MUZAFFARABAD: People in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday held rallies and other events to mark the first death anniversary of veteran Kashmiri leader and former chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

In Muzaffarabad, a public meeting followed by a rally wasorganisedby Pasban-i-Hurriyat Jammu Kashmir (PHJK), an organisation of post-1989 migrants from occupied Kashmir, in collaboration with the state-run Jammu Kashmir Liberation Commission (JKLC).

The rally began from Burhan Wani Chowk and concluded at Garhi Pan Chowk, with its participants chanting anti-India and pro freedom slogans and holding banners and placards inscribed with the quotes of Mr Geelani.

Earlier, speaking to the participants, former AJK premier Raja Farooq Haider, AJK cabinet member Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, PPP leader Shaukat Javed Mir, Jamaat-i-Islami leader Nisar Ahmed Shahique, PHJK chief Uziar Ahmed Ghazali, JKLC official Raja Sajjad Latif and others paid rich tributes to Mr Geelani and vowed to accomplish his mission – the freedom of Kashmiris from Indian subjugation.

They said Mr Geelani was amultifaceted visionary who played a leading role in political and social awareness of his people and his contribution to the freedom movement would always be remembered with respect and appreciation.

They recalled that Mr Geelani spent 16 years in different prisons and 12 years under house arrest,but he did not bow to the Indian tyranny.

Meanwhile, in a statement, AJK Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas termed Mr Geelani as a symbol of couragewho had dedicated his entire life to translate his political ideology into reality.

“Geelanisahib remained imprisoned and detained for most of his lifeby the Indian occupation authoritiesbutthey could not breakhis resolve,” he said.

Recalling that Mr Geelani was a strong proponent of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan, PM Ilyas reiterated his government’s commitment to carry forward the mission of the late leader.

He announced that the death anniversary of Mr Geelani would now be marked as “Youm-i-Syed-Hurriyat-i-Kashmir” (The day of the leader of Kashmir’s freedom).

Referring to unrelenting bloodshed in occupied Kashmir, the AJK premier pointed out thatas many as147Kashmiriyouths weresubjected toextrajudicial killings bythe Indian armyin 117 different incidentsin the ongoing year alone.

“Only in the month of August, 16 Kashmiris were martyred in fake encounters, including the three youths gunned down in afakeencounter in South Kashmir’s Shopiandistricton Tuesday,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media affairs wing of Pakistan army, also paid tributes to Mr Geelani on behalf of the people of Pakistan.

“Pakistan nation pays tribute to brave Syed Ali Shah Geelani for epic resistance & fight against worst Indian oppression/atrocities in IIOJK. His lifelong struggle for right to self-determination as per aspirations of people of Kashmir and UN resolutions shall always inspire generations to come,” said the ISPR in a tweet.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2022