A rally and a seminar were held here on Tuesday to mark the fifth death anniversary of pro-freedom Kashmiri leader Muhammad Ashraf Khan Sehrai, with speakers vowing to continue resistance against Indian rule and highlighting what they described as the suppression of dissent in India-held Kashmir.
The rally, organised by Pasban-e-Hurriyat Jammu Kashmir (PHJK) at Burhan Wani Chowk, drew participation from political and religious leaders as well as activists, who paid glowing tributes to Sehrai and other Kashmiri martyrs. Chanting slogans such as “Sehrai, your martyrdom will bring a revolution” and “Long live the martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir,” participants reaffirmed their commitment to what they termed the ongoing struggle for freedom.
Carrying banners and placards, the demonstrators also paid tribute to Sehrai’s son, Junaid Sehrai, who was martyred by Indian troops exactly a year before his father’s custodial death, describing both father and son as enduring symbols of resistance.
The rally was led by Jamaat-i-Islami AJK emir Dr Muhammad Mushtaq, PHJK Chairman Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, and All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders, including Chaudhry Muhammad Shaheen, Zahid Ashraf and Sheikh Abdul Majid, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Ghazali described Sehrai and his son as “a great example of sacrifice for Islam and freedom” and said Indian “barbarity” could not crush the resistance movement. “Their lifelong struggle and sacrifice will continue to inspire Kashmiris,” he added.
Dr Mushtaq said the people of Jammu and Kashmir would continue their struggle against Indian “repression” until achieving freedom and called on the United Nations (UN) to play a more effective role in resolving the Kashmir dispute.
Speaking at the rally, Sehrai’s nephew, Muhammad Riaz Khan, termed the sacrifices made by his family a “religious and national duty” and paid tribute to all Kashmiri martyrs.
Separately, a seminar titled “Across the Line” was organised by the APHC in collaboration with the Central Press Club (CPC), Muzaffarabad, as part of a series paying tribute to prominent pro-freedom figures in India-held Kashmir.
Addressing the seminar, APHC Secretary General Advocate Parvez Ahmed Shah said such forums were vital for raising awareness and promoting dialogue on the Kashmir issue. He said the APHC was determined to remain focused on advancing the Kashmir cause and stay independent of political processes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
He alleged that India was attempting to “render the Kashmir movement invisible” by restricting the work of non-governmental organisations and independent media in the occupied territory and urged Kashmiris to resist efforts to marginalise their movement.
Political analyst Naila Altaf Kayani said arbitrary detention was prohibited under international law, citing Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and argued that laws such as the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were inconsistent with these standards.
She also highlighted the role of international organisations in amplifying the voices of affected communities and stressed that detainees were entitled to healthcare in line with the UN-endorsed Nelson Mandela Rules. Referring to the Minnesota Protocol, she underscored the need for transparent investigations into deaths in custody.
Author Syed Arif Bahar praised Sehrai’s contribution to the pro-freedom movement in India-held Kashmir, describing him as a role model whose dedication to the cause set an example for others.
“It is the primary responsibility of media institutions in the liberated territory to raise awareness, particularly at a time when media in occupied Kashmir are unable to operate freely,” he said.
Other speakers, including APHC’s Sheikh Abdul Majid, press club president Sohail Mughal secretary general Shahzad Lolabi, Muhammad Riaz Khan and this scribe, also paid tribute to Sehrai and called for sustained engagement to highlight the Kashmir issue at international forums.
Tariq Naqash
No comments:
Post a Comment