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| March 1, 2006 | Wednesday | Muharram 30, 1427 |
JKLF vows to continue anti-dam struggle
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Veteran Kashmiri leader Amanullah Khan has vowed to continue struggle against Bhasha dam and for the basic rights of Gilgit-Baltistan. “The JKLF will continue its struggle till the proposed Bhasha dam is renamed as Diamer dam and the royalty of the dam is given to Gilgit-Baltistan”, Amanullah Khan said while speaking at a press conference at a local hotel after his release from Adiala Jail.
The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman was arrested along with other party activists and Bhasha Dam Naam Namanzoor Committee (BDNNC) Chairman Haji Ghandal Shah for holding a peaceful protest rally against the proposed Bhasha dam in Rawalpindi on February 5.
About his arrest along with other activists of the party, he said their sacrifice had not gone in vain and had helped bring the issue of Bhasha dam to limelight.
He termed as ‘ridiculous’ the statement of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz that the dam’s royalty would go to the NWFP. The prime minister during his recent visit to the dam site had reportedly said that under the Constitution, the royalty was given to the area where power house was located.
The JKLF chief said the Constitution of Pakistan was not applicable to Gilgit-Baltistan.
“It would be unjust that Diamer inundates and the royalty goes to NWFP”, the JKLF chief said.
He demanded immediate release of religious leaders Agha Rahat Hussaini, Sheikh Haider Ali, member Northern Areas Legislative Council Himayatullah and Maulana Hussain Ahmad from Adiala Jail.
“It is the only way to end tension in the troubled Gilgit-Baltistan”, he said.
Amanullah Khan said the religious leaders from Gilgit were being meted out inhuman treatment for the last five months in Adiala Jail.
He said they had been kept for two-and-a-half months in Kasuri, an infamous place in jail normally meant for hardened criminals.
The JKLF chief said they were kept in a room too small to accommodate them and visitors were not allowed to see them. He said they were shifted to jail hospital after the continued mental torture affected their health.
The JKLF chief said the religious leaders were shifted to ‘Kasuri’ on February 23, where they were subjected to mental as well as physical torture.
Anti-Bhasha Dam Naam Namanzoor Committee chief Haji Ghandal Shah paid tribute to the JKLF chairman and other activists for expressing solidarity with the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and facing hardships in jail.
Speaking to this reporter he said it will stir the conscience of other Kashmiri leadership who never bothered to speak for the rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
JKLF vice-chairman Hafiz Anwar Samawi, secretary finance Manzoor Ahmad Khan, JKSLF leader Mazhar Iqbal and other were also present on the occasion.
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