A demonstrator holds a placard during a protest to condemn the hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru in New Delhi February 9, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
MUZAFFARABAD: Hundreds of protesters on Saturday rallied in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, to condemn the execution of a Kashmiri separatist Mohammed Afzal Guru in India.
Guru, a one-time fruit merchant, was hanged at New Delhi's Tihar Jail early Saturday over his role in a deadly attack on the Indian parliament in 2001, after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected a mercy appeal.
Some 400 protesters gathered in Muzaffarabad, burning Indian flags and chanting slogans including "down with India, down with India's farce democracy, we will continue Guru's mission", an AFP reporter said.
The rally was organised by Pasban-e-Hurriyat, an organisation representing Kashmiris who migrated to Pakistani Kashmir from the Indian-administered part of the disputed Himalayan region.
Hurriyat chief Uzair Ahmad Ghazali condemned the hanging and announced that his supporters would stage a sit-in in front of the United Nations office in Muzaffarabad on Monday.
Meanwhile, the government of Pakistan-administered Kashmir announced three days of mourning across the state to mark Guru's hanging.
"The state's flag will fly half-mast during the mourning, which started from today," Murtaza Durrani, a state government adviser, told AFP.
He said Guru was hanged under "draconian laws" and claimed that "courts in India are not free and independent". "Nobody should expect any justice from those courts," said Durrani.
Guru was found guilty of conspiring with and sheltering the militants who attacked the Indian parliament in December 2001.
He was also held guilty of being a member of the banned group Jaish-e-Mohammed, which fights against Indian rule in the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, where a separatist conflict has claimed up to 100,000 lives.
Five militants stormed parliament in New Delhi on December 13, 2001, killing eight policemen and a gardener before security forces shot them dead. A journalist who was wounded died months later.
COMMENTS (75)
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@raj. You know he(guru) was a terrorist? And what more? Dont say he was convicted, otherwise I will give u many examples against convicted person who are enjoying thier lives out of jail..........
@1984:
"Comparing Afzal Guru with Bhagat Singh is akin to blasphemy"
You listed many valid facts but forgot to mention the most important fact. Bhagat Singh was fighting against the British colonialists who had no business to rule over India. On the other hand, Kashmir has been a Buddhist/Hindu land and part of ancient Bharath for thousands of years. The Muslim history in Kashmir is only two hundred years old. So, why can't it be said that it is the Muslims who are the occupiers in Kashmir? In this respect, there is no comparison between Afzal Guru, a plain terrorist, and Baghat singh, a true Indian patriot who wanted to end European occupiers.
@Aisha Qadir:
"azad kashmir has its own flag, unlike indian kashmir. dont knwo where u come from but google for azad kashmir and ull see that flag. "
So what? They can make a flag for Rs.100. Does this flag mean pakistani controlled kashmir is really free? Pakistani controlled Kashmir (Azad kashmir, gilgit, baltistan, northern areas) are all controlled by the Kashmir council from Islamabad headed by the Pak PM. If this is "azad", it is a real sham.
@G. Din:
I might be "Guru" too since he belonged to a brahmin family that was converted during Islamic invasions.
@Shameema: "Shadman Chowk in Lahore should be named Afzal Guru Chowk. He is a bigger hero than Bhagath Singh. Can any Indian troll tell me why he should not be honoured? He was demanding freedom for his country…Kashmir." Speaking on behalf of all Indian trolls, except Muslim-appeasing ones, I can tell you we don't give a damn. We wouldn't like Shahid Bhagat Singh's name associated with Pakistan anyway. After all, we did not care for anything named after Jinnah either although we feel he didn't deserve anything named after him. It is your country, name the whole country after him. Name all your children after him. Incidentally, it is not "Guru", it is "Gooru". Muslims don't have "gurus". "Goor" is a milkman in Kashmiri. Probably his family supplied milk before they went into fruit business.
@raj786: "@P Oberoi: Dear after spending 60 % og gdp if they will get kashimir What they will eat thereafter. " Not to worry. Zulfi Bhutto showed the way. Grass, of course!
@Lala Gee: Lala Gee, Unlike Akbar Bugti, this man was given a fair trial and not taken out by a missile. Also do not expect anyone to shower the terrorists with flower petals as your Lahore Bar Association did to Mumtaz Qadri.
@Queen: Yes he should have been showered with rose petals as Mumtaz Qadri was after him murdering Salman Taseer. On the other hand should you not remember how you "took out" Akbar Bugti with a missile without bringing him to trial?
@O2: i guess the hindu population in pakistan has gone down whereas muslims population in india has gone up , i think that says it all , name even one hindu who has a significant say in pakistan soacial or economic matter and i will name you thousands in india .......
@Behari Kebab: what can we expect from a kashmiri separist , who has no value in india , no value in pakistan and no vaue in pok .......
Hanging one afzal guru is not the solution, it's just symbolic. But hanging or prosecution kingpin will certainly be the solution.......life of a fruit seller ended like this is sad.......and for god sake it's not Hindu - Muslim debate.....we all including afzal guru are victim of this mindset.
@Hina: @Awais: Comparing Afzal Guru with Bhagat Singh is akin to blasphemy
Yeah.both of them attacked parliament.....But there is a huge difference 1.Bhagat Singh threw a non-lethal bomb which killed noone as he just wanted to get captured,whereas Afzal Guru wanted to hold the parliament at ransom,or worse kill everyone out there 2.Bhagat Singh surrendered immediately as it was his plan to go to jail,Afzal Guru's involvement was unearthed by agencies,and he was caught 3.Bhagat Singh never asked for any mercy despite a huge support for him all over the country,Afzal Guru begged for forgiveness(So much for bravery) 4.Bhagat Singh went on a hunger strike for 55 days to demand equal treatment for all prisoners,he used the trial sessions in courts to launch his message to the public,Afzal Guru was already dead during his trials,he already gave up when he got convicted....
Try reading about Bhagat Singh from "neutral" sources,he fought for India,not just restricting for one religion...He was the true son of soil....
@ Shaneema
"Shadman Chowk in Lahore should be named Afzal Guru Chowk. He is a bigger hero than Bhagath Singh."
Such a comment was expected. Pakistanis have idolised Gori and Gazani who not only devastated your Sindh and Pakistan but also caught your forefathers and sold them in Gazani market at throughaway prices. If you have guts, find out killers of shias, ahmedias and hazras and name every road of Pakistan in the name of these killers. No country in the world, except Pakistan, will show mercy towards killers of its police and army personnel.
@ Lala Gee: I can understand your frustration. Yes I also know that the perpetrators of most recently Godhra & those of 1984 are still looming large. India "do" have short comings in it's legal system BUT Afzal Guru hanging is neither Godhra not 1984. You can complain about massacre of Muslims by Gujrat Police but not to forget that how minorities are treated in Pakistan. What happened in Rinkle Kumari case & forced conversions in Pakistan. Those who live in glass houses should not throe stones on others. Terrorists will keep getting punished no matter who are they & what their motive is. If that irks No One can help!!!!
Three days of mourning in Pakistan held Kashmir !!!!!!!
It would have been better if three days are declared as National Holidays to be observed every year, throughout Pakistan. Parliament will surely approve this with unanimous vote.
I am more interested in what Hafiz Saeed is going to say. As I said earlier, he shall keep quiet for some time, though just a week ago, he asked India to vacate Kashmir.
@Faisal: *"What about the 1984 genocide of Sikhs, did all you lovers of Indian democracy forgotten that so quickly?" No, trust me, we have not forgotten. Although those who are guilty are being prosecuted, Congress Party will pay through its nose for that pogrom. We have not written the final chapter on that yet!
Yet another addition to the series of injustices and crimes of India.
@Aisha Qadir: "@Zaheer: azad kashmir has its own flag, unlike indian kashmir" Indian Kashmir has its own flag and its own constitution, the only state in the Union allowed to have so. Ghulam Kashmir's Chief Minister is appointed by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs of Pakistan. DO NOT ASSUME FACTS!
The people in the pics dont look like Kashmiris, fair, light eyed etc.
@Hina: next will be Hafez Sayeed
Why does it reminds me of Akbar Baguti?
@Raj - USA: One man's terrorist is other man's freedom fighter. Bhagar Singh also attacked Indian parliament. Food for thought!
When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty!
@Yoghurt lover:
"Man, I cannot believe how desperate you are that you have to comment on my comment on another news item over here."
Yes, I am desperate to expose the lies, deceit, and the mean nature of Indians with credible proofs of their dishonorable behavior. Though posting of this comment here was by mistake, but I am happy that this happened.
"Your insecurity and inferiority complex is staggering. Get well soon!"
LOLZ!!! Looks like you/re talking to your own shadow or reflection in the mirror.
@SAL: He was not hanged because he was a muslim. He was hanged because he was a terrorist.
@Shameema: You are insulting Afzal Guru. Islamabad should be renamed after Guru as Gurugistan.
@Aisha Qadir: azad kashmir has its own flag, unlike indian kashmir. Then why UNO has not recognsed Azad Kashmir as a separate country. Yours' azadi is bogus and misleading.
What about the 1984 genocide of Sikhs, did all you lovers of Indian democracy forgotten that so quickly?
Hafiz Saied get ready for justice. You can run but can't hide from Indian Law.
@Hina:
Those who don't understand History, are bound to twist it. "Bhagat Singh of Kashmir"? Really?
I will have no problem if Kashmiris respected their independence fighters among them.
However, Afzal Guru isn't really a 'freedom fighter'. He was a mole for Pakistan based Terrorist groups (JeM), which is banned even in Pakistan. Afzal Guru, himself told in an interview that all the attackers of Indian Parliament were from Pakistan and his role was to provide them logistical help. He had also said that he did it for money, and he needed it. There were no high ideals involved here.
Bhagat singh fought against British along with his compatriots for the ideal of freedom. He didn't work with, say, the Germans, take money or Guns from them or to provide logistics to allow their soldiers to attack the British.
He isn't exactly a role model in India and wasn't supported by top leaders of Indian independence movement, his methods were never condoned by any top leader of India. But, he is respected in India for his courage in standing up to the British.
To find an equivalent of Bhagat Singh, Kashmiris will have to find some home grown revolutionary, who fights India with home made weapons, without doing the bidding of foreigners (Pakistan or Pakistani terror groups).
Why Muslims are being hanged in India? While Modi (a hindu) is free??
@Jag Nathan: Well said brother!!!
@Lala Jee who writes
“One man is guilty, went through fair trial and is punished by the legal system of a country which is not known for ugly shenanigans.”
LOLZ!!! Which dreamland you live in and think the whole world is blind like yourself.Man, I cannot believe how desperate you are that you have to comment on my comment on another news item over here.
Your insecurity and inferiority complex is staggering. Get well soon!
@Naeeem Khan Manhattan
" PM Nehru has promised in the United Nation to have plebiscite and let the people of Kashmir to decide their fate. "
My god!
What PM Nehru promised has dozens of tens of clauses under it.
If you can read it, I suggest you read all the clauses and perhaps understand that, it is Pakistan which is in violation of all these clauses, rendering the UN resolution useless.
@Queen: Oh before anyone starts criticizing, I am aware of the issues of my country. "People Who Live In Glass Houses Should Not Throw Stones"
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: remain as a province of Canada and this is what call A TRUE DEMOCRACY
Move to Canada then; and don't come back, ever. Over and out.
ps: Aren't you the one who kept calling Goa, an island ? Even living in Manhattan hasn't improved your general knowledge one bit.
Law took its own course. At least, terrorists are being punished here. In Pakistan, I wish the conviction rate would increase too. Qadri is still having biryani in jail. But a good result, I wish the indian police pick up all communal people and put them in jail irrespective of religion. India is united because it is secular and Indian people's mindset. Please respect all Indians and religions and we will be true to mother India. Sat sri akal, cheerio
@Yoghurt lover: You call your country the largest democratic country in the world but not much democratic about it when it comes to Kashmir,Assam, Muslims,Christians, Shoothars( Indian's lower untouchable class). How could any one believe what the State of India promises to the world community. PM Nehru has promised in the United Nation to have plebiscite and let the people of Kashmir to decide their fate. Kashmir is a disputed land and the UN forces are still present there, I say it again that Quebec Province in Canada wanted to secede from Canada, the federal government allowed the citizens of Quebec to decide through referendum and the majority opted to remain as a province of Canada and this is what call A TRUE DEMOCRACY. Why you Indians are so afraid to have referendum in Kashmir as promised to the world community. I say Indian democracy is a big farce and in the name of democracy what Indian security forces are doing to the people of Kashmir and Assam, rapes and murders are the hallmark of Indian security in Kashmir and Assam. Indians has trust deficit.
(Moderator: This would be my 5th try since this afternoon. Not a single word is untrue or against the ET's comments guidelines.)
@Yoghurt lover:
"One man is guilty, went through fair trial and is punished by the legal system of a country which is not known for ugly shenanigans."
LOLZ!!! Which dreamland you live in and think the whole world is blind like yourself. Just these three reports by 'Human Rights Watch' are enough to bust the Indian justice system.
1- INDIA: Communal Violence and the Denial of Justice 2- Protecting the Killers: A Policy of Impunity in Punjab, India 3- Everyone Lives in Fear. Patterns of Impunity in Jammu and Kashmir
If that is not enough, read this eye opening Tehelka report "Legal Subversion". In their sting operation, Tehelka reporters caught on video the confessions of the fake witness implanted by the Gujarat Police to wrongly implicate Muslims in the Godhra incident in order to justify the Gujrat massacre of over 2,000 Muslims by Hindu mobs. How fair is the Indian justice system can be clearly seen when the inquiry by the Indian Supreme Court judge find the Godhra trian fire 'An Accident' and the interviews of the key eye-witnesses admitting on video that they were bribed and coerced by the police to witness against the accused Muslims, while in fact they were not even present at the scene. Despite all this, 11 Muslims were handed death penalties. How many Hindus responsible for murdering over 2,000 Muslims in cold blood are given death penalties -- NONE.
@Shameema: Baby if u think he is hero of kashmir then y u naming a Lahore Chauk after him.n for ur kind infomation Kashmir is nt a nation its state of The Great Nation of INDIA
Why dont u leave Bolichistan If Balochs r fight for
@Hina:
That honor should go to ajmal Kasab.
Forgotten in all this slanging -- There are many, many people in India...and I am sure in Pakistan too, who are against capital punishment and death sentences, whether it is for Afzal Guru or Ajmal Kasab or Sarabjit Singh or the rapists of Delhi. It is an uncivilized and barbaric practice out of tune with 21st century ethos. Death is also an easy way out for the culprits. They need to live in their shame and pay reparations for the rest of their lives.
What a day..Thanks to govt of India for taking this action. We are celebrating today..
Had India not invaded Kashmir in 1947, non of this would have ever happened. India needs to get out of Kashmir, and compensate Kashmiris for the over 60,000 Kashmiris it has murderd, the rapes its troops have committed, the property destruction its occypying forces have perpetrated, the forced disappearances its Gestapo style secret services have undertaken, etc. India is an occuping foreign power in Kashmir, and this conduct cannot be tolerated in the 21st century.
India should have hanged him twice long time ago. One cannot expect anything more, when they shower petals on Qadri for killing Gov.Taseer.
Afzal Guru was not innocent. He wasn't part of the attack team, but he provided full logistical support.
Folks who support Afzal Guru, should listen to his chilling video interview in 2001 - youtube.com/watch?v=9zJcFO8VvqA.
He was calm, composed and absolutely without guilt. He said he did what he did because he was assured of 'financial assistance' and he needed the money. He agreed in the interview that what he did and Kasshmir Jihad is doing are undermining the Indian Muslims.
He said he did it on behalf of Jaish-e-mohammad, founded by Masood Azar, who was freed by India in exchange for hostages in Kandahar in 1999, and promptly he surfaced in Pakistan. He was roaming around in Pakistan till he was declared an international terrorist by UN. Now Pakistan claims he isn't in Pakistan (like bin laden wasn't in pakistan).
Afzal Guru is somewhat like Ajmal Kasab, an vulnerable man made use of by cowardly masters in Pakistan. I don't feel sorry for them, because they got in knowing what they were doing.
I feel it is funny how people support such folks, who almost brought two countries to war.
Shadman Chowk in Lahore should be named Afzal Guru Chowk. He is a bigger hero than Bhagath Singh. Can any Indian troll tell me why he should not be honoured? He was demanding freedom for his country...Kashmir.
"Hurriyat chief Uzair Ahmad Ghazali condemned the hanging and announced that his supporters would stage a sit-in in front of the United Nations office in Muzaffarabad on Monday."
Oh.. sit in!!! but aren't they good at blowing up the same UN offices in suicide missions throughout AF-PAK??????
Misleading headline which should have read' Pakistan Occupied Kashmir'
In a population billion and quarter, 400 protesters don't even count. Kashmiris can protest all they like. We have the Kannadigis, Malayalis, Tamils, Bengalis, Telugus all protesting for various reasons. Nothing unusual in a vibrant democracy. However, should you take up arms against Mother India, you do it at your own peril. Sooner or later the brave sons of Mother India will catch up with you and you will pay for it with your life.
@P Oberoi: Dear after spending 60 % og gdp if they will get kashimir
What they will eat thereafter.
The reactions of the successionist groups within Kashmir was most expected. They are bound to mislead the gullible masses in Kashmir on the issue of the hanging of this terrorist and one of the greatest enemies of humanity Afzal Guru. The man who has hurt the Indian psyche and national pride by attacking the Indian Parliament could not have been allowed to go Scot free. The execution has however come a bit too late and should have been done much earlier. There is nothing religious that need to be attached to it as he was a hard core terrorist and an enemy of India who dared to challenge the Indian authority hence being sent to the gallows is really justice done. Successionist movements and successionist should have no place in a country like India. The anti-India elements in the valley need to be taken to task for their nefarious acts of misguiding the people of Kashmir.
@Zaheer: azad kashmir has its own flag, unlike indian kashmir. dont knwo where u come from but google for azad kashmir and ull see that flag. u see that flag flying along with paksitani flag in any pakistani match (hockey or cricket) played especially in australia or england where a large bulk of pakistani immigrants are from azad kashmir.
get ur facts before posting such comments.
However there are two prominent face of justice in Pakistan ... the first is suo-moto steps by the Chief Justice to destabilize a democratically elected government and the second is lynching of the blasphemy accused by mob-justice by the public ... . Over 40,000 people died in Pakistan due to terrorist violence in the year 2012 alone. No one caught yet ... trail and punishment are probably not part of Pakistani vocabulary ... . Therefore, may be it is impossible for people of Pakistan to understand the due process of justice …
oh u poor ppl of the world, may Allah be with you. becz here who speaks for Kashmir is called terrorist -peak of intellectual bankruptcy. akhir kab tak, !!!
Ha ha ha, satyamev jayate!!!! Kashmir belongs to India!!
Go India go Back from kashmir.
ET Please mention it is Pakistani Kashmir in headline
Bookmarked; copy saved.
Pakistan should spend another 40-60% of its GDP towards building up its army. That is the only way it can wrest Kashmir from India. Go for it !!
Every Indian peacenik's nose should be rubbed on this news item.
Law is supreme and if some section of population thinks religion is greater than law and constitution, this is A lesson for them. Those who are supporting Afzal need to have an iota of concern to catch those who killed shias and hazaras in hundreds. Shame of hypocrisy!!!
Kashmiris in ak should not protest against anything and everything. This will dilute the issue.
“The state’s flag will fly half-mast during the mourning, which started from today,” Murtaza Durrani, a state government adviser, told AFP.
Why government of Azad Kashmir is keeping Pakistan's flag half-mast? Pakistani government has always said that it has nothing to do with any lashkar Washkar in Kashmir or Pakistan.
Does this mean government of Pakistan think Guru was right in attacking Indian parliament? I dont know which type of incomplete policy is this. Pathetic policy of Government of Pakistan!.
Madness personified. That is POK for you. What did the guy do to deserve 3 days state mourning ?. Attacking the symbol of democracy, I am sure has nothing to do with such following.
Guys in the picture : Why dont you all cross over to N Delhi. Our gallows are waiting and hangmen are ready.
He said Guru was hanged under “draconian laws” and claimed that “courts in India are not free and independent”. “Nobody should expect any justice from those courts,” said Durrani
No Indian court is dishing out justice in mujaffarabad. You guys dont deserve it. 3000 soldiers and 30000 civvies murdered by the terrorist mob havent taught you any lesson. May be you need to sacrifice more.
Core issue of Kashmir must be solved ASAP.
By the way, What beautiful trees in the pictures!!
This is so wrong. Supporting a terrorist who attacked the seat of democracy erodes the credibility of their protest march. I can understand them agitating for fast-tracking of trials of Saffron terrorists involved in the Samjhauta Express case. These people are purely misguided.
India is going to make things difficult for itself, this was an another example of how poor the justice system is in India, their STATE organs work against minorities let alone other fringe groups such as RSS - Free Kashmir!
Please put it as "Azad Kashmir" on the the headline........
These separatists who are basically speaking the language of Pakistan, brainwashed by Pakistan should be charged under treason.
Indian policy in Kashmir, especially the Congress's policy on Kashmir has been utterly utterly flawed.
Congress has been mollycoddling the muslims to get votes. But now it has realized that there is a true patriot in Modi, who will challenge the hegemony of congress and win overwhelmingly. Shaken by these facts, congress is executing one after another, to show us that they are tough on terrorists.
Before the next elections, they will also try to punish the Delhi rapists.
But congress should know that they fool no one by these shenanigans.
As far as Kashmir is concerned, the following should be done :
1) The special status of Kashmir should be removed.
2) Army should be sent to the barracks and borders, keeping them handy to be used in case of emergency in cities as well.
3) Kashmiri Pundits should be completely rehabilitated.
4) Kashmir should be open for outsiders to start business and have residences, like the rest of the country.
5) A strict ultimatum should be issued to a few thousand separatists of Kashmir : "You are with us or against us".
6) Better infrastructure should be provided within Kashmir. Like better healthcare and education, mainly.
But, I know that congress does not have the spine to do these. Modi is the only one who can deal with the K issue effectively.
hundreds?? billions are celebrating.
any link betweeen this and recent skirmishes on LOC???
I don't think any more proof is needed to show that India is suppressing the rights of Kashmiri people.
Oh before anyone starts criticizing, I am aware of the issues of my country.
Must be is ISI trolls......
Bhaghat Singh of Kashmir was hanged!