Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir and Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while addressing Friday congregation at Jama Masjid today, said that in the recently concluded elections, people sent a unanimous and clear message that in every manner available to them, they will resist attempts to subjugate and disempower them.
” This time, through a consolidated ballot, they registered their strong disapproval of the drastic unilateral changes made in August 2019, since when they have been systematically disempowered, deprived, and their voices stifled,” he said in a statement issued to KNS.
“I hope those voted to power are respectful of the voters’ message and fulfil the promise they made to restore the legal safeguards and the rights snatched from them in 2019. The ownership of our land and resources, the constitutional commitments reneged on, our very identity, and dignity were further undermined by the 2019 Commandments,” he added according to the statement.
“While we (Hurriyat) peacefully strive for those rights never given to us for almost the last eight decades, for which we are constantly struggling and being sent to jails, we have been constantly appealing to the GOI for engagement and the release of political prisoners which include political leaders , lawyers, human rights activists and youth As promised to the people, the incoming government should urgently take up the matter with the Government of India and help secure the release of all political prisoners and youth languishing in jails for years and decades, some even without trial, and push for the withdrawal of the draconian laws, including UAPA and PSA, under which they themselves were incarcerated in 2019,” it reads
“These laws have destroyed people’s lives. The medical condition of many prisoners in jail is very worrying. There is an urgent humanitarian need to reunite them with their families, so this matter demands immediate attention and should be addressed on priority,” it also said.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz also announced that, as per tradition, he will driver a religious gathering of sermon at the shrine of Hazrat sheik Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) in Khanyar on Sunday, September 13, after the Zuhr prayers. Before that, at 10:00 am, the foundation stone of the historic Bazaar Masjid will be laid. He appealed to the people to ensure their participation in these blessed programmes. (KNS)
