In solidarity: Kashmir celebrates Eid with Pakistan

Anti-India protests held in various cities; Hurriyet leaders put in detention

ISLAMABAD: People of Indian-held Kashmir celebrated Eidul Fitr on Wednesday with Pakistan as they staged anti-India and pro-Pakistan demonstrations in various parts of the occupied territory. Eid was celebrated in India on Thursday.

Immediately after the Eid prayers, people in large numbers took to the streets in Srinagar, Islamabad, Kulgam, Pampore, Pulwama, Sopore, Kishtwar and other parts of the territory.

Hoisting Pakistani flags, they shouted high-pitched slogans in favour of Pakistan. The protesters also demanded that Indian troops leave Jammu and Kashmir without any further delay, Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday.

Calls for the protest were given by the All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman Syed Ali Geelani and other leaders, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik. The authorities had put the three leaders under house arrest besides detaining a number of other Hurriyet leaders in police stations.

They were even not allowed to join congregational Eid prayers.  Meanwhile, Geelani, Farooq and Yasin Malik, in their statements in Srinagar, denounced the curbs imposed by the authorities on Hurriyet leaders.

They called upon the international community and Muslim community to play their role in the early settlement of the Kashmir dispute. Geelani appealed to the people of the valley not to forget the victims of Indian ‘state terrorism’.

He called for peaceful demonstrations after Eid prayers against the continued detention of Kashmiri political prisoners, ‘puppet authorities’ refusal to impose ban on sale of liquor, surveillance on Imams of mosques and harassment of Jammu Muslims.

Meanwhile, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz on Thursday expressed deep concern over the detention of Kashmiri leaders on Eid, in violation of their fundamental right of religious freedom.

“We call upon the international community to take note and urge the Indian Government to respect the basic rights of Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir,” Sartaj Aziz said in a statement issued by Foreign Office.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2016.