AAC observes Youm-e-Aseeran
Srinagar: Awami Action Committee (AAC) Tuesday observed October 10 as Youm-e-Aseeran (the Prisoner’s Day).
It was on this day in 1965, AAC founder president Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq was arrested by the authorities for representing the political aspirations and send to prison for the next two and a half years, while being subjected to intense torture during the early days of his illegal detention.
A seminar in this regard was held by AAC at its headquarters Mirwaiz Manzil Rajouri Kadal Srinagar where participants paid tributes to the courage and steadfastness shown by the hundreds of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in various prisons jails in and outside the J&K.
The AAC patron and Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was supposed to preside over the seminar, wasn’t allowed by the authorities as he continues to be under arbitrary house detention.
Those that participated included resistance leaders G.N.Zaki,Musadiq Adil, Mehrajudin Rabani, representative of Syed Ali Geelani, Peer Ghulam Nabi Jaffar Kashmiri and others besides hundreds of AAC activists and workers .
The participants of the seminar paid rich tributes to the courage of late Mirwaiz Farooq who they said continues to be the torch bearer for all the freedom aspiring people despite passing of several decades as the people’s beloved leader never accepted the status quo on Kashmir or surrender before the military might but continued to peacefully advocate right to self determination for people of Kashmir.
The participants of the seminar expressed serious concern over the condition of prisoners languishing in jails and their safety. They demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners including youth children and elders languishing in jails for years on end for their political belief and also resistance leaders Advocate Shahidul Islam, Masrat Alam Bhat, Ayaz Akbar, Altaf Ahmed Shah Dr Qasim Fakhtoo, Mehraj Din Kalwal, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Khan, Asiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi, Atif Ahmed and others.
Meanwhile, addressing the seminar over telephone, the incarcerated AAC patron said that “we salute the bravery of those bearing the hardships of prison for their political convictions.’
Mirwaiz said it is unfortunate that those demanding resolution of the Kashmir dispute in its historical context are caged and jailed.
He said repression and locking up people arbitrarily as a punishment for their political convictions will not undo the Kashmir dispute nor help resolve it.
Mirwaiz said all political prisoners should be released forthwith and sincere steps taken for the resolution of this dispute.
He expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of braid chopping stating that government and its police are adopting a lackadaisical approach in cracking it .
Mirwaiz said the incidents of braid chopping which take place every day has unleashed a reign of terror among the people especially women and it has become scary for them to venture out of their homes due to fear.
He said it seems that some agency is behind the braid chopping incidents, which enjoys the patronage of those in power; otherwise it was not impossible to nab the culprits behind this brazen crime.
Mirwaiz also urged people of Kashmir to make the call given by the joint resistance leadership on October 14, TRC chalo, a success by showing solidarity with the hundreds of resistance leaders, youth and elderly lodged in jails. He said people’s participation in the rally will also be a message to NewDelhi that Kashmiris continue to remain steadfast towards their goal.
KV Correspondent
