Mirwaiz, Hurriyat members under house arrest on Black Day

Mirwaiz says India is not allowing peaceful protests and processions on the Black Day being observed by Kashmiris.

SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) said on Wednesday that he has been placed under house arrest and his party is being prevented from observing peaceful processions that are planned for the Black Day being observed by Kashmiris across the world today.

Speaking to Express 24/7, Mirwaiz said that he had been placed under house arrest along with other leaders of APHC including veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Geelani, since yesterday (Tuesday) morning. He said he received reports that APHC activists have been arrested by the Indian army, while the APHC office in Rajbagh, Srinagar has been sealed and the Mirwaiz Manzil, headquarters of the party, is also under siege.

“India is standing exposed before the people of Kashmir and the world community. They are not allowing peaceful marches and peaceful processions on a Black Day,” Miwaiz told Express 24/7.

“We are telling the world that Indian forces have forcibly occupied Jammu and Kashmir and unless they accept peoples’ right to self-determination to determine their future, our just and peaceful struggle will continue.” he said.

Kashmiris across the world are observing Wednesday as a Black Day to convey to the international community that they reject India’s illegal occupation of the valley.

Call for the observance of the Black Day had been given by APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Geelani.

The day is to be marked with total shutdown in Indian-held Kashmir and a march is to be conducted towards the United Nations Observers’ Office in Srinagar. Rallies in support of Kashmiris’ liberation struggle will be held in Muzaffarabad and in world capitals.

APHC’s petition to Obama

Talking to Express 24/7, Mirwaiz said a campaign started last week to attain signatures in the state of Jammu and Kashmir for a petition that calls for international intervention to resolve the Kashmir issue, ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to India.

Mirwaiz said APHC is starting a petition in Azad Kashmir, which is asking people to support intervention of international bodies, especially United Nations and United States in terms of facilitating a dialogue and a solution between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir.

“Hurriyat party believes India and Pakistan have failed to address the Kashmir issue. India has been vehemently denying Kashmiris the right of self determination to people of Kashmir,” he told Express 24/7.

“They are using all possible measures of atrocities… oppression and suppression of people’s rights in Kashmir.”

Earlier this month, US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, said the US does not want to play a third party role in the Kashmir dispute. Holbrooke urged India and Pakistan to find a solution through mutual dialogue.