Participants carry Pakistani and AJK flags, chant slogans against India and in support of Pakistan and Wani.
Young Kashmiris wave the flags of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir during a rally commemorating Burhan Wani. PhotoExpress
A rally was held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Muzaffarabad on Wednesday to commemorate the 10th martyrdom anniversary of Burhan Muzaffar Wani, which was attended by leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), government officials, refugees from Indian-occupied Kashmir, and a large number of Kashmiri youth.
The death of 21-year-old Wani, a prominent Kashmiri activist, sent shockwaves across the region and brought the long-running conflict in the occupied territory to the forefront of international attention. His martyrdom on July 8, 2016, sparked widespread protests, leading to a new wave of violence by Indian occupying forces in the region.
Spokesperson of AJK Prime Minister Shaukat Javed Mir, Chairman Muzaffarabad Development Authority Yasir Gilani, APHC leaders, government employees and civil society members participated in the rally.
The rally started from Burhan Muzaffar Wani Chowk and culminated at Alamdar Chowk.
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The participants carried Pakistani and AJK flags and chanted slogans against India and in support of Pakistan and Wani.
Addressing the gathering, speakers said July 8 was celebrated across the Line of Control (LoC) as a ‘Day of Resistance’ in remembrance of Wani. They described him as “a symbol of the Kashmir freedom movement”, adding that his fight continued to inspire Kashmiri youth across divisions.
Speaking on the occasion, Mir said the people of occupied Kashmir remained committed to their struggle for the right to self-determination and supported accession to Pakistan.
He said many youths in the territory were still following Wani’s legacy.
Mir castigated India for human rights violations in the region, pointing out that more than 97,000 Kashmiris had been killed, 22,000 women widowed and more than 4,000 youths imprisoned in the last 36 years by Indian occupation forces.
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The AJK Prime Minister’s spokesperson further said that APHC leaders, including Shabbir Shah and Yasin Malik, remained in detention in India and called on New Delhi to release all political detainees and withdraw its forces from the disputed territory.
The speakers also urged the United Nations to implement its resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and ensure that the people’s right to self-determination is granted.
They also paid tribute to the army, saying the success of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos (Iron Wall) had enhanced Pakistan’s stature internationally.
