Tag: Indian occupied Kashmir

  • Syed Ali Geelani laid to rest in Srinagar amid tight security

    Veteran Kashmiri leader and freedom fighter Syed Ali Shah Geelani was laid to rest amid high security at Hyderpora in Srinagar early Thursday morning around 4:30am local time, Radio Pakistan reported. The funeral prayers were attended by close friends and family.

    Syed Ali Geelani’s son told AP that the family had planned the burial at the main Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar as per his will but were disallowed by the police.

    “They snatched his body and forcibly buried him. Nobody from the family was present for his burial. We tried to resist but they overpowered us and even scuffled with women,” said Naseem Geelani.

    AP also reported that the Indian authorities have imposed a near-total communications blackout in Indian-Occupied Kashmir.

    Geelani was the former head of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) but quit politics last year in June. Geelani passed away at his home in Srinagar after a prolonged illness. He had been under house arrest for the last 12 years after leading several anti-India protests. Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that Pakistan flag will fly at half mast and “we will observe a day of official mourning”.

  • Pakistan to observe day of mourning for Kashmiri freedom fighter Syed Ali Geelani

    Veteran Kashmiri leader and freedom fighter Syed Ali Shah Geelani passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. He was the former head of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) but quit politics last year in June. Geelani passed away at his home in Srinagar after a prolonged illness. He had been under house arrest for the last 12 years after leading several anti-India protests.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted that he was “saddened to learn of the passing of Kashmiri freedom fighter Syed Ali Geelani”. PM Khan said that we in Pakistan salute his courageous struggle and remember his words: “Hum Pakistani hain aur Pakistan Humara hai.” He announced that the Pakistan flag will fly at half mast and “we will observe a day of official mourning”.

    DG ISPR tweeted a condolence message from Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, which said that Geelani’s “lifelong sacrifices & ceaseless struggle symbolises indomitable resolve of Kashmiris against Indian occupation. His dream & his mission will live on until People of IIOJ&K win their right of self determination.”

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari and several other Pakistani leaders expressed their grief and paid tributes to Geelani.

  • We accept the Chinese version on Uyghurs in Xinjiang: PM Khan

    We accept the Chinese version on Uyghurs in Xinjiang: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Thursday said that the relationship between Pakistan and China is very deep. “It’s not just the governments, but it’s a people-to-people relationship.”

    “Whatever will happen…[the] relationship between our two countries, no matter what pressure is put on us, is not going to change,” PM Khan said in response to a question.

    Speaking to Chinese journalists as Beijing marked the centenary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), the premier said the Chinese version about the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang was completely different from what was being reported in the western media.

    “Because of our extreme proximity and relationship with China, we actually accept the Chinese version,” added PM Khan.

    He said that it was hypocritical that while the Uyghur situation and Hong Kong were being highlighted, attention was not being given to the human rights violations in Indian-Occupied Kashmir.

    “It is hypocritical. There are much worse human rights violations taking place in other parts of the world such as in occupied Kashmir. But western media hardly comments on this,” he said.

    PM Khan praised the Communist Party. He said that until now, it was believed that electoral democracy is the best way to bring leaders on merit and hold them accountable.

    “But China’s process to hunt talent and then polish it is better than any electoral democracy.”

    PM Khan also praised President Xi for his success in the fight against poverty and corruption in China.

    “China has lifted 700 million people out of poverty in a few years, which is a great achievement. We want to further develop political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.”

    PM Khan said that Pakistanis are impressed by the Chinese president’s fight against corruption and consider him “a great politician of modern times”.

    “President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign is effective and successful.”

    PM Khan said that it is unfair of the US and western powers to expect countries like Pakistan to take sides. “Pakistan will not downgrade its relations with China.“

    “The United States expects Pakistan to choose a side. This is not appropriate,” he added.

  • Relations with India would be ‘betrayal’ to Kashmir: PM

    Relations with India would be ‘betrayal’ to Kashmir: PM

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that normalisation of terms with India would be a betrayal to the Kashmiri struggle.

    PM Imran held a live Question and Answer (Q&A) session with the public on Sunday. He said that “re-establishing ties with India would be ignoring all the struggle of Kashmiris as more than 100,000 people have martyred.”

    PM Imran said he tried to resolve problems with India through dialogue. However, it cannot be the case now as India has illegally annexed Kashmir. The normalisation of terms after this is a betrayal to the Kashmir cause, said PM Khan.

    “There is no doubt that trade will improve but all their [Kashmiris] blood will be wasted, so this cannot happen. This cannot happen that our trade improves at the cost of their blood.”

    Pakistan can resume talks if New Delhi reverses its longstanding semi-autonomous status of Indian Occupied Kashmir, he maintained.

    On August 5, 2019, Modi government revoked the status of Article 370 and other related provisions and split Kashmir into two federally controlled areas. The government also locked down the region, imposed movement restrictions while imposing communication blackout.

    In retaliation, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India while also suspending trade.

  • Newspaper office sealed in occupied Kashmir for ‘speaking out’ against govt

    In another attempt to stifle the press freedom, the authorities in India-occupied Kashmir have sealed the office of Kashmir Times, one of the oldest newspapers in the occupied region, for “speaking out” against the government.

    The Estates Department sealed the office, which is located in the press enclave in the main city Srinagar. The move prompted a strong response from the editor of the newspaper, who termed it a vendetta.

     Anuradha Bhasin said the government’s action was a “vendetta for speaking out” while noting that no process of law was followed. “No eviction notice was served on us and neither was there any formal communication,” the Press Trust of India quoted her as saying. 

    On her Twitter handle, she wrote: “Today, Estates Dept locked our office without any due process of cancellation & eviction, same way as I was evicted from a flat in Jammu, where my belongings including valuables were handed over to ‘new allottee.’ Vendetta for speaking out! No due process followed. How peevish!” 

     Reporters without Borders (RSF) termed the act an attack on press freedom. 

    “The office of The Kashmir Times, one of the most respected newspapers of the region, has just been sealed by the local govt after its editor AnuradhaBhasin was recently manhandled. @RSF_inter is appalled by this new attack on press freedom in the valley,” it said. 

  • [GRAPHIC WARNING] Indian Army resorts to pellet guns in Kashmir to stop Muharram processions

    [GRAPHIC WARNING] Indian Army resorts to pellet guns in Kashmir to stop Muharram processions

    Armed forces in Srinagar of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoJ&K) have fired pellet guns and tear gas on the troubled valley’s Shia community members in attempts to keep them from taking out Muharram processions on Ashura, it has emerged.

    According to reports, dozens of people sustained injuries as Indian military fired pellet guns to keep them from attending religious gatherings.

    Pictures doing rounds on social media showed people lying in hospitals with severe wounds on the face and other body parts.

    https://twitter.com/kashmirosint/status/1299723646861078529?s=20

    https://twitter.com/Habeebinamdar/status/1299709357748187136?s=20
    https://twitter.com/aarifshaah/status/1300118619909574656?s=20

    The acts of brutality from Sunday were condemned by Pakistan.

    In a statement, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that due to the illegal and indiscriminate use of pellets, dozens of Kashmiris were wounded and some had sustained eye injuries causing permanent blindness.

    Meanwhile, Indian media tried to defend the violence as journalists, including Gaurav C Sawant, took to Twitter and wrote, “If one breaks the law, one should be ready to face the full force of law enforcement agencies.”

  • ‘At least 229 killed in occupied Kashmir within first half of 2020’

    Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) has seen at least 229 killings during more than 100 military operations since January, a rights group has reported.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), which operates in the region, said in its bi-annual report that from January 1 to June 30, the region witnessed the extrajudicial executions of at least 32 civilians and the killing of 54 armed forces personnel.

    It also saw 55 internet shutdowns and the destruction of 48 structures, it said.

    The report said three children and two women were also killed, while at least “107 cordon-and-search operations and cordon-and-destroy operations were conducted in the region”.

    In addition, during search operations and encounters, “vandalism and destruction of civilian properties were reported”.

    The report said that in the first six months of 2020, the media continued to be at the receiving end of pressure, intimidation and harassment by authorities, with several incidents involving the beating of journalists.

    “Besides physical assaults, a few Kashmir-based journalists were also booked under stringent charges and cases were filed against them,” it said.

    The report noted that the police filed cases against two Kashmiri journalists under the Unlawful Activities Act, which clearly infringes on the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press as “such tactics signal a forewarning for media personnel to adhere to the state narrative”.

    It also said that high-speed mobile internet services have remained banned since August 5, 2019, noting that in the last six months, there were 55 instances of internet blockades.

    The report said India is paving the way for demographic change in occupied Kashmir on a large scale, thus institutionalising a system of domination over indigenous populations.

    “The order is a clear violation of the 4th Geneva Convention,” it noted.

    The report cited observers as warning that the new domicile law could permanently alter the demography of the disputed region.

    It also touched on the recently introduced new media policy wherein the government will examine the content of the media.

    According to the policy, the government will decide what is “fake,” “unethical” or “anti-national” news and take legal action against the journalist or media organisation concerned, including sharing information with security agencies.

  • ‘We want freedom’: Protests in Kashmir after elderly man’s killing in front of 3yo grandson

    ‘We want freedom’: Protests in Kashmir after elderly man’s killing in front of 3yo grandson

    Hundreds of people in occupied Kashmir staged protests on Wednesday, accusing government forces of killing an elderly man in front of his minor grandson during a gun battle with Kashmiri fighters, which also left a trooper dead.

    The Kashmiri fighters opened fire from a mosque attic in the northern town of Sopore, setting off a battle with security forces, paramilitary police spokesperson Junaid Khan told AFP.

    The family of Bashir Ahmed Khan alleged that he was dragged out of his car after the showdown and shot dead by paramilitary troopers.

    His three-year-old grandson, who was travelling with him, was later pictured sitting on his chest.

    “Locals said that he [Khan] was brought out of his car and shot dead by the forces,” Farooq Ahmed, a nephew of the deceased man told AFP.

    “They told us that someone in uniform then put the child on his chest as he lay dead on the road and took photographs,” Farooq Ahmed said.

    The photo of the child sat on the body of his dead grandfather was widely shared on social media.

    Paramilitary spokesman Khan said the allegation was “baseless”. Police also denied the claims, saying legal action would be taken for “false reports and rumours”.

    “There was no retaliation from the security forces,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar told reporters.

    Hundreds assembled at the man’s funeral near the main city of Srinagar shouting, “We want freedom”.

    Government forces have intensified counterinsurgency operations against Kashmiri fighters since a coronavirus lockdown was imposed in March.

    Since January, at least 229 people have been killed during over 100 military operations across occupied Kashmir, including 32 civilians, 54 government forces and 143 fighters, according to the Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a rights group.

  • Ertuğrul becomes a popular name for newborns in IoK

    Ertuğrul becomes a popular name for newborns in IoK

    Seems like it’s not only Pakistanis who have caught the Ertuğrul fever because according to a report in Outlook India, parents in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) are naming their newborns Ertuğrul after the protagonist of the hit Turkish series Diriliş: Ertuğrul.

    Read more – ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul is a gift to Pakistan from Erdoğan’

    Consultant Pediatrician and president Doctors Association of Kashmir Dr Suhail Naik told the media outlet that Ertugrul is a frequently encountered name in his outdoor department.

    Earlier, during the winters ‘Ertuğrul caps’ with fur also became popular in IoK. Ottoman soldiers and the civil officers used to wear the slightly claret red headwear called fez.

    Set in 13th century Anatolia, the historic drama series is based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty.

    The serial became popular in Kashmir after a lockdown was imposed in the region when the Modi-led government revoked Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Despite the communication blockade and local cable operators banned from airing content produced by Muslim countries such as Turkey, Pakistan and Iran, the series began to travel from one household to another in flash drives.

    Read more – Kashmiris are finding solace in Turkish drama ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’

    The COVID-19 lockdown and the airing of the series by PTV in Urdu further propelled the series’ success and made it a bigger hit in the region.