kashmir insight april 2015

INSIGHTKASHMIR

Monthly

21st Year of Publication

April 2015

Vol: 21 No. 4

World attention drawn towards human

rights abuses in IOK

Pakistan commmitted to Kashmir cause

OIC calls for Kashmir settlement through dialogue process

Commotion over release of Masarrat Aalam exposes true face of India

The OIC has repeatedly called for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dis-pute and believes that a just and durable solution, in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people, must be sought through a sustained dialogue process.

(The Secretary General of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation,

Iyad Ameen Madani, at the high level segment of the 28th Session of the

Human Rights Council in Geneva, March 3, 2015)

OIC for peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute

Printed & Published byAll Parties Hurriyet Conference AJK

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Editor:

Kashmir Insight APRIL 2015

C O N T E N T S

EditorialOIC must employ assertive diplomacy for Kashmir settlement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02

Cover StoryCommotion over release of Masarrat Aalam exposes true face of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03

InterviewMasarrat Aalam Butt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07

ReportsOIC calls for Kashmir settlement through dialogue process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09Pakistan commmitted to Kashmir cause: Aizaz Chaudhry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Hurriyet leaders attend Pakistan Day function in New Delhi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12FIR registered against Aasiya for hoisting Pakistani flag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14IOK people celebrate defeat of India, Pakistans victory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

PictorialImages speak louder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Human rights situationHR violations in IOK during March 2015Raies Ahmed Mir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

ReportsWorld attention drawn towards human rights abuses in IOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Speakers at New York seminar express solidarity with oppressed Kashmiri women. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22AMUSU demands justice for victims of Kunanposhpora mass rape. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Amnesty International decries PSA abuse in IOK. . . . . . . 24Scholarship scheme proves hoax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

ChronologyA chronological account of developments on Kashmir (104) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Beauty thy name isSonamarg: The meadow of gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Literature

Good king Hatam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Feedback

Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

M Raza MalikSub Editor: Benazir KhanArt Editor: M.Haroon

From The Editor's DeskKashmiris make full use of every opportunity they get to express their passion, love and affection for Pakistan and resentment against India. This extreme end of two opposite emotions is being witnessed every year on the national days of the two countries.Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over every year observe the Indian Independence Day on 15th August and Indian Republic Day on the 26th January as a Black Day to convey to the international community that India had usurped their inalienable right to self-determination. The observance of the Black Day is also meant to convey to New Delhi that it has no right to celebrate its national days in Kashmir unless it ends its forcible occupation over Jammu and Kashmir. The days are marked by complete shutdown and anti-India demonstrations in occupied Kashmir on the call of Hurriyet leaders and organisations.On the other hand, people of occupied Kashmir distribute sweets on Pakistans Independence Day on 14th August and Pakistan Day on 23rd March and offer special prayers for its prosperity, progress, security and stability. The youth hoist Pakistani flags on vantage points even in the presence of Indian troops and some times, they have to face their wrath. They do all this to demonstrate their affiliation, love, affection and passion for Pakistan and their desire to be part of this country.The same was witnessed this year on the 23rd March when people and different organisations celebrated the Pakistan Day. The Indian authorities registered an FIR against the Chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Aasiya Andrabi, for hoisting Pakistani flag and singing national anthem of the country in Srinagar. The registration of the case against Aasiya Andrabi does not have any legal substance as she did not unfurl the Pakistani flag on the Indian soil.Reacting to her booking in the case, the Dukhtaran-e-Millat Chief in an interview in Srinagar said that unfurling of Pakistani flag by her was not an offence because she was not an Indian citizen and Jammu and Kashmir was not a part of India. She maintained that she would continue to encourage such activities till Kashmir got complete freedom from the brutal clutches of New Delhi.Hurriyet leaders and organisations strongly denounced the registration of the case against Aasiya Andrabi, saying that the action showed the frustration of the occupation authorities.New Delhi must accept the realities and respect the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and give them their right to self-determination to avoid any such embarrassing situation in the future.

OIC must employ assertive diplomacy for Kashmir settlementT h e S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l o f Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, on March 3, 2015, called for peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute through dialogue process.Addressing the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he said that the denial of right to self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir continued to stain the c o l l e c t i v e c o n s c i e n c e o f t h e international community. He said that the OIC had repeatedly called for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute and believed that its just and durable solution in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people must be brought about through a sustained dialogue process. He urged Pakistan and India to resolve the long-standing dispute through negotiations.The OIC being the second largest inter-governmental organisation after the United Nations with the membership of 57 countries and the collective voice of the Muslim world is making commendable efforts for the welfare and betterment of the Muslims across the globe. It has consistently raised the Kashmir dispute and highlighted the Indian state terrorism in occupied Kashmir at various fora. The grant of the status of an Observer to the All Parties Hurriyet Conference and constitution of Jammu and Kashmir Contact Group showed its commitment towards the just cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.It is a reality that from time to time the OIC has been passing positive r e s o l u t i o n s , a d v o c a t i n g t h e settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris aspirations. But these resolutions could not affect any change in the ground situation of occupied Kashmir where killings, arrests,

c u s t o d i a l d i s a p p e a r a n c e s , destruct ion of property and molestation of women at the hands of Indian troops continue unabated. The fact is that these resolutions have lost their relevance as India instead of paying heed to them is terming the process as undue interference in its internal matters. So, it is essential for the Muslim Body to make it clear to New Delhi that Jammu and Kashmir is not its integral part but an internationally recognised disputed territory, where a plebiscite is yet to be held under the UN auspices to ascertain the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.The OIC needs to initiate strong measures to force India to come to the table of negotiations for resolving the Kashmir dispute. The OIC member states blessed with natural resources are enjoying good relations with New Delhi. They must connect their cooperation with it to its efforts for resolution of the Kashmir conflict. They need to understand that India would continue its illegal hold on J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r a n d victimisation of innocent Kashmiri people till it does not get convinced that it would be constrained to pay cost of its brutal tactics about the Kashmiri people. Towards this end, the OIC countries need to strike a relationship between their ties with India and Indian attitude towards the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. The people of Jammu and Kashmir attach great expectations to the OIC and always hope that it would never ignore their sufferings.The August Muslim Body needs to realise the fact that mere lip service would not work and it should employ its assertive diplomacy to pressurise New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir dispute for durable peace in the South Asia region.

KASHMIR INSIGHT APRIL 2015 0202

spearheading the mass uprising in the occupied territory in the same year and was repeatedly booked under the PSA that allows the authorities to detain a person for up to two years without trial. Over 120 people, mostly youth, were killed due to the use of brute force by Indian troops and police personnel on anti-India and pro-freedom demonstrations within a few months in 2010. Thousands of people including Hurriyet leaders and activists were detained for participating in the protests.It is a fact that Indian authorities have always used detention and house arrest as a tool to keep the Hurriyet leaders away from the masses. The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, senior Hurriyet leader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, and many other leaders are frequently placed under house arrest or behind the bars to prevent them from reaching the

people and c o n d u c t i n g their political activities.D o z e n s o f H u r r i y e t leaders and a c t i v i s t s including Dr Muhammad Q a s i m Fakhtoo, Dr Muhammad Shafi Shariati, Sheikh Nazir A h m e d , S h o w k a t Ahmed Khan, Muhammad A y u b D a r ,

Javaid Ahmed Khan, Ghulam Qadir Butt, Muhammad Amin Dar, Muhammad Ayub Mir, Noor Muhammad Tantray, Muhammad Ishaq Paul, Feroz Ahmed Butt, Samiullah Sheikh, M u h a m m a d A y u b W a n i , Mahmood Topiwalla, Sheikh Imran, Sheikh Farhat, Naushad Ahmed and Abdul Ghani Goni have been kept in jails for the past several years for their affiliation with the ongoing liberation movement a n d c h a l-lenging the i l l e g a l occupation o f t h e i r motherland by India. Dr Muhammad Q a s i m Fakhtoo has spent over 22 years in i n c a r c e r a-tion and has n o t b e e n r e l e a s e d d e s p i t e court orders and recom-

mendations of various commis-sions constituted by Indian government and the puppet administration of occupied Kashmir. According to reports surfaced in the Indian media, the present puppet regime was considering release of Dr Fakhtoo but had to change its mind after observing strong reaction from its coalition partner BJP and Indian media over the acquittal of Masarrat Aalam Butt. This showed that Indian government and its prejudiced media are not ready to give space to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Keeping in view the plight of illegally detained Kashmiris, it would be injustice not to mention here that on March 30 even the puppet C h i e f M i n i s t e r , M u f t i Muhammad Sayeed, in his written response in the so-called Kashmir Assembly acknowl-edged that Jammu and Kashmir looked like a jail. He admitted that 2,315 people including political prisoners had been lodged in different jails across the territory.The strong reaction by Indian

In occupied Kashmir, within few days of its inception, fissures started to appear in the unholy alliance between pro-India Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The major cause of confrontation was the release of i l l e g a l l y d e t a i n e d s e n i o r Hurriyet leader, Masarrat Aalam Butt. The hue and cry created by the Indian politicians and media over the move exposed different aspects of such an unethical coalition.Masarrat Aalam Butt was detained in 27 cases and was repeatedly booked under draconian law, Public Safety Act,

but in most of the cases he was either exonerated or granted bail by the courts and was released on March 7 after Mufti Muhammad Sayeed took over as the new puppet Chief Minister of occupied Kashmir on March 1. His release caused a major pol i t ical controversy and dominated Indian Parliaments proceedings for several days. The uproar created by the leaders and activists of extremist Hindu organisations including the BJP not only in Indian political circles but also on electronic and print media depic ted the t rue mentality of Indian hierarchy and media houses towards the

innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir that always remain hell bent upon stifling every single voice representing the aspira-tions of the Kashmiri people.The Mufti Sayeed-led puppet regime tried to get political mileage out of the release of Masarrat Aalam Butt. However, the released Hurriyet leader said that he was set free through a normal legal procedure and all PSAs invoked against him were quashed by the courts and there was no legality in keeping him in prison anymore.Masarrat Aalam Butt was arrested in October 2010 for

Cover Story

KASHMIR INSIGHT APRIL 2015 0303 KASHMIR INSIGHT APRIL 2015 0404

Cover Story

The uproar created by the leaders and activists of extremist Hindu organisations including the BJP not only in Indian political circles but also on electronic and print media depicts the true mentality of Indian hierarchy and media houses towards the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir

spearheading the mass uprising in the occupied territory in the same year and was repeatedly booked under the PSA that allows the authorities to detain a person for up to two years without trial. Over 120 people, mostly youth, were killed due to the use of brute force by Indian troops and police personnel on anti-India and pro-freedom demonstrations within a few months in 2010. Thousands of people including Hurriyet leaders and activists were detained for participating in the protests.It is a fact that Indian authorities have always used detention and house arrest as a tool to keep the Hurriyet leaders away from the masses. The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, senior Hurriyet leader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, and many other leaders are frequently placed under house arrest or behind the bars to prevent them from reaching the

people and c o n d u c t i n g their political activities.D o z e n s o f H u r r i y e t leaders and a c t i v i s t s including Dr Muhammad Q a s i m Fakhtoo, Dr Muhammad Shafi Shariati, Sheikh Nazir A h m e d , S h o w k a t Ahmed Khan, Muhammad A y u b D a r ,

Javaid Ahmed Khan, Ghulam Qadir Butt, Muhammad Amin Dar, Muhammad Ayub Mir, Noor Muhammad Tantray, Muhammad Ishaq Paul, Feroz Ahmed Butt, Samiullah Sheikh, M u h a m m a d A y u b W a n i , Mahmood Topiwalla, Sheikh Imran, Sheikh Farhat, Naushad Ahmed and Abdul Ghani Goni have been kept in jails for the past several years for their affiliation with the ongoing liberation movement a n d c h a l-lenging the i l l e g a l occupation o f t h e i r motherland by India. Dr Muhammad Q a s i m Fakhtoo has spent over 22 years in i n c a r c e r a-tion and has n o t b e e n r e l e a s e d d e s p i t e court orders and recom-

mendations of various commis-sions constituted by Indian government and the puppet administration of occupied Kashmir. According to reports surfaced in the Indian media, the present puppet regime was considering release of Dr Fakhtoo but had to change its mind after observing strong reaction from its coalition partner BJP and Indian media over the acquittal of Masarrat Aalam Butt. This showed that Indian government and its prejudiced media are not ready to give space to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Keeping in view the plight of illegally detained Kashmiris, it would be injustice not to mention here that on March 30 even the puppet C h i e f M i n i s t e r , M u f t i Muhammad Sayeed, in his written response in the so-called Kashmir Assembly acknowl-edged that Jammu and Kashmir looked like a jail. He admitted that 2,315 people including political prisoners had been lodged in different jails across the territory.The strong reaction by Indian

In occupied Kashmir, within few days of its inception, fissures started to appear in the unholy alliance between pro-India Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The major cause of confrontation was the release of i l l e g a l l y d e t a i n e d s e n i o r Hurriyet leader, Masarrat Aalam Butt. The hue and cry created by the Indian politicians and media over the move exposed different aspects of such an unethical coalition.Masarrat Aalam Butt was detained in 27 cases and was repeatedly booked under draconian law, Public Safety Act,

but in most of the cases he was either exonerated or granted bail by the courts and was released on March 7 after Mufti Muhammad Sayeed took over as the new puppet Chief Minister of occupied Kashmir on March 1. His release caused a major pol i t ical controversy and dominated Indian Parliaments proceedings for several days. The uproar created by the leaders and activists of extremist Hindu organisations including the BJP not only in Indian political circles but also on electronic and print media depic ted the t rue mentality of Indian hierarchy and media houses towards the

innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir that always remain hell bent upon stifling every single voice representing the aspira-tions of the Kashmiri people.The Mufti Sayeed-led puppet regime tried to get political mileage out of the release of Masarrat Aalam Butt. However, the released Hurriyet leader said that he was set free through a normal legal procedure and all PSAs invoked against him were quashed by the courts and there was no legality in keeping him in prison anymore.Masarrat Aalam Butt was arrested in October 2010 for

Cover Story

The uproar created by the leaders and activists of extremist Hindu organisations including the BJP not only in Indian political circles but also on electronic and print media depicts the true mentality of Indian hierarchy and media houses towards the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir

ruling BJP over release of Masarrat Aalam Butt vindicated the stand of Pakistan and Hurriyet leadership that the so-called government in the occupied territory was nothing more than a puppet regime. It also showed that the Indian establishment had clearly conveyed to Mufti Sayeed that he had to take diktats from New Delhi before making any decision.It is a reality that PDP and BJP have never been the well-wishers of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and they have joined hands only to further in occupied K a s h m i r t h e n e f a r i o u s communal and divisive agenda of Sangh Parivar - an amalgam of extremist Hindu organisations l i k e B J P , R a s h t r i y a Swayamsevak Sangh, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and Vishva Hindu Parishad. While Indias ruling party BJP and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, are notorious for their anti-Muslim activities, Mufti Sayeed had always been known for his anti-Kashmiri actions.The BJP and Narendra Modi during general elections and after coming into power in 2014 made some announcements and took some drastic decisions regarding Kashmir that created r e s e n t m e n t a m o n g t h e

K a s h m i r i s . T h e y announced to e n s u r e c o m p l e t e m e r g e r o f Jammu and Kashmir with I n d i a b y h o l d i n g debate for the abrogation of the Art ic le 370 o f the I n d i a n Constitution t h a t g i v e s special status t o t h e t e r r i t o r y , asked the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to vacate its office in Delhi and suspended Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan on the pretext of meetings in New Delhi between Pakistani High Commissioner, Abdul Basit, and Kashmiri Hurriyet leaders.There is no denying the fact that Mufti Sayeed is an Indian by conviction and has always betrayed the Kashmiris. After becoming the Union Home Minister of India in 1989, he deputed Jagmohan Malhotra as the Governor of Kashmir to suppress the Kashmiris aspira-

tions when t h e y intensified t h e i r s t r u g g l e f o r s e c u r i n g their right t o s e l f -determina-tion. The o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y witnessed

the worst incidents of its history like massacres of Gaw Kadal and Handwara by Indian troops during the tenure of Malhotra. Mufti Sayeed imposed in occupied Kashmir the draconian law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which grants unbridled powers to Indian forces personnel to commit gross human rights violations with impunity in the territory. During the PDP-Congress rule in 2008, he allowed the transfer of Kashmiris land to Hindu Shrine Board that led to mass agitation in the territory, resulting in the killing of scores of youth at the hands of occupation troops. He is even using as his official resi-dence, since years, Srinagars infamous torture centre, PAPA-II, where thousands of Kashmiris were butchered. The PDP had been advocating its agenda of self-rule in Jammu and Kashmir but now its leaders should understand that when they are not allowed to release a single political prisoner at their own then how could India allow their formula of self-rule to be imple-mented?Meanwhile, the release of

Cover Story

0505KASHMIR INSIGHT APRIL 2015

Masarrat Aalam Butt bode well with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. A large number of Hurriyet leaders, intellectuals, human rights activists and civil society members visited his residence and greeted him over his liberty. This demonstrated that the Kashmiri people reposed faith in the Hurriyet leaders and were determined to continue their ongoing liberation move-ment under their guidance.The visitors termed the release of Masarrat Aalam as a good omen for the freedom struggle. They criticised the Indian politicians and media for making undue noise over the release of the Hurriyet leader, saying that it showed their biased and prejudi-cial mindset against the people of Jammu and Kashmir.The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, addressing a gathering in Srinagar while condemning the furor created by Indian politicians over the release of Masarrat Aalam Butt

s a i d t h a t t h e s e p o l i t i c i a n s were settling p o l i t i c a l scores with each other o v e r t h e sufferings of t h e K a s h m i r i s . He said that it was unfortu-nate that any step taken in the direction of redressal of injus-tices committed against the Kashmiri people engaged in a political struggle for achieving their right to self-determination was sabotaged by the political party out of power at New Delhi. He said that pro-India Kashmiri political parties in the territory were no exception and they always worked to weaken the Kashmiris ongoing liberation movement.The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, in a statement remarked that the pandemo-

nium over the r e l e a s e o f Masarrat Aalam B u t t w a s uncalled for. He said that it was shocking to see that such an issue w a s b e i n g discussed in the I n d i a n Parliament with the people there saying that India was in danger due to release of Masarrat Aalam. He said that the way the BJP and New Delhi had reacted to the issue was an eye-opener even for

Mufti Sayeed.Other Hurriyet leaders including Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Aasiya Andrabi, Yasmeen Raja, Zafar Akbar Butt, Javaid Ahmed Mir, Syed Bashir Andrabi, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Farooq Ahmed Dar and Muhammad Azam Inqilabi in their statements while expressing pleasure over the release of Masarrat Aalam termed it as a good sign for the freedom movement. They demanded immediate release of all other Kashmiri political p r i s o n e r s l a n g u i s h i n g i n different jails. They said that the Indian media organisations by starting media trial vis--vis pro-freedom prisoners showed their biased and prejudicial mindset, adding that the same biased media was responsible for sending of Muhammad Afzal Guru to the gallows in February 2013.India and its puppet authorities in the occupied territory need to understand that arrests, killings, torture and other repressive measures could not suppress the liberation sentiment of the Kashmiri people and their leadership. New Delhi must accept the ground realities, stop vict imisat ion of innocent Hurriyet leaders and give the Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination.(Humayun Aziz Sandeela)

Cover Story

ruling BJP over release of Masarrat Aalam Butt vindicated the stand of Pakistan and Hurriyet leadership that the so-called government in the occupied territory was nothing more than a puppet regime. It also showed that the Indian establishment had clearly conveyed to Mufti Sayeed that he had to take diktats from New Delhi before making any decision.It is a reality that PDP and BJP have never been the well-wishers of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and they have joined hands only to further in occupied K a s h m i r t h e n e f a r i o u s communal and divisive agenda of Sangh Parivar - an amalgam of extremist Hindu organisations l i k e B J P , R a s h t r i y a Swayamsevak Sangh, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and Vishva Hindu Parishad. While Indias ruling party BJP and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, are notorious for their anti-Muslim activities, Mufti Sayeed had always been known for his anti-Kashmiri actions.The BJP and Narendra Modi during general elections and after coming into power in 2014 made some announcements and took some drastic decisions regarding Kashmir that created r e s e n t m e n t a m o n g t h e

K a s h m i r i s . T h e y announced to e n s u r e c o m p l e t e m e r g e r o f Jammu and Kashmir with I n d i a b y h o l d i n g debate for the abrogation of the Art ic le 370 o f the I n d i a n Constitution t h a t g i v e s special status t o t h e t e r r i t o r y , asked the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to vacate its office in Delhi and suspended Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan on the pretext of meetings in New Delhi between Pakistani High Commissioner, Abdul Basit, and Kashmiri Hurriyet leaders.There is no denying the fact that Mufti Sayeed is an Indian by conviction and has always betrayed the Kashmiris. After becoming the Union Home Minister of India in 1989, he deputed Jagmohan Malhotra as the Governor of Kashmir to suppress the Kashmiris aspira-

tions when t h e y intensified t h e i r s t r u g g l e f o r s e c u r i n g their right t o s e l f -determina-tion. The o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y witnessed

the worst incidents of its history like massacres of Gaw Kadal and Handwara by Indian troops during the tenure of Malhotra. Mufti Sayeed imposed in occupied Kashmir the draconian law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which grants unbridled powers to Indian forces personnel to commit gross human rights violations with impunity in the territory. During the PDP-Congress rule in 2008, he allowed the transfer of Kashmiris land to Hindu Shrine Board that led to mass agitation in the territory, resulting in the killing of scores of youth at the hands of occupation troops. He is even using as his official resi-dence, since years, Srinagars infamous torture centre, PAPA-II, where thousands of Kashmiris were butchered. The PDP had been advocating its agenda of self-rule in Jammu and Kashmir but now its leaders should understand that when they are not allowed to release a single political prisoner at their own then how could India allow their formula of self-rule to be imple-mented?Meanwhile, the release of

Cover Story

0505KASHMIR INSIGHT APRIL 2015

Masarrat Aalam Butt bode well with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. A large number of Hurriyet leaders, intellectuals, human rights activists and civil society members visited his residence and greeted him over his liberty. This demonstrated that the Kashmiri people reposed faith in the Hurriyet leaders and were determined to continue their ongoing liberation move-ment under their guidance.The visitors termed the release of Masarrat Aalam as a good omen for the freedom struggle. They criticised the Indian politicians and media for making undue noise over the release of the Hurriyet leader, saying that it showed their biased and prejudi-cial mindset against the people of Jammu and Kashmir.The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, addressing a gathering in Srinagar while condemning the furor created by Indian politicians over the release of Masarrat Aalam Butt

s a i d t h a t t h e s e p o l i t i c i a n s were settling p o l i t i c a l scores with each other o v e r t h e sufferings of t h e K a s h m i r i s . He said that it was unfortu-nate that any step taken in the direction of redressal of injus-tices committed against the Kashmiri people engaged in a political struggle for achieving their right to self-determination was sabotaged by the political party out of power at New Delhi. He said that pro-India Kashmiri political parties in the territory were no exception and they always worked to weaken the Kashmiris ongoing liberation movement.The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, in a statement remarked that the pandemo-

nium over the r e l e a s e o f Masarrat Aalam B u t t w a s uncalled for. He said that it was shocking to see that such an issue w a s b e i n g discussed in the I n d i a n Parliament with the people there saying that India was in danger due to release of Masarrat Aalam. He said that the way the BJP and New Delhi had reacted to the issue was an eye-opener even for

Mufti Sayeed.Other Hurriyet leaders including Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Aasiya Andrabi, Yasmeen Raja, Zafar Akbar Butt, Javaid Ahmed Mir, Syed Bashir Andrabi, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Farooq Ahmed Dar and Muhammad Azam Inqilabi in their statements while expressing pleasure over the release of Masarrat Aalam termed it as a good sign for the freedom movement. They demanded immediate release of all other Kashmiri political p r i s o n e r s l a n g u i s h i n g i n different jails. They said that the Indian media organisations by starting media trial vis--vis pro-freedom prisoners showed their biased and prejudicial mindset, adding that the same biased media was responsible for sending of Muhammad Afzal Guru to the gallows in February 2013.India and its puppet authorities in the occupied territory need to understand that arrests, killings, torture and other repressive measures could not suppress the liberation sentiment of the Kashmiri people and their leadership. New Delhi must accept the ground realities, stop vict imisat ion of innocent Hurriyet leaders and give the Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination.(Humayun Aziz Sandeela)

Cover Story

dream and so have thousands of others like me. People in Kashmir don't want to be with India.Q: You were instrumental in issuing protest calendars in 2010. Do you feel that the protest calendars led to those deaths?Masarrat Aalam: Our calendars were based on peaceful protests. It were police and paramilitary personnel who targeted innocent youth after they tried to come out on streets and hold peaceful protest rallies.Q: What about stone pelting incidents?Masarrat Aalam: Stone pelting w a s n o t o r c h e s t r a t e d b y anybody. It was natural reaction of the people after their peaceful protests were curbed. When you fire on peaceful protesters you are bound to have the reaction.Q: Do you think situation could have been handled d i f f e r e n t l y b y t h e government?M a s a r r a t A a l a m : Absolutely, if government w o u l d h a v e a l l o w e d peaceful protests and rallies, killings could have been avoided. People are resisted to agitate but where in the world are they killed for it?Killing innocent people has been the norm in Kashmir. The year 2010 was not the first time when innocent people were killed. We have the examples of Gaw Kadal, Zakura, Chota Bazaar and Bijbehara massacres; there were no stone pelting incidents at that time.Q: How do you see the large voter turnout in the assembly elections? Do you feel people h a v e r e j e c t e d l i b e r a t i o n ideology?Masarrat Aalam: Elections don't matter here. I firmly believe that people are with the freedom m o v e m e n t . A s f a r a s participation in elections is concerned, our party will

deliberate on it. But people also need to introspect and realise the reasons for which they came out for voting.Q: Do you feel that the failure of Hurriyet leaders to take the 2010 m o v e m e n t t o i t s l o g i c a l conclusion led people towards ballot box?Masarrat Aalam: We did not fail. You can't expect to achieve your goal overnight, it takes years. It was mass movement that jolted India from the core. However, I do feel that we could have done more than that we did.Q: Many people say you failed to convert the 2010 uprising into a revolution.Masarrat Aalam: It took Indians near ly 190 years to f ree

themselves from the clutches of British. So, how do you expect us to achieve freedom within a few months? Look, such moments do come in freedom struggle. One shouldn't lose heart. Our win is inevitable, Inshallah!Q: Was there any rift between you and Syed Ali Geelani? Do you feel your arrest in 2010 put an end to the uprising?Masarrat Aalam: Geelani sahib is my Qaid and we had no differences over any issue. Whatever decisions I took in 2010 were only after getting a nod f r o m h i m . I h a v e n e v e r overridden his decision.Q: Has Geelani communicated with you while your time in jail?Masarrat Aalam: No, there was

no communication. I spent most of the time in Kathua jail and he too was under continued house detention, so there was no way to get in touch with each other.Q: Tell us about your days in jail.Masarrat Aalam: I spent most of my time in reading. I read few books that include 'Flashback' of Zahirruddin and books on Islam. I also wrote one book called 'Paigham' for which an FIR was registered against me in Kathua jail.Q. Now that you are out of jail, what are your plans?Masarrat Aalam: I have come from a smaller jail to a larger jail, which is Kashmir. We will continue to cherish our dream of

freedom. We are in a forum led by Syed Ali Geelani. We will discuss our strategy.Q. People have always said you are more hardliner than Geelani.Masarrat Aalam: I am just a freedom lover and I have followed Geelani sahib in the past, I will do so in the future.Q: Do you think it is feasible time for all Hurriyet leaders to get united? What about the

talks with Government of India?Masarrat Aalam: All things will be discussed when our party holds its executive meeting. Whatever decision was in the b e s t i n t e r e s t o f K a s h m i r movement and Kashmiri people, will be taken.Q: The pro-freedom leadership is often blamed for shielding their sons from the cause they uphold, but exhorts others to follow it. How far it is true?Masarrat Aalam: No, it is not true. It is just an impression being given to malign the image of pro-freedom camp. Our families have equally suffered because of the cause. So, in a way, they aren't detached. I believe, this question has no merit in it.

Q: How do you see your i m m e d i a t e r e l e a s e a f t e r government decided to free all political prisoners?Masarrat Aalam: I was released t h r o u g h a n o r m a l l e g a l procedure. My Public Safety Act (PSA) was about to end in next two to three days. I had obtained three bail orders from the court. So, if any political party takes credit, it is wrong.

Q: So you are saying that Mufti Sayeed's decision has nothing to do with your release?Masarrat Aalam: No, I don't think that Mufti has got anything

to do with my release. He (Mufti) is just trying to get political mileage out of it. All my PSAs were quashed, there was no legality to keep me in prison anymore.Q: Your PSAs were quashed during past four years also why were you not released?Masarrat Aalam: It is how judiciary works here. The moment I was released (Indian) agencies and police used to slap another PSA on me. There were 10 PSAs against me in 2008 and six more were invoked against me after my arrest in 2010.Q: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly reacted to your release, terming you a threat to s e c u r i t y o f J a m m u a n d Kashmir.Masarrat Aalam: BJP has its own political compulsions. They have to satisfy their masters back home, that's why they are making hue and cry over my release. How can Masarrat Aalam's release make any difference? There are thousands of pro-freedom people languishing in jails over decades.

Q: Do you have anything to say on Omar Abdullah's comment of having no regrets over releasing you in his tenure?Masarrat Aalam: He is a puppet and has always acted on the direction of India and its agencies. I don't take him or his comments seriously. He is immature in politics.Q. Omar Abdullah said you were a threat to security. You were the architect of protests that led to the killing of youth in Kashmir in 2010.Masarrat Aalam: People were killed by armed forces. Youth were showered with bullets. If they say I instigated people, let there be an international probe. Let the world know how the 120 youth were killed. I am not a terrorist, nor were the people who came out to protest. Ten lakh people gathered at Eidgah maidan (to protest against the killings). Did I instigate all of them? They were genuine freedom lovers who were demanding their right to be free. I am also a freedom lover who has spent 17 years in jail for that

Interview

Killing innocent Kashmiri people has been the norm in Jammu and Kashmir. The year 2010 was not the first time when innocent people were killed. We have the examples of Gaw Kadal, Zakura, Chota Bazaar and Bijbehara massacres. The 2010 uprising was a mass movement that jolted India from the core. I have come from a smaller jail to a larger jail, which is Kashmir. We will continue to cherish our dream of freedom.

Killing innocent Kashmiri people has been the norm in Jammu and Kashmir. The year 2010 was not the first time when innocent people were killed. We have the examples of Gaw Kadal, Zakura, Chota Bazaar and Bijbehara massacres. The 2010 uprising was a mass movement that jolted India from the core. I have come from a smaller jail to a larger jail, which is Kashmir. We will continue to cherish our dream of freedom.Excerpts from different interviews of senior Hurriyet leader and the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League, Masarrat Aalam Butt, after his release from over four years illegal detention. He expresses his views on 2010 mass uprising, his incarceration and the ongoing liberation movement.