Kashmir Voice

Srinagar, April 21 (Kashmir Voice): In occupied Kashmir, the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir Chairman, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai has slammed the prolonged detention of TeH leader from Sopore, Abdul Ghani Butt.
According to media sources, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai in a statement issued in Srinagar said, since 2016 public uprising, the authorities have continuously imprisoned him and slapped back-to-back draconian Public Safety Acts despite court has ordered his release. “The authorities imprison Kashmiris and prolong their detention for political beliefs and dissent, and the authorities define them as criminals or threat to state and never does formally acknowledge holding political prisoners within its prison system,” he said, adding, “The administration is practicing all the methods of coercion, oppression and arm twisting to crush the people’s resistance by jailing them. The draconian laws like PSA and AFSPA are invariably invoked to deny freedom of expression and freedom of demand of political rights.” While expressing his concern over the unabated use of detention, he said that despite being a signatory to the Geneva Convention on political prisoners India is in breach of its international obligations by excessively relying on administrative detention. Sehrai also expressed concern over the deteriorating health of wife of incarcerated Abdul Ghani Butt and demanded his immediate release. KASHMIR VOICE

Srinagar, April 21 (Kashmir Voice): In occupied Kashmir, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani has called for a complete boycott of sham Indian elections and shutdown in poll-bound areas of Islamabad constituency on Tuesday (April 23).
According to media sources, Syed Ali Gilani in a statement issued in Srinagar, today, said, “The participation in elections amounts to betrayal of the sacred blood of martyrs and disrespect towards those who have been deprived of their belongings, lost eyesight and those who were ruthlessly killed, arrested, economically strangulated, caged, enforced demographic changes through judicial onslaught just to cement the illegal forced occupation.” He asked people to stand united in defeating the nefarious designs of the oppressor and completely boycott the elections as they did in Srinagar, which will have very positive and encouraging effect on the ongoing movement, “as Indian imperialistic mindset is portraying these elections as a substitute to our right to self-determination and always tries to hoodwink the Indian people & international community.” The APHC Chairman further said those who participate in elections and seek votes from people have an unending lust of power and wealth, which increases with each passing day. “They are nothing, but the worst enemies of our nation as they act as the collaborators of the oppressor just for their personnel gains. It is their lust for power and follies sponsored by these corroborators that justifies the enforced occupation,” he added. He said, we have invested mighty human material and every person, family and region has its own contribution which legalizes and compels the stakeholders not to let these precious sacrifices go waste. Gilani said that our occupier is not only brutal but cunning as well. Votes on basic necessities and daily needs are being portrayed as endorsement for their forced occupation, he said. The octogenarian leader said that we should convey a strong message to the world community that Jammu and Kashmir was a political dispute and the election drama being staged in the territory by India could not be an alternative to the right to self-determination for the people in Jammu & Kashmir. KASHMIR VOICE

Srinagar, April 21 (Kashmir Voice): In occupied Kashmir, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Gilani has condoled over the demise of Mohammad Rajab Reshi and Ghulam Mohammad Lone at Mandji Sopore and Logripora areas of the territory.
According to media sources, while sympathising with the bereaved families, Syed Ali Gilani in a statement issued in Srinagar said, “We equally share the grief and sorrow of the grieved families,” and added that death was a bitter reality and everybody had to face it. He prayed for eternal peace of the deceased and courage for the families to bear this painful loss. KASHMIR VOICE

Srinagar, April 21 (Kashmir Voice): In occupied Kashmir, while condemning the India’s decision to suspend trade across the Line of Control, Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement has termed it as a direct attack on Kashmir’s economy.
According to media sources, JKRTI Movement in a statement issued in Srinagar, said decision of Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to suspend cross-LoC trade clearly indicates that New Delhi is trying its best to destroy economy of Kashmir. “On one hand, BJP government claims that it has provided more than 10 million jobs to Indian youth but in Jammu & Kashmir the jobs are being snatched from the youth especially those associated with cross LoC trade,” the statement said. “What shall these hundreds of families in J&K do now? It is not only Kashmir valley which has suffered but many traders have been directly affected in Poonch and Jammu districts as well,” it added. KASHMIR VOICE

Srinagar, April 21 (Kashmir Voice): In occupied Kashmir, a 54- year-old contractor was shot at and critically injured by unidentified gunmen in south Kashmir district of Islamabad late on Saturday night.
According to media sources, unidentified gunmen fired at the contractor, identified as Abdul Qayoom Pandith, outside his residence Bijbehara in Islamabad. Pandith was critically injured in the attack, media reports said. The injured was immediately taken to a hospital from where he was referred to a hospital in Srinagar. Meanwhile, the gunmen managed to escape from the spot under the cover of darkness. Forces were rushed to the area and a search operation was launched to nab the attackers. KASHMIR VOICE

Srinagar, April 21 (Kashmir Voice): In occupied Kashmir, Hurriayt leaders have expressed growing concern over the deteriorating health of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik in Delhi’s notorious Tihar jail.
According to media sources, the Chairman of Muslim Conference Shabbir Ahmad Dar, Mohammad Iqbal Mir, Imtiyaz Ahmed Reshi, Ghulam Nabi Wasim and Ghulam Nabi War in their statements said that the harassment and intimidation by Indian authorities and agencies for the past many months had taken toll on Malik’s health. The leaders said that the threat to the life of Mohammad Yasin Malik would prove disastrous and urged the international community to take immediate steps to be save his life. The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement Chairman, Mir Shahid Saleem in a statement issued in Jammu also expressed concern over the deteriorating health of Muhammad Yasin Malik in NIA custody. He said that Yasin Malik and other Hurriyat leaders were being harassed by NIA and other Indian agencies for their unflinching stand on the Kashmir dispute. KASHMIR VOICE