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  • Mirwaiz condemns crackdown against separatists

    Srinagar, Feb 7 (KNS): Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq has strongly condemned the crackdown on pro freedom leadership and activists as well as youth of the valley. He has also condemned the arrest and nocturnal raids on the dwellings of the leaders and youth. He has termed these actions as fascist and cruel.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, he has said that put aside the peaceful activities of Hurriyat leadership, people are not even allowed to pay tribute to the martyrs and brutal suppressive measures are being used against the Hurriyat leadership, activists and youth of Kashmir. Mirwaiz further said that these tactics, however, cannot deter the people of Kashmir.
    While expressing profound anger and resentment on the incident of molestation of a lady doctor by a sitting Minister of the State Government, Mirwaiz has said that all the limits of decency and morality have been crossed by indulging in the act of such moral turpitude. Mirwaiz has said that it was a matter of shame and concern that the modesty of the women working in government departments has become insecure in the hands of government officials. Mirwaiz has demanded an exemplary and strict action against the Minister. He further added that in past in the most infamous sex scandal racket, some Ministers of the time were found involved but the case was dealt and hushed up in a manner that none of the guilty was punished. He has also lauded the determination of the said lady doctor who gathered the courage to register an FIR against the Minister, he, however termed the role of police in refusing to register the FIR without court orders as deplorable.
    In the meantime Hurriyat spokesman has strongly condemned the arrest and nocturnal raids on the residences of Hurriyat leaders and activists and termed this action of the authorities as cruel and barbaric. According to the spokesman in order to foil the various programmes organised in connection with the martyrdom anniversaries of Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guru the authorities arrested various Hurriyat leaders and activists including Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, Mushtaq Ahamd Sofi, Abdul Majeed Lone, Sahil Ahmad, Abdul Rashid Tanki, Farooq Ahmad Matoo, Farooq Ahmad Nazir Ahmad, Mohamamd Shafi, Shabir Ahmad, Muzaffar Ahmad, Mehraj-ud-din, Sarir Ahmad and Adil Ahamd and lodged them in different police stations. Hurriyat leader Mohammad Shafi Khan has been put under house arrest while as nocturnal raids were carried out at the residence of Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Ghulam Mohammad Nagoo and Syed Bashir Andrabi. In addition to this authorities have started a large scale crackdown against the population and in particular the youth of the valley and arrested scores of people from various places and the police action is still on. In order to protest this inhuman and suppressive measure, Hurriyat Conference has decided to postpone its proposed seminar on 8th February to remember the martyrs. The seminar will be held now on Sunday 16th February 2014 at Hurriyat headquarters.
    Meanwhile at Qasim Shah Masjid Awanta Bhawan Hurriyat leaders Javed Ahmad Mir, Hakeem Abdul Rashid, Imtiyaz Ahmad Reshi carried on the signature campaign in support of the demand for the return of mortal remains of Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guru to their family members. Another senior Hurriyat leader Syed Bashir Andrabi while addressing a gathering at Naman Kakapora throw light on the need of a peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir. (KNS)

  • TTP negotiator rejects peace talks under constitution

    Islamabad, Feb. 07: A member of the team of negotiators representing the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in peace talks with the Pakistani government has expressed his reservations over the dialogue, saying he won’t be part of further negotiations.
    Talks to end the militants’ bloody seven-year insurgency formally kicked off Thursday between a four-member government committee and a three-man Taliban team, amid much scepticism over whether dialogue can yield a lasting peace deal.
    The first round of talks ended with both sides charting a roadmap for future negotiations, with the government team proposing that the peace talk be pursued within the framework of the constitution of Pakistan.
    However, Maulana Abdul Aziz urged the government on Friday to remove the condition of holding talks under the constitution.
    “There would be no problems if our constitution were the Quran and Sunnah. But the Taliban say they do not recognise the prevailing constitution,” Aziz told a press conference in Islamabad. “The people should not be misled into believing that our constitution is Islamic.”
    Aziz, who rose to prominence during the 2007 military operation in Islamabad’s Lal Masjid where he is the chief cleric, said Pakistan’s constitution should be replaced by the teachings of the Quran and the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
    “That should be the law in Pakistan and until the committee brings this point on the agenda I won’t be part of negotiations,” he told reporters.
    He said he would remain part of the TTP’s three-man delegation led by fellow cleric Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, unless told otherwise, but would not come to the negotiating table.
    “I won’t participate in talks until they include a clause about the imposition of Islamic law,” he said. (Sources)

  • Cabinet to meet tomorrow


    Massive reshuffle in civil, police administration on cards

    Srinagar, Feb 7 (KNS): With the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in mid April and almost around 30 senior officers (IAS, KAS) due to retire by the end of March this year, a massive reshuffle in civil and police administration is on cards, as the state cabinet is scheduled to meet in Jammu tomorrow.
    A cabinet minister told KNS that the state cabinet is scheduled to meet at 10. 30 am on Saturday in civil secretariat Jammu. Around 30 senior officers few of them already retired last month are due to retire by the end of March, sources in the secretariat told KNS.
    “First, there are strict guidelines from the Election Commission of India to transfer officers from their home districts and those who have completed two years of a posting at a single place ahead of polls. Besides these directions, a number of posts will be lying vacant due to retirement of the senior (IAS, KAS) officers by the end of March this year. These two important factors have motivated the government to go for a massive reshuffle in both civil and police administration,” the cabinet minister told KNS pleading anonymity.
    The police department, sources said is also likely to witness a massive reshuffle even upto the level of Inspector General of Police. “The upcoming cabinet meeting may transfers police officers upto the level of IGPs besides some senior police officers may be elevated to higher levels,” sources told KNS.
    Those officers who are due to retire by the end of March include Bashir Ahmad Runiyal (IAS), Farooq Ahmad Pir (IAS), Farooq Ahmad Facktoo (IAS), Ghulam Hassan Tantray (IAS), Tariq Ahmad Mir (IAS), Hafizullah Qadri (KAS), Jaipal Singh (KAS), Farooq Ahmad Khan (KAS), Mohammad Yousuf Zargar (KAS), Attaurehman Natnu (KAS), Ghulam Hussian Bati (KAS), Shugufta Bagat (KAS), Sheikh Mukhteyar (KAS), Reyaz Choudhry (KAS), Shaihda Khanum (KAS), Syed Altaf Andrabi (KAS) and Gulzar Ahmad Qureshi (KAS).
    Those IAS, KAS officers who retired in January last, include Sudanshu Sharma, Mohammad Abbas Dar, Mushtaq Ahmad Mir and Shahid Rashid, sources told KNS.
    Interestingly, both the coalition partners–Congress and National Conference have started hectic parleys to adjust officers of their liking at suitable posts, sources said. Similarly, many officers in the civil and police administration have also been reportedly busy in lobbying to get their favorite postings. (KNS)

  • ‘Screening of Afzal’s MAQBOOL thwarted’

    SRINAGAR:

    The screening of a documentary film based on the life of Maqbool Bhat, scheduled to be held on February 8 at a local hotel here, has been thwarted as the hotel authorities have cancelled the booking.

    The reports received by KNS informed that the screening of the 60 minute duration film titled ‘MAQBOOL’ was scheduled to take place at a government run hotel here on February 8 but due to the objection of the state authorities, the film makers have decided to cancel the screening.
    “The hotel manager called us and informed that the police authorities have directed to cancel the booking meant for the film screening on the grounds of law and order,” said Afzal, the maker of ‘MAQBOOL’, adding that “they had booked the conference hall of the hotel two days earlier.”
    He further said that they have been informed that for the screening of the film, the written permission from the deputy commissioner (DC) is necessary. “The film is based on the personal and political life of Maqbool Bhat and has several interviews of his companions and childhood friends,” said Afzal. The film has tried to cover all major incidents of Maqbool Bhat’s life and also emphasis has been laid upon the political situation of that time when Maqbool joined the militant ranks.
    Afzal said that the group of some young film makers have joined heads together and have started a production house called ‘footsteps’. “We had the footage of more than 15 hours and the film has been thoroughly edited on final cut pro.”

  • Shabir Khan likely to get arrested


    SRINAGAR: Congress MLA, Shabir Khan is likely to get arrested because state High Court did not allow his bail application to be moved in Jammu, Friday afternoon. “An application was moved by Khan in the High Court but it was not allowed to be filed and turned down by the chief justice,” sources said. They added that the bail application of Khan was moved by Khan’s lawyer, who himself is a Congress leader. “The Court however turned down Khan’s request,” sources said. Sources said that Khan will now have to move a bail application in Srinagar where FIR stands lodged.They added that as a warrant already stands issued in the name of Khan, and his bail application was not allowed to move by the State High Court, his arrest is expected anytime. Pertinently, a lady doctor has registered a complaint of molestation against Khan in Police station Shahid Gunj, Srinagar where a case FIR no 14/2014 under section 509 stands registered. The sources told GNS that police had initially declined to register the case and it was on the directions by Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar that the first information report was registered. The doctor has said in her complaint that she received repeated calls from the minister’s staff over a week ago. She was told that the minister wants to know about the announcements made by Indian health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during his visit to the hospital where the doctor is posted.Despite her requests that minister should obtain the information from senior officials, the doctor alleged, she was compelled to report at the minister’s office on January 28.
    The woman said when she reached Khan’s office at the Secretariat, Khan asked her to go and wait inside a small cabin adjacent to his office. The doctor said she refused to leave the office but the minister convinced her to sit inside the cabin.
    The woman said she felt uncomfortable and quickly left the room after the minister allegedly tried to molest her. When the minister came to meet her at the cabin, she alleged, he made “provocative advances”. The doctor has alleged that while she managed to escape from the spot, the minister asked her to visit his guest house and serve him ‘Kehwah’ in the same manner in which she had served the special tea to Azad during latter’s visit to hospital recently.

  • Hang Shabir Khan: DAK Calls for suspension of routine work at Kashmir hospitals on Saturday

    Photo: Hang Shabir Khan: DAK Calls for suspension of routine work at Kashmir hospitals on Saturday Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) in a meeting of executive council with President Dr Nisar ul Hassan in chair strongly condemned the shameful molestation bid on a lady doctor by health minister Shabir Ahmad Khan. The lady doctor was forced to see the minister at his office chamber in winter secretariat by his special secretary and private secretary where this nymphomaniac minister molested her, DAK President, Dr Nisar Ul Hassan Malik told Kashmir Today during an executive council meeting of doctors. We are in a state of shock because of this beastly act. People have lost faith and trust in sacred institutions as the highest seat of a sacrosanct institution is a molester. "Our sisters and daughters are not safe as they are day in and out molested/raped by politicians, bureucrates and security personals. We can’t be silent spectators when the chastity of our daughters is at stake. We will sacrifice our lives to safeguard the dignity and honor of our women". DAK said that resignation by health minister is an eye wash as earlier such incidents have shown that government has given plump postings to officials involved in sex scandals and rape on innocent women of Kashmir. We have examples of Kunanposhpora mass rape, Shopian double rape and murder and infamous politico-bureaucratic sex scandal where perpetrators were exonerated by enquires. Lady Doctors do not want to go for their duties as they feel unsafe after this dastardly act. I received phone calls from parents of lady doctors that they are reluctant to send them to hospitals because of insecurity. DAK demands immediate arrest of the minister and seek enquiry by a judicial commission into this disgraceful act. Shabir should be hanged so that our daughters feel safe and people repose faith and trust in sacrosanct institutions. DAK has decided to suspend routine work at Kashmir hospitals tomorrow on Saturday Feb 08, 2014 and protest against this ghastly crime. We appeal nation to come out in support of DAK to protest against this unforgivable brute act.
    Srinagar: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) in a meeting of executive council with President Dr Nisar ul Hassan in chair strongly condemned the shameful molestation bid on a lady doctor by health minister Shabir Ahmad Khan. The lady doctor was forced to see the minister at his office chamber in winter secretariat by his special secretary and private secretary where this nymphomaniac minister molested her, DAK President, Dr Nisar Ul Hassan Malik told Kashmir Today during an executive council meeting of doctors.
    We are in a state of shock because of this beastly act. People have lost faith and trust in sacred institutions as the highest seat of a sacrosanct institution is a molester.
    “Our sisters and daughters are not safe as they are day in and out molested/raped by politicians, bureucrates and security personals. We can’t be silent spectators when the chastity of our daughters is at stake. We will sacrifice our lives to safeguard the dignity and honor of our women”.
    DAK said that resignation by health minister is an eye wash as earlier such incidents have shown that government has given plump postings to officials involved in sex scandals and rape on innocent women of Kashmir. We have examples of Kunanposhpora mass rape, Shopian double rape and murder and infamous politico-bureaucratic sex scandal where perpetrators were exonerated by enquires.
    Lady Doctors do not want to go for their duties as they feel unsafe after this dastardly act. I received phone calls from parents of lady doctors that they are reluctant to send them to hospitals because of insecurity.
    DAK demands immediate arrest of the minister and seek enquiry by a judicial commission into this disgraceful act. Shabir should be hanged so that our daughters feel safe and people repose faith and trust in sacrosanct institutions. DAK has decided to suspend routine work at Kashmir hospitals tomorrow on Saturday Feb 08, 2014 and protest against this ghastly crime. We appeal nation to come out in support of DAK to protest against this unforgivable brute act.

  • Yasin Malik Goes Underground To Lead Lal Chowk Chalo Program on 9th Feb

    Lal chowk chalo program will be held despite these restrictions : Yasin Malik


    Srinagar, Feb 7: Police crackdown against JKLF leaders and activists across valley is continuing .To foil JKLF Lal Chowk Chalo call on 9th February 2014 police has raided many JKLF leaders and activists including the residence of JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik last night . Police early morning today arrested senior JKLF leader advocate Bashir Ahmad Bhat also. Senior leader Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi, sheikh Khalid, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, Abdul Sattar are already in police custody. Police is continuously raiding and searching for various JKLF leaders and hundreds of activists across the valley. Police is searching for JKLF senior leader sheikh Abdul Rashid, bashIr Ahmad kashmiri, Mohammad Haneef Dar, Mohammad Amin jaan,Shabir Ahmad Boitengo and district president Ganderbal Bashir Ahmad Rather Boya. Police raided the houses of Yasin sahib and basher kashmiri several times since last night. Many JKLF activists are being called to police stations or raided at various places like Tangmarg, Noor Bagh, Chinkral Mohalla, Khawajabazar, Nawabazar, Nawhata, Batamaloo, Chanapora, islambad, ganderbal ,kulgam, kupwara, pulwama, baramullah,bandipora etc. Jklf chairman Mohammad yasin malik who for leading lal chowk chalo program has gone underground has strongly condemned this police crackdown on JKLF leaders and activists and termed it as a share frustration and act of sate terrorism. Yasin sahib said that authorities by perusing this policy of terrorizing the peaceful activists and leaders and stopping us from attending condolence meetings regarding our beloved martyrs Shaheed Baba I Qoum Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Shaheed Farzan I Qoum Mohammad Afzal Guru is pushing us to the wall . Yasin Malik said that we strongly condemn this unilateral state terrorism. He said that despite all these restrictions and crackdown JKLF will peruse with its Lal chowk Chalo program and the program will be held at every cost.

    Meanwhile Father of Kashmiri nation Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and son of Kashmiri Mohammad Afzal Guru were today remembered at condolence meetings held in connection with the 10 day condolence programs held at budgam,kupwar and ganderbal districts today. The meetings were held under the president ship district of master Mohammad Afzal, gulzar ahmad pahalwan and at ganderbal by pir ghulam mohiudin ( imam I jamia ganderbal) and basher ahmad boya. Terming Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat as a legend and ideologue speakers said who by his sacrifices, struggle and martyrdom laid down strong foundations of the freedom struggle, paying rich tributes to the great son of soil Afzal Guru speakers said that he also embraced martyrdom on gallows and became immortal.

    Terming the February 11 as a historic day in Kashmir, the speakers during the occasions stated that February 9 added to its historical importance. Speakers appealed to the people of Jammu Kashmir to always remember these great martyrs as this is the symbol of living nations…

    A prayer meet was also held for Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, Shaheed Afzal Guru and all the martyrs of Kashmir

  • Shaheed Afzal Guru is the Omar Mukhtar of Kashmir: KUSU

    Kashmir University Students’ Union (KUSU) offers glorious tributes to Shaheed-e-Millat, Mohammad Afzal Guru, on his first martyrdom anniversary. Far from being a ‘victim’, Shaheed Afzal is actually one of the shining stars of Kashmir resistance. He will forever remain etched in the memory of Muslims of Kashmir as a defender of their faith against Indian occupation. In many ways Shaheed Afzal Guru is the Omar Mukhtar of Kashmir.
    India’s collective conscience may have been satisfied by martyring Shaheed Guru but it has only reinvigorated Kashmir resistance. Shaheed Afzal’s message (Ahle Emaan ke naam) is a constitution on Kashmir resistance. His understanding of the dynamics of Kashmir resistance are thought provoking-‘the new generation of Kashmir has rejected Ghandhi-ism and Karzai-ism’. Shaheed Afzal’s martyrdom will be one of the final nails in India’s coffin.
    Shaheed Guru exemplified the true nature of Kashmir resistance, which is rooted in resilience, courage and above all unflinching faith in Islam. Shaheed Guru is an example, resistance icon not only for Muslims of Kashmir but for the entire Muslim nation. KUSU condemns how a person like Shaheed Afzal Guru is exploited in the darbars of secularism.

    KUSU also pays rich tributes to Shaheed Maqbool Bhat, who rose up at a time when the resistance movement was at its lowest after Sheikh Abdullah’s treachery. Along with Shaheed Afzal Guru, Shaheed Maqbool Bhat is a beacon of light for Kashmir and its resistance. It does not matter if Shaheed Afzal Guru or Shaheed Maqbool Bhat’s mortal remains lie behind the enemy lines, for they will always live in the hearts of Kashmiris and continue to inspire them for all times to come. It is imperative that Kashmiris strive to achieve the freedom its martyrs strived for, instead of imploring the fascist Indian state to return their mortal remains.

  • Mehbooba demands arrest of Shabir Khan

    SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party today called for immediate arrest of Shabir Khan who held the portfolio of Health in the state government and has been accused of molesting a lady doctor, statement said.

    Addressing a press conference in Jammu this evening, party president Mehbooba Mufti said “there is an apprehension that being an influential person he could try to pressurize and influence the witnesses and destroy evidence which require that he should have been taken into custody immediately on registration of an FIR.”

    She demanded that government must come clean on the reports that the police had refused to register an FIR lodged by the victim of this sexual assault and that she had been forced to approach the court for order for registration of an FIR.

    “As per the newspaper reports the incident has happened 7 days back. Chief Minister as in charge of police owes an explanation about these reports,” she said.

    “It seems the govt is still trying to help Shabir Khan to save his skin by not arresting him,” Mehbooba said and added that the reported delay in the registration of an FIR could be a part of the same attempt to cover up the scandal.

    Mehbooba condemning the remarks of a senior congress leader questioning the credibility of the victim and identifying her said, “Strong action should be taken against him for the breach of the established norms in the country for not naming or identifying the name of the victim of such cases.”

    Mehbooba said that health was the noblest profession and women generally preferred it further respect it commanded and it was unfortunate that a minister should have indulged in such an inhuman behavior. She asserted that the minister, who is reported to have resigned, should have been arrested yesterday itself after the FIR was registered, as the Supreme Court has laid down strict guidelines for such offences against women.

  • Geelani condemning the crackdown on pro-freedom leaders

    Srinagar, February 7-2014:-while condemning the crackdown on pro-freedom leaders by the state administration in the backdrop of the programme given with reference to the Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guroo and Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani declared it as state-terrorism and lawlessness.
    While lashing out at state government, Geelani sahab said that it was a shameful act on the part of Indian democracy that they hanged two Kashmiries and buried them in the Tihar jail premises and to appease the masters in New Delhi, Umar Abdullah government has started the crackdown on pro-freedom leaders at the time when they were preparing to demand back the mortal remains of the duo from Tihar jail. While repeating the call for complete shutdown on 9, 10, and 11 of February and the seminar on 12 February,
    Geelani said that the three days strike has been called to press for the demand to return back the mortal remains of the martyrs and through these strikes we want to attract the attention of International community towards this grave human rights violation.
    While declaring the house arrest of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat General Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Sehraie and Secretary Public Relations Mohammad Altaf Shah, the Raids on the residences of Hurriyat Spokesman Ayaz Akbar and Mohammad Ashraf Laya, arrest of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat district presidents Baramulla and Doda Ab. Gani Bhat and Milk Noor Fayaz and Mohammad Rustum Bhat and the detention of more than 200 workers of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in different police stations, as state terrorism, Geelani Sahab strongly condemned the arrest of Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and many other pro-freedom leaders and said that these tactics will never break our will nor will we leave our just demand.
    While describing the February as an important month of Kashmir history, in a telephonic statement from New Delhi Geelani sahab said that in this month India has hanged to great youths of freedom movement of Kashmir. For what they were hanged and how the judiciary acted, this have raised many questions within India and at International level and many people have declared it as political killings. The pro-freedom leader said that by denying the return of mortal remains of Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guroo and Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, India has provoked the Kashmiri nation and this anger may cool down only after the return of their mortal remains.
    Geelani Sahab said that India has put a question mark at its claim of democratic nation by acting in a very wicked and curl way, however, India will never succeed nor it have ever succeeded in its nefarious designs.
    He said that the martyrdom of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat encouraged the youths for a resistance movement and the blood of Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guroo has added a new life to the freedom struggle of Kashmir. While reacting on the shameful acts of a group of people over the creation of new administrative units, Geelani Sahab said that these supporters of pro-Indian parties are harming our national sacrifices.
    While condemning the fresh wave of arrest spree, Geelani Sahab said that the government will never be able to suppress our will and freedom sentiments. Chairman Hurriyat appealed the human rights organizations to use their influence at international level to press India for the return of mortal remains of Shaheed Mohamm ad Afzal Guroo and Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat.