JKLF repeats demand for return of Maqbool's remains
GK News Service
Srinagar, Feb 10: Around four thousand people led by JKLF chairman, Malik
Muhammad Yasin sat on hunger strike at Maisuma today and reiterated their demand
for mortal remains of Maqbool Butt to the people of Kashmir.
Maqbool Butt, the founder of JKLF was hanged in Delhi's Tihar Jail on
February 11,1984. Butt was laid to rest inside the jail. For the past fifteen
years,
the JKLF has been seeking shifting of Maqbool's body to Kashmir. A grave has
been reserved for the body at martyrs' graveyard Eidgah.
Senior separatist leaders including the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom
Party (DFP) chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah participated in the hunger strike.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah also visited
the hunger strike venue and expressed solidarity with the JKLF leaders.
Speaking on the occasion the JKLF leaders said that it was not against the
talks but talks for the sake of it would not be accepted. "Since 1947 India and
Pakistan have held talks with each other and ignored Kashmiris. Consequently
they have failed to address the Kashmir dispute", the JKLF vice chairman Javid
Ahmad Mir said. Participation of Kashmiris, Mir said, was indispensable for
the success of any dialogue process aimed at resolving the Kashmir dispute.
Mir while castigating the state government led by the chief minister Mufti
Muhammad Sayeed said, "Mufti and his coterie should stop harping about the
solution of the Kashmir dispute and human rights". " The people of Kashmir have
no
need of such advocates who follow dictates from New Delhi", Mir said.
JKLF leader Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi said, "War crimes committed by the troops in
the state of the Jammu and Kashmir would not deter the people and we will
continue the struggle for right to self-determination". Azadi, he said, has no
substitute in the world and "we will strive for it come what may". "Only
solution of the Kashmir is withdrawal of troops from the state", he said.
"We have human investment in the present movement and people here will not
allow anyone to play with sacrifices of the people", said the Democratic Freedom
Party (DFP) leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said. Shah who was presiding over the
hunger strike said lauded Pakistan for diplomatic, moral and political support
to the Kashmir cause. Shah paid rich tributes to Muhammad Maqbool Bhat and said
that sacrifices given by the people will bear the fruit.
Stating that he was not against the dialogue, Shah said Kashmiris were
principal party of the dispute and has a right to be part of any dialogue
process
aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue. However, he said, before going for talks
you have take leadership in Jammu and Ladakh into confidence. "Some
intellectuals in India were sympathetic towards Kashmir cause and we should
launch
awareness campaign to inform more and more people," he said.
Apart from the separatist leaders, human rights activists, academicians and
lawyers participated in the function to express their solidarity.
The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League chairman Muktiyar Ahmad Sofi paid
glowing tributes to the Muhammad Maqbool Bhat.
