Dozens of JKLF leaders and activists led by JKLF vice chairman advocate Bashir Ahmad BUTT were arrested by police today at press enclave when they were marching towards Lal Chowk for a protest sit-in against unabated killing spree by Indian forces in Kashmir and arrest and harassment of Professor AR Gilani and students and teachers of JNU Delhi.Funeral prayers in absentia held for late Zikra Begum, widow of father of nation Muhammad Maqbool Butt in Srinagar.Led by vice chairman JKLF advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt JKLF protest rally against unabated genocide of Kashmiris at the hands of Indian forces left towards Lal Chowk but as it reached Pres enclave police and forces in large numbers intercepted it and after dispersing the rally arrested about one dozen JKLF leaders and activists.
Before this protest rally hundreds of people gathered at Abi Guzar Chowk and offered funeral prayers in absentia for Zikra Maqbool, widow of martyr father of Kashmiri nation Muhammad Maqbool Butt who breathed her last yesterday in Karachi.After the funeral prayers in absentia, the protest rally was taken out from Abi Guzar towards Lal Chowk where according to program a protest sit-in was to be held.As this rally reached near press enclave, police and forces in large numbers intercepted and cordoned it.JKLF leaders and activists resisted the police move and after stiff resistance police arrested JKLF vice chairman Advocate Bashir Ahmad Bhat along with leaders Muhammad Sideeq Shah, sheikh Abdul Rashid, Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri, professor Javed, Syed Nisar Jeeelani, Muhammad Azeem Zargar, Ghulam Rasool Hazari, Ali Muhammad (Achen), Shakir Ahmad Aahnagar, and Muhammad Afzal Sheikh etc and detained them at police station Kothibagh.
Hundreds of participants of the protest rally raised slogans in favor of martyr’s especially recent innocent martyrs Shaista Hameed and Danish Mir of Pulwama. Participants also raised slogans against unabated killings by Indian trigger happy forces.Earlier while speaking to media person JKLF vice chairman advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt said that today JKLF is raising its voice against Indian oppressive behavior and unabated killing spree in Kashmir.What was the sin of innocent daughter of Kashmir Shaheeda Shaista and teenager Danish Mir? Why Kashmiri youth are being killed and why is international community silent on these killings? Questioned Butt.He said that this killing spree cannot be tolerated silently and Kashmiris will resist this genocide with passion and valor.
While condemning the arrest of veteran social activist Professor AR Geelani in Delhi, JNU students and others who raised their voices against Indian oppression, Butt sahib said that arresting teachers and students on concocted charges will yield Indian rulers nothing but shame.This is worth to mention that vice chairman advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt led today’s protest march in absence of ailing JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik who from last many days is admitted in a hospital under police custody. Yasin sahib is suffering from acute infection and fever and has grown very weak due to illness. Doctors are constantly looking after his health condition.Before protest rally and arrest, Hundreds of people from every walk of life participated in funeral prayers of widow of father of Kashmiri nation Muhammad Maqbool Butt Shaheed.
Leaders and representatives of many resistance parties including ISL chief Shakil Ahmad Bakhshi, APHC (M) representatives Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Jafer Kashmiri, DPM chairman (Firdous Ahmad Shah), DPM leader Yaar Muhammad khan, mass movement leader Molvi Bashir Ahmad, freedom league leader M Altaf Khan, JKLF (R) leader Wajahat Quraishee, Muhammad Shafi of National Front, senior resistance leaders Professor Sheikh, Muhammad Yousuf Gilkar. Funeral prayers were led by JKLF vice chairman Showkat Ahmad Bakashi.While speaking about the contributions and sacrifices of deceased lady Mtr Zikra Begum, senior resistance leader Shakil Ahmad Bakhshi said that she provided every support to Shaheed Maqbool Sahib at a time when Kashmiri nation was sleeping in deep slumber.He said that this nation owes respect towards this great lady and today we all pray for her heavenly abode. (KNS)