SRINAGAR Calling it an assault on freedom of expression and speech and a cowardly act to silence meaningful voices, Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq Friday demanded an international and impartial probe into the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari.
“Alternately as all have condemned it (killing) unanimously, a joint investigation commission comprising members from India, Pakistan, militant leadership and Hurriyat and the people of Kashmir could be formed to expose those behind such heinous crimes”, Mirwaiz said.
Addressing the huge Friday gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid here, Mirwaiz said that Shujaat was not only a great journalist and intellectual but a well wisher of his people who would always be on the forefront of defending Kashmir and Kashmiris projecting the peoples issues and aspirations truthfully without fear or favour throughout his decades long journalistic career, a statement issued by Hurriyat (M) quoted Mirwaiz as saying.
Mirwaiz said while people of Kashmir and leadership offer priceless sacrifices, the journalist fraternity in Kashmir too has faced tremendous hardships during the past many decades while carrying out its professional duties . He said it is because of the contribution of the vibrant Kashmiri media that reports with sincerity and against all odds that the world community that the ground situation in Kashmir gets highlighted and their contribution can never be ignored.
Mirwaiz said that it is hearting that everyone has condemned and denounced this dastardly act be it in Kashmir Pakistan or India be it the leadership or common man the militants or pro India parties those in Government in Pakistan and India or in opposition. The question that comes to mind then is who are behind such crimes? we all want to know who these assailants are?
Mirwaiz said whoever they are one thing is clear they have nothing to do with our sacred struggle. Our struggle has been nurtured by the sacred blood of Kashmiris, young and old alike, by their passion and faith in the rightness and justice of the cause for which they died or laid down their life.
Mirwaiz said our struggle is based on principles, on justice, on humanity, on humanness and these beastly acts are the very opposite of it .
Demanding an international and impartial probe to nab Shujaats killers, Mirwaiz said alternately as all have condemned it unanimously, a joint investigation commission comprising members from India, Pakistan, militant leadership and Hurriyat and the people of Kashmir could be formed to expose those behind such heinous crimes.
The worshipers, who had gathered in large numbers at the grand masjid, strongly condemned the killing of Bukhari and supported the demanded for a thorough probe into it. They participated in namaz-e-jinaza for the slain journalist and recent martyrs of Kashmir held after the Friday prayers. The prayers were led by Imam Hai of Jamia masjid.
Hurriyat (M) delegation led by Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat and G.N.Zaki participated in the funeral prayers of Shujaat Bukhari at his ancestral town in Kerri Baramulla.
Terming June 14 as a historic day in Jammu and Kashmir, Mirwaiz said that for the first time in the past 30 years that UN has recognized the grave human rights violations taking place here and released a report in this regard and advocated appointing a commission to probe the unabated human rights violations being committed in Kashmir. He said that the report also stresses on giving the birth right of self determination to the people of Kashmir, is a welcome step.
Mirwaiz said that it is unfortunate that instead of deliberating on the report and addressing the issues raised, GOI out rightly rejected it as biased” fallacious”. Mirwaiz said GOI should realize that the report has been prepared by a credible world body not by any Kashmiri individual.
Felicitating the Muslim Umah on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, Mirwaiz urged people to remember the hundreds of Kashmiri brave hearts languishing in jails, interrogation centres and police stations and their families and reach out to them.
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