Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has made it clear that Kashmir dispute was not an issue of leadership, neither of forming a government or of economic packages or financial concessions.According to statement issued to KNS, while addressing a mammoth Friday gathering at historic Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz said that Kashmir issue was not either a regional or a boundary dispute between India and Pakistan, but it was an issue which pertained to the political future of 1.3 crore people living in a particular geographical area called Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that stand of Hurriyat and Awami Action Committee is clear that “The Kashmir for which we spilled our blood, belongs to us”.Strongly rejecting the statement of Indian foreign ministry that Kashmir was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, APHC Chairman stated that the history is testimony to the fact that bilateral talks between the two countries may it in be Tashkent, Shimla, Lahore or Agra have miserably failed to bear any results. Hence, Mirwaiz stated, that it has been the principle stand of APHC that Kashmir issue should be resolved either through by implementing U.N resolutions or through meaningful talks involving all the three stake holders-India Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Terming Kashmiris as the main stake holders to the Kashmir dispute, Mirwaiz stated that the line drawn in blood to pide Jammu and Kashmir was unacceptable to people. He stated that Kashmir was not a religious issue, neither a regional one.Mirwaiz stated that lakhs of Kashmiris have laid their life and property for the resolution of Kashmir issue, adding, struggle continues till date and sacrifices given for the cause can neither be ignored nor forgotten.Stressing that a dubious process has been started to pide Kashmiris on regional and communal lines with the incoming sham elections, Mirwaiz stated that the conscious people of Kashmir are aware about the evil designs, being formulated against them would never allow such designs to succeed.
Paying rich tributes to the social, political and religious leader of Kashmir Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq on his 25th martyrdom anniversary according to Islamic calendar, APHC Chairman stated that following his teachings, Kashmiris would succeed in reaching their desired goal of freedom.
Mirwaiz stated that August 25, 1989 was the black day in the history of Kashmir when police and security agencies entered the historic Jamia Masjid and violated the sanctity of this religious place. The aim of the attack, Mirwaiz stated was to silence the late Mirwaiz from advocating the cause of people and to weaken the centrality of the Jamia Masjid as a political centre. He stated that Kashmiris have defeated the designs of state then, and would do the same in future. (KNS)