unleashed on the people to
punish them by a coalition that has created a new history in crushing and oppressing a people struggling for their basic right to decide their future.
He said the unity among resistance leadership and peoples unflinching resolve have been the key in sending the strong message to all that people of Kashmir will neither give in nor give up their struggle.
Mirwaiz said we as a nation have to inculcate resistance culture within us and make resistance a way of life.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelMirwaiz said time has come when a transition from short term agitation to long term initiatives, programs and sustainable modes of protest has to be made. he said we have to understand that we have a long struggle ahead of us. It is now time to prepare ourselves for the next phase. We have to survive and sustain ourselves to be able to fight this cunning and brutal oppression. The joint resistance leadership is currently working at making this transition.
Expressing his gratitude to Government of Pakistan and people of Pakistan for supporting Kashmiris in these difficult times, the Mirwaiz said Islamabad had always supported Kashmiris politically, diplomatically and morally at all international platforms.
Welcoming the statement of the United States President, Donald J. Trump for offering to play a role in resolving all outstanding issues in South Asia including the vexed Kashmir dispute he said international mediation in resolving the dispute had become imperative as India continued to refuse to engage with Pakistan and people of Kashmir for resolving the dispute.
Expressing strong resentment over the continued arrest and house arrest of resistance leaders and thousands of freedom-loving Kashmiris who have been detained in various police stations and jails across Kashmir and outside and not even provided basic facilities as per the Jail Manual and Geneva Conventions in these chilling winter conditions, he called for their immediate and unconditional release.
Funeral prayers in absentia for all the martyrs was offered and people prayed to Almighty Allah to accept their sacrifices and grant them a place in Jannat-ul-Firdous and help people of Kashmir get their basic right of right to self determination. Prayers for early recovery of all the injured were also made.
After the Friday congregational prayers, the Hurriyat (M) Chairman led a protest march from Jamia Masjid to Mirwaiz Manzil at Rajouri Kadal, in which children, young and old, men and women all participated raising pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans condemning state terrorism including killings, injuries and arbitrary arrests of civilians.
On the occasion, the Mirwaiz said on 3rd Rabi-ul-Awal (December 3) as usual, Khawaja Digar would be held at shrine of Khawaja Naqshband Sahab at Khawaja Bazaar and the function would start after Dhur prayers at 2:30 pm and people would offer the Asr (Digar) prayers collectively. (KNS)