PESHAWAR
\nIn the annals of resistance against oppression and state terrorism, very few personalities stand as resolutely as was the Kashmir iconic leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who stood tall against India\u2019s endless terror and war crimes during his long peaceful struggle for the right of self determination of the oppressed Kashmiris.
\nAs Kashmiris on both sides of Line of Control (LoC) are going to mark Kashmir Blackday Day on Sunday to strongly condemn the illegal occupation of India, the Kashmiris leadership and civil society would pay glowing tributes to Syed Ali Geelani whose peaceful struggle are beacon of hope and direction for an entire Kashmiris to get independence from the Indian yoke.
\nFor over seven decades, Ali Geelani epitomized the legitimate freedom struggle against illegal occupation and systematic state terrorism in IIOJK, championing the cause of Kashmiris\u2019 freedom with an unwavering resolve.
\n\u201cAli Geelani\u2019s declaration, \u201cWe are Kashmiris and Pakistan is our country,\u201d became a rallying cry for every Kashmiri after the fascist Hinduvata regime had revoked the special status of the IIIOJK five years ago on August 5, 2019 and turned the held valley into jail amid communication and media blackout.
\n\u201cGillani shahib\u2019s life was marked by relentless resistance against repressive actions of the Occupied Indian forces and his steadfast commitment and support for the cause of Kashmir separated him from other Kashmir leaders, \u201c said Adnan Sarwar Khan, former Chairman International Relations Department, University of Peshawar while talking to APP.
\n\u201cDespite severe threats to his life, oppressive treatment and long house arrest, Ali Geelani did not leave IIOJK, confronting all the dangers with a bravery and courage that left an indelible mark on the freedom movement in the held valley.\u201d
\n\u201cHis legacy is a testament to his extraordinary courage, strong commitment for Kashmir cause and endless love for the oppressed Kashmiris,\u201d Adnan said.
\nManzoorul Haq, a former ambassador, lauded Ali Geelani\u2019s strong commitment and loyalty with the Kashmir cause, stating, \u201cLate Geelani Sahib received widespread admiration for his resolute principles stance on freedom, justice, equality, and human rights, facing Indian forces persecution without retreating an inch.\u201d
\nGeelani\u2019s profound connection to his people was evident until his death on September 1, 2021, during prolonged house arrest at Srinagar. The manner of his passing\u2014his body seized and buried without the presence of his family\u2014further highlighted the severe repression faced by the Kashmiri leader.
\nThis inhuman treatment had further exposed the extent of Indian forces\u2019 disregard and maltreatment for humanity, as his family was barred from performing final rites of the Ali Geelani who was buried in haste at midnight without completion of last rituals.
\nHussain Khateeb, a member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (Geelani Group) said that Kashmiris on both sides of LoC would present glowing tributes to their great leader who stood for peace and independence of held Kashmir.
\nHe emphasized Geelani\u2019s matchless role in revealing the scale of the violence and oppression of the fascist Modi regime in the held valley where communication and media blackouts besides human rights abuses especially against women and children had made life a nightmare for the oppressed Kashmiris.
\nCiting media reports and the Pakistani dossier of September 2021, Khateeb said the extensive human rights abuses and extra judicial killing besides unmarked graves, extrajudicial killings, and widespread torture were rightly exposed by the great leader in media and public rallies.
\nThe gruesome violation of human rights including forced disappearance of over 8,000 innocent Kashmiris, 8,652 unmarked mass graves and imposition of longest curfew on some 10 million unarmed Kashmiris in IIOJK were boldly exposed by Syed Ali Geelani.
\nAround 162,000 cases of arbitrary arrests and torture, over 25,000 pellet guns injuries, 11,250 women raped, 23,000 women widowed and over 108,000 children were orphaned since 1989 in IIOJK, he said.
\nHe said Syed Ali Geelani rightly talked about an excessive use of snipers and cluster ammunitions by India to target innocent Kashmiris along the Line of Control (LoC), use of children and women as human shields by Indian army during encounters and making them sleep at military camps forcing them to dig out minefields and tying youth on military jeeps at IIOJK that testified Modi government\u2019s direct involvement in war crimes and genocide of Kashmiris.
\nGeelani\u201dShahib had also strongly opposed the use of pellet guns and cluster ammunition against civilians at IIOJK, condemning the Modi government\u2019s persistent oppressions and state terrorism that targeted innocent lives and used civilians as human shields in the held valley that was turned into largest jail.
\nThe extra judicial killing of great freedom fighter Burhan Wani and the imprisonment of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik in a fake case further exposed the brutalities and war crimes of Hinduvata Indian regime, he said, adding Modi Govt\u2019s refusal to give excess to International UN observers to IIOJK unveiled its ugly secular face before the International Community.
\nKhateeb also pointed to the anti-Muslim violence in BJP-led Tripura in recent years as evidence of the broader pattern of discrimination, hate and oppression under Modi\u2019s regime.
\nDeclaring Geelani as a beacon of hope for the Kashmiri struggle, he said his life long struggle for the right of self determination in the face of intense persecution of Indian forces had inspired millions of Kashmiris.
\nGeelani\u2019s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Kashmiris in their quest for freedom and time was nearer when their struggle would come to its logical end.
\nThe experts argued that peace in South Asia hinges on resolving the Kashmir dispute, cautioning that further conflict could destabilize the entire south region.
\nThey said that four wars were already fought between the two nuclear armed neighbours and another war would bring disaster consequences for billions of people of the subcontinent and its negative effects would go even beyond the borders.
\nThey called on UN bodies and super powers to look behind trade benefits and enforce resolutions on Kashmir.
\nThey demanded the Indian government to immediately restore the Kashmir special status and grant rights of self determination to Kashmiri people besides allowing Geelani\u2019s family to honor his final resting place.
\nThe enduring impact of Syed Ali Geelani\u2019s leadership is a powerful reminder that the ongoing indigenous freedom in IIOJK would meet to its logical end soon and time was not for away when people of the held valley would get right of self determination as promised to them by the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR In the annals of resistance against oppression and state terrorism, very few personalities stand as resolutely as was the Kashmir iconic leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who stood tall against India\u2019s endless terror and war crimes during his long peaceful struggle for the right of self determination of the oppressed Kashmiris. As Kashmiris on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-439634","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n