20000224

APHC calls for strike in occupied Kashmir tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has given a call for crippling strike all across occupied Kashmir on Friday against custodial killing and increased incidents of military terrorism.

According to Kashmir Media Service, an APHC spokesman on Wednesday said that the task force had resorted to indiscriminate killing of innocent people in various areas in the valley. He particularly referred to killing by task force of a school teacher, Ghulam Mohyuddin Najjar, outside the court in Srinagar yesterday. The martyr was an important worker of APHC and had played vital role in anti-polls campaign.

The APHC spokesman appealed to the people of occupied Kashmir to observe total strike on Friday to attract world attention to Indian orgy of death and destruction in Kashmiris soil.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has also expressed grave concern over violation of court's orders about production of detained leaders of the conference on appointed dates. The APHC spokesman described trampling of the court's orders as gross violation of rule of law as well as of basic human rights.

The spokesman said an APHC delegation visited families of those martyred by Indian troops in Noorbagh and Hazratbal localities of Srinagar and admired courage of the bereaved relatives.

Addressing gatherings in the two localities, the delegation reiterated that the liberation movement would not be affected by any amount of Indian tyranny.

Meanwhile, the head of the Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, has strongly reacted to the Indian prime minister's remarks about occupation of Azad Kashmir before entering into talks with Pakistan, and advised him to give up ostrich like policy on Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement in Srinagar, he said the Indian prime minister's remarks are unbecoming, as he knew it that the Kashmir dispute was an internationally recognised issue. "The importance of this issue cannot be sidelined by threatening statements."

He urged Vajpayee to restore usurped rights of Kashmiris.

Shabbir Ahmad Shah, hailed the coming visit of President Clinton to South Asia and urged him to used similar influence in resolving the Kashmir issue as he had done in the case of Bosnia, Kosovo, Palestine and East Timor. He also welcomed Clinton's offer of mediation and appealed to world community to intervene directly to get Kashmiris rid of Indian tyranny.

On the other hand, the president of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Front, Bhoshan Bazaz has strongly denounced statement of an Indian minister, Umer Abdullah about permanent confinement in jails of APHC leaders or sending them to Pakistan. He recalled that Shaikh Abdullah, grand father of Umer Abdullah, had forcefully exiled, Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz, Choudhri Ghulam Abbas, Mir Waiz Maulvi Yousaf Shah and many other liberation leaders. He said, Kashmir was not a family fief of any one. It belonged to one and half crore Kashmiris and only they were entitled to decided its political future.

In their fresh acts of violence, the Indian troops carried out today violent and extensive crackdown at Kalan and Pahalgam, indulging in wreckage and harassment of women. About 150 people were injured in military terrorism. One of the injured later died in the hospital. The troops also raided Gujjar's (herdsmen) settlements and disgraced several women.

The Mujahideen clashed with troops in Akhnoor, killing and injuring several of them. The troops also suffered casualties in an encounter in Udhampur area. One Mujahid was reported martyred. A large number of citizens assaulted a Rashtria Rifles camp in Banihal area. Several troops were reported injured in the scuffle. The people were agitated by arrest and torture of two youth in the camp. The troops resorted to firing, injuring several people.

Forceful demonstrations were held and protest strike observed in Baramula against military violence. The troops severely beat up several people, ransacked shops and arrested six people. A young man, Mohammad Ashraf Rathar, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

The transporters' strike continued in Srinagar who have shifted their passenger vehicles to other area to avert its seizure by troops for military purposes.

Reports from Jammu said that strict security measures were taken to protect legislation, taking part in budget session of the puppet Assembly. The security of the civil secretariat has been handed over to special commandos. Police and security forces have been put on maximum alert various parts of Jammu area. APP