Complete shutdown was observed in south Kashmir Islamabad on Thursday to commemorate the 23rd death anniversary of prominent pro-freedom and religious scholar Dr Qazi Nisar Ahmad. The call for shutdown was given by Ummat-I-Islamia head and son of the slain leader Mirwaiz South Kashmir Qazi Yasir and it was supported by Hurriyat Conference JK chairman Shabir Ahmed Shah.Shops and other business establishments remained closed while the attendance in schools was thin. Thin movement of traffic was observed on the roads.Reports said that hundreds of people from Southern Kashmir thronged the graveyard to pay homage to the slain leader at the place of his burial.Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir who has gone into hiding since 15th of June appeared at Jamia Masjid at Noon Prayers along with some party activists. Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir later led a routine rally up to Dialgam which was joined by public vehicles, private cars, two wheelers. Members of Democratic Freedom Party, JKLF, Hurriyat, Sout ul Awliya, Difayi Jamiat Ahlul Hadith, Traders Association, Anantnag Chemists and Druggists Union, paid tributes to Dr. Qazi Nisar Ahmed. Besides them many Islamic Parties and Socio Cultural Groups including joined the rally to Dialgam where Dr. Qazi Nisar was martyred.“The message of Dr. Qazi Nisar was clear and it was Azadi. We remember how powerful and honest his voice was, his dedication to the cause was unparallel” said Mukhtar Ahmed Sofi of Hurriyat G.
Mirwaiz Qazi Ahmed Yasir while addressing the gathering said “The genuine sentiments of the youth by the forces in Islamabad town and other parts of the valley are sheer frustration. The government is adopting every repressive tactic to muzzle our voices and choke the pro-freedom sentiment in Kashmir. But they should bear it in mind that the sentiment is blooming with time and they can’t crush it by force, they have never been able to.”Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir while paying tributes to the martyr said, “The contributions of the martyr to the Kashmir nation are unmatchable. From 1987 to 1986, his dedication is saluted by one and all.” Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir said that the assassination of the leader helped Indian state divide the Kashmiri people whom he had gathered under a single banner in 1987. “The assassins worked for the divisive agenda of the Indian agencies and assassinated the leader” he said.Mir Muntazir Gul said “Dr. Qazi Nisar was a symbol for bravery in the whole of Jammu Kashmir and his open stance against the then Governor Jagmohan in 1985 is a testimony to that.
Subsequently he was booked for nearly a year when he slaughtered a cow in Islamabad’s Lal Chowk. Qazi Nisar is still treated as a symbol of honesty and bravery which stands a testimonial to the fact that his killers never succeeded in what they intended to do. He will remain in the hearts of those who have seen him and even those who have never seen him.”Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir thanked the people of Southern Kashmir who observed a shutdown to protest the killing of Dr. Qazi Nisar Ahmed.Meanwhile Stone throwing clashes were witnessed in Qazi Mohalla, Malknag, Achabal, Seer Hamdan areas Islamabad.Pertinently, unidentified gunmen in Dialgam village assassinated Qazi Nisar on June 19, 1994. Qazi later joined Muslim United Front (MUF), an amalgam of socio political organizations, which took part in the ‘rigged’ 1987 elections during which he became popular for his fiery speeches. (CNS)