MUZAFFARABAD: Wearing white t-shirts imprinted with the mugshots of Kashmiri martyrs, a group of young Kashmiri boys and their elders swore an oath in the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday to carry on the ongoing struggle for the right to self-determination of the oppressed Kashmiri nation.

The event was organised by Pasban-i-Hurriyat Jammu Kashmir (PHJK), an organisation of the post-1989 migrants from across the Line of Control, to mark the seventh martyrdom anniversary of young Kashmir commander Burhan Wani as “Resistance Day.”

Mr Wani, described as the poster boy of the latest phase of anti-India armed struggle, was shot by the occupation forces in Kokernag area in the southern part of occupied Kashmir on this day in 2016.

The youngsters in t-shirts, who PHJK chairman Uzair Ahmed Ghazali claimed were 313, had lined up on the main thoroughfare close to a roundabout named after Mr Wani.

Seventh martyrdom anniversary of Burhan Wani observed as Resistance Day

Prior to swearing oath, they also presented a salute amid the national anthem of AJK and Pakistan in front of a large panaflex banner imprinted with the images of veteran pro-freedom leader (late) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on its both sides and that of commander Wani in the middle.

In between, there were mugshots of dozens of other Kashmiri martyrs.

AJK and Pakistani flags were also printed on opposite sides of the banner, which had been displayed on the retaining wall of the district headquarters complex across the local press club.

“We make a solemn pledge to strive for freedom of Jammu and Kashmir from Indian occupation,” read the banner.

Emotional scenes were witnessed on the occasion, as female participants of the event who were sitting on a mat along with the wall kissed and showered flower petals on the pictures printed on the banner with tears in their eyes.

It was learnt that many of them were mothers, sisters and daughters of the martyrs.

Speaking on the occasion, PHJK chief Ghazali recalled that Burhan Wani took over the command of the freedom movement in the most difficult times, posing a daunting challenge to the occupation machinery in the battlefield on the one hand and social media on the other.

“He made the world aware of India’s war crimes and the ground situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

He said the invaluable struggle and sacrifice of Mr Wani and other sons and daughters of occupied Kashmir would always serve as a guide and exemplar for all freedom seeking Kashmiris.

“No matter how many Kashmiris India martyrs or imprisons in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, it will never succeed in quelling the quest of the Kashmiri nation to overthrow its illegal occupation of their motherland. Every Kashmiri, whatever he may do, is a freedom fighter and hates India,” he said.

Mr Ghazali and other speakers called upon the United Nations to take notice of India’s war crimes and implement its resolutions on the Kashmir issue so that the Kashmiris could also live a peaceful life according to their choice.

Later, the male participants also staged a rally from Burhan Wani Chowk to Garhipan Chowk, amid anti-India and pro-freedom chants.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2023