Shutdown in IOK tomorrow against ban on JKLF

Srinagar, March 23, 2019 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown will be observed, tomorrow, against the banning of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front by the Indian government. Call for the shutdown has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership. The Indian government banned the JKLF led by illegally detained Muhammad Yasin Malik yesterday for its pro-freedom activities. Yasin Malik is presently lodged at Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu under draconian law, Public Safety Act.

The Joint Resistance Leadership in a statement issued in Srinagar, today, said the order to ban Jamaat-e-Islami and JKLF is nothing but an act of political vengeance and an oppressive tactic to suppress the just movement of people of Jammu and Kashmir. It said that such repressive measures of India would not be able to cow down the Kashmiri people. The JKLF in a statement in Srinagar termed the ban as frustration and an election stunt of the Narendra Modi-led Indian government.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people, today, participated in the funeral prayers of two youth, Yasir Ahmed Shah and Showkat Ahmed, martyred by Indian troops in Shopian, yesterday. Thousands of people gathered in Harmain and Arhama, the native areas of the martyred youth, and participated in their last rites. The participants of the funerals chanted high-pitched pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Eyewitnesses said that a group of mujahideen appeared at the funeral of Yasir Ahmed Shah and offered him gun salute by firing several shots in the air.

Complete shutdown was observed in Hajin town of Bandipora district, today, to mourn the killing of 12-year-old Atif Ahmed Mir by Indian troops. The occupation authorities booked the illegally detained Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami of occupied Kashmir, Dr Abdul Hameed Fayyaz, under draconian law Public Safety Act and lodged him at Kathua Jail in Jammu.

Members of Kashmir business community and civil society addressing a press conference in Srinagar, today, demanded setting-up of an independent special commission of inquiry to probe the custodial death of Awantipora school teacher, Rizwan Asad. Rizwan died in Indian police custody in Srinagar on the intervening night of 18th and 19th March.

On the other hand, the Chairman of Tehreek-e-Wahdat-e-Islami, Nisar Hussain Rathar addressing a function in Srinagar while Mass Movement Patron, Farida Bahenji, and APHC-AJK Convener, Syed Abdullah Gilani, in their statements extended wholehearted greetings to the people and the government of Pakistan on their National Day, today. In New Delhi, Indian police arrested noted Kashmiri human rights activist, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, when he was about to enter the Pakistani High Commission to attend the Pakistan Day function.

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