Latest news with #HurriyatConference
Arab News
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistanis hold anti-India rallies to mark 6th anniversary of revocation of Kashmir's special status
MUZAFFARABAD: Chanting anti-India slogans, hundreds of people rallied on Tuesday in Azad Kashmir to mark the sixth anniversary of India's revocation of the disputed region's semi-autonomous status. The rallies in the part of the disputed Kashmir region governed by Pakistan came nearly three months after Pakistan and India exchanged military strikes over a mass shooting in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad, a charge Pakistan denied. The confrontation raised fears of a potential nuclear conflict before global powers defused the crisis. The protesters denounced the August 5, 2019, revocation of Kashmir's special status by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded the restoration of statehood for the Himalayan region, which has been split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety. The region has sparked two wars between the nuclear-armed neighbors since 1947, when the nations gained independence from Britain. The main protest Tuesday in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which is called Azad Kashmir, drew hundreds of members of civil society and political parties. Mazhar Saeed Shah, a leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference — an alliance of pro-freedom Kashmiri political and religious groups — at the rally urged the international community to help ensure Kashmiris are granted the right to self-determination, as called for in UN resolutions decades ago. Similar anti-India demonstrations were held in Islamabad, where Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's moral and diplomatic support for Kashmiris seeking what he called 'freedom from India's illegal occupation.' Meanwhile in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir, supporters of India's opposition Congress party rallied to demand that the government restore the statehood of the disputed region.
New Indian Express
05-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Six years after Article 370 abrogation: Peace, progress but uncertainty looms over J&K statehood
SRINAGAR: Six years after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, the region stands at a crossroads of transformation. While militancy and separatist activities have significantly declined and developmental projects are gaining pace, including the Valley's rail connectivity with the rest of India, the persistent demand for the restoration of statehood continues to shape the political discord. There are also rumour mills that the Centre may restore partial statehood to J&K or further bifurcate Jammu from Kashmir and grant statehood to Jammu and keep Kashmir under its control as UT. Post Article 370 abrogation, Kashmir has seen a significant reduction in unrest. Stone-pelting incidents, which were a daily occurrence before August 5, 2019, have ended. Militancy-related violence has declined significantly, and calls for shutdowns from separatist and militant groups have disappeared. Separatist politics has taken a back seat with top separatist leaders, including Masrat Alam, Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan, Asiya Andrabi are lodged in Tihar jail under charges related to anti-national activities. The once-busy Hurriyat Conference headquarters in Rajbagh has been shut since 2019, and its constituents have been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Business Recorder
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
‘Kashmir Exploitation Day' today
LAHORE: Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and around the world will celebrate 'Kashmir Exploitation Day' on Tuesday (today) with a renewed pledge to continue support to the Kashmiris in their just struggle for the right to self-determination. On August 5, 2019, the Modi-led government revoked Articles 370 and 35-A, which had given special status to the internationally recognized disputed territory and illegally imposed a brutal military and police siege. Pakistan has always supported the Kashmiris politically, diplomatically and morally. Despite all the oppression, torture and arrests and state terrorism, India could not succeed in its nefarious objectives to demoralize the Kashmiris. Pakistan to continue supporting people of Jammu & Kashmir: PM Shehbaz To mark the day, different events will be held. In addition, a complete shutter-down strike and anti-India gatherings will be held on both sides of the Line of Control, including in occupied Srinagar and its suburbs, on the call of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference and other organizations. By abolishing the special status of Kashmir, India not only violated its own constitution, but also threw half a dozen Security Council resolutions into the dustbin, in which Kashmir was declared disputed and a free, fair and impartial plebiscite was proposed to resolve this dispute so that the Kashmiri people could decide in a referendum to be held under the supervision of the UNO whether they prefer to remain with India or vote in favour of joining Pakistan. Analysts said, 'India must move from dispute denial to dispute resolution in the interest of lasting peace and security in South Asia.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In rare praise for mainstream leaders, Mirwaiz lauds J&K MPs over Op Sindoor debate
The special debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament found a mention in the sermon of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq here on Friday, with the Hurriyat Conference chief offering rare praise for the speeches made by three MPs from Jammu and Kashmir during it. National Conference parliamentarians Mian Altaf Ahmad (Anantnag-Rajouri seat) and Aga Ruhullah Mehdi (Srinagar) were among those who spoke during the debate, as did Independent MP Engineer Sheikh Rashid (Baramulla). Jailed in Tihar on UAPA charges, Rashid got permission from court to attend the House proceedings. Mirwaiz Farooq commended the three MPs, saying they spoke 'with passion and pain about the disempowerment and dispossession' of the people of J&K. 'A few days back in Parliament, there was a debate on the India–Pakistan war after the heinous Pahalgam incident, and different views by different political parties of India with regard to the war, its purpose, success or failure were put forward,' Mirwaiz, who is also the Valley's chief cleric, said, while giving his sermon at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid. 'Very few, and mostly in the Opposition, talked of the human aspect of the war and its costs, and its correlation to J&K,' he said. Adding that this 'reflects the mindset and mood of the times', Mirwaiz went on to speak about the speeches by MPs from J&K. 'Mian Altaf Sahib, Engineer Rashid Sahib, and Aga Ruhullah Sahib were the only ones to highlight the deep concerns and plight of the people at the epicentre of the basic problem and the current debate,' Mirwaiz said. 'They spoke with passion and pain about the disempowerment and dispossession of the people of J&K, and expressed the sentiments of the people of J&K that we have all along been talking about. It is good to see that, on these matters, all are on the same page.' Separatist leaders are mostly critical of mainstream politics and politicians, and boycott elections held for Parliament and the Assembly in Kashmir. With the public representatives seen as, in a way, fulfilling Delhi's agenda, separatist leaders also avoid any interaction with them. Mirwaiz's praise for the three MPs was therefore rare, especially as he heads the separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference. In his sermon, the Hurriyat chief reiterated that engagement between the stakeholders in India and Pakistan was the only viable option for resolution of all issues. 'I have always believed that neither war, nor violence, nor use of force can solve problems, or lead to peace and prosperity, which the billions of people in the Indian subcontinent seek, and the poor in this region deserve. Engagement at all levels is a far cheaper and evolved alternative,' he said. Mirwaiz added that he could only hope that what the Kashmiri parliamentarians said was heard by those in power in New Delhi, and that if they really wanted to lessen 'dil ki doori (the gap between the hearts of the people of Kashmir and other parts of India)', they must pay heed to it. Addressing a rally in Srinagar in September 2024, before the J&K elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he, his government and party were working to remove both 'dil ki doori' and 'Dilli se doori (the distance between Delhi and Kashmir)'.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mirwaiz allowed to deliver Friday sermon after two weeks; says frequent house arrest will not change facts
SRINAGAR: Hurriyat Conference chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq , was allowed to deliver the Friday sermon at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid after two weeks, and he used the occasion to ask the J&K administration to desist from preventing people from exercising their fundamental rights with regard to religious practices. In a statement issued after the prayers, Mirwaiz, who was placed under house arrest on the past two Fridays, said: 'Repeatedly preventing me from coming to the Jamia Masjid on Fridays is completely uncalled for. It is a direct interference in the religious rights of people, which alienates them further, serving no other purpose.' Such restrictions 'don't change historical facts', he asserted. Authorities had barred Mirwaiz Farooq from leading the Friday prayers earlier this month, allegedly to stop him from making any reference to the killing of 22 people during an uprising against Maharaja Hari Singh on July 13, 1931, in his sermon. The date holds historical significance in Kashmir. 'I have always asked that people be allowed to freely practice their fundamental rights, which includes the right to offer prayers and listen to Friday sermons,' Mirwaiz said. 'I hope these arbitrary restraints are stopped, and I am allowed to visit Jamia Masjid without hindrance.' In his sermon, he also focused on the situation in Palestine and expressed solidarity 'with the oppressed people of Gaza'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo 'We gather here in peace, but our hearts bleed for our brothers and sisters in Gaza, who are facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and starvation. Innocent civilians, especially children, are being relentlessly bombarded even as they search for food and safety. Starvation is being used as a weapon of war,' he said. Since his release in Sept 2023, after being under house arrest for four years following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Mirwaiz has frequently faced restrictions, with police often detaining him at home on Fridays without offering any explanation.
