IIOJK celebrating Eid amid shadows of guns
Protests, stone-pelting, Pak flag hoisted, anthem played
Islamabad, May 03 (KMS): While the whole Muslim Ummah is celebrating Eidul Fitr, the Muslims of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir continue to endure India’s strict military siege and violent cordon and search operations by its troops in the nook and corner of the territory on the Muslim festival, today.
The occupation authorities, today, imposed strict restrictions by deploying Indian troops and police personnel in strength in every part of the territory to prevent people from offering Eid prayers at main mosques and eidgahs including historic Eid Gah and Jamia Masjid Srinagar. The occupation authorities continued to keep senior APHC leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention and did not allow him to lead Eid prayers in the Jamia Masjid.
Kashmiris ask how can they commemorate the Eid festival when killings, arrests, torture and rape are taking place on daily basis in the territory, while thousands including APHC Chairman, Masarrat Aalam Butt, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Aasiya Andrabi, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Gulam Ahmad Gulzar, Mushtaqul Islam and others, are languishing in Indian jails.
However, in spite of all Indian atrocities, Kashmiris’ hearts throb in unison with the people of Pakistan and like in the past this time too they observed the Eid, today, with Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Even in Doda area of Jammu region, today Pakistan flag was hoisted and its National Anthem was played at a Jamia Masjid after Eid prayers. Pro-freedom pamphlets and posters were also distributed in Srinagar and several parts of the valley on Eid-ul-Fitr appealing people to support the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination movement.
The situation is so painful and agonizing that even Peoples Democratic President Mehbooba Mufti in her Eid message was forced to pour her heart out by saying that “We miss on this Eid our young and old prisoners of all ages who are in jails in and out of Kashmir without any charges.” She deplored that Muslims faced an unprecedented onslaught by the Modi-led BJP government in India and occupied Jammu and Kashmir during the entire holy month of Ramazan. She termed the notoriously known bulldozer drive as the symbol of “state terror” against the Muslims by the Modi government.
Meanwhile, protests and heavy stone-pelting was reported from some areas including Islamabad town. The protesters raised slogans, demanding ‘free Kashmir’. Clashes were going on between the protesters and Indian forces’ personnel till last reports came in.
On the other hand, a report compiled by KMS on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, today, said occupied Jammu and Kashmir is one of the most dangerous places of the world where people associated with the press and media are performing their professional duties in the most difficult circumstances. The report said, nineteen journalists have been confirmed killed while performing their duties during the ongoing Kashmir liberation struggle since 1989. It pointed out that the journalists face manhandling, abductions, murder attempts and death threats by Indian troops almost routinely. KMS
