Srinagar, Jun 15 (KNO) : APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly condemned the killing of Shujaat Bukhari calling it an assault on freedom of expression and speech and a cowardly act to silence meaningful voices. 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 people’s issues and aspirations truthfully without fear or favor throughout his decades-long journalistic career.
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 oppposition .
The question that comes to mind then is who is 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 Kashmiri’s , 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 Shujaat 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. APHC delegation led by Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat and G.N.Zaki participated in the funeral prayers of Shujat 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 past30 years that UN has recognised 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. Miwaiz said that it is unfortunate that instead of deliberating on the report and addressing the issues raised ,GOI outrightly rejected it as "biased" "fallacious".
Mirwaiz said GOI should realise 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. Mirwaiz also announced that Eid prayers will be held at 9 am at historic Eidgah while as he will start his Eid sermon at 8 am.