Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik on Monday remembered the “Shaheed Itehad-i-Millat” Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah on his anniversary and said his struggle for freedom and efforts to wipe out sectarian divide from Jammu Kashmir will always be remembered.“Shaheed Itehad-I-Millat Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah was and will remain as a symbol of unity among Kashmiri masses. His charismatic and multi-dimensional personality is unforgettable and no Kashmiri can ever overlook his sacrifices and struggle,” Malik said while addressing a gathering at JKLF headquarters on Monday.Paying tributes to Moulana Showkat Shah, JKLF chairman according to a statement issued to GNS said, “Moulana Showkat Shaheed worked relentlessly for forging unity and oneness among the ranks and files of Muslims. His efforts to get rid of the sectarian divide from Kashmir, promotion of Quran and Sunnah and communicate it to the new generations, his philanthropy, his works in the field of education and social work, his dream of an Islamic university, establishing free or non-profit based heath care centers and his passion to strive for a free Kashmir and many qualities like these make him a legendary figure who cannot be ignored even by his enemies.”“Showkat Shah was a great scholar, brave and straight forward human being, a loving and caring brother and a person who always gave priority to human cause and humility. His social work, philanthropy and leadership will be always remembered, said Yasin Malik.
He was a brave son of soil who despite many adversities remained steadfast to the cause, embraced martyrdom and attained immortal success but those who conspired and attacked Showkat Shaheed got nothing but everlasting shame and disgrace,” Malik said.He said Showkat Shah through his valiant efforts in the fields of religion, social life and politics achieved a high place in history of Kashmir. “He was a scholar, a prolific speaker, an educationist, a social worker; a political leader and a person who always loved to promote unity and love in the ranks and files of Kashmiri Muslims,” he said.Taking a dig on “some so-“called religious preachers who on social media are promoting hatred and sectarian divide among Muslims, JKLF chairman said a nation which has sacrificed more than hundred thousand people during last three decades and on a daily basis is receiving dead bodies of its loved ones cannot afford such divide.He said time has come when elders and Ulema from every sect should to take a leaf out of the life and struggle of Showkat Ahmad Shah and stop fringe among their ranks from polluting and poisoning our oppressed society by promoting sectarian strife and hatred.“It was Moulana Showkat’s wisdom and hard relentless work that unnerved many of his enemies and that is why they adopted modus operandi of Ibn-Maljam and conspired to kill Moulana Showkat. The freedom struggle of Kashmir is indebted to these great martyrs and today when we remember this great soul, we pledge to take the mission of these martyrs to its desired goal,” Yasin Malik said.
The meeting was attended by various JKLF leaders and activists who paid rich tributes to “Shaheed Itehad-i-Millat”.JKLF chief also paid rich tributes to slain youth of Budgam and Ganderbal “who laid down their lives during so-called parliamentary election” in 2017.“Frustrated by the exemplary election boycott, Indian occupational forces on April 9 last year showered bullets and pellets on common people at Dalwen, Beerwah, PakharPora, Chadoora, Rethsun, Kawoosa in Budgam and Baroosa in Ganderbal killing about eight innocents and injuring hundreds of others on a single day,” Malik said and while expressing solidarity with the bereaved families said “these martyrs made our whole nation proud and we are indebted to them”.JKLF chairman also strongly condemned the arrest of many women activists from Dukhtaran-e-Millat who were detained by police at Pulwama recently.Terming these arrests as “arbitrary and glaring example of police highhandedness”, Malik said that mourning and condolences have been banned in Kashmir which is nothing but “undemocratic and worst kind of despotism”.Malik said police have booked JKLF chief organizer Siraj ud din Mir and Abdul Rashid Magloo because they went to express condolence to a bereaved family.“Similarly JKLF activists Molvi Abdul Rashid and Bilal Ahmad Dar have also been held by Budgam police and are in detention for the last many days. JKLF vice chairman Showkat Bakhshi and JKLF zonal president Noor Muhammad Kalwal are also in police custody and are languishing at central jail Srinagar,” JKLF statement said. (GNS)