ISLAMABAD: On the solemn occasion of the 40th martyrdom anniversary of prominent Kashmiri leader Muhammad Maqbool Butt, leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have paid heartfelt tributes, reaffirming their commitment to advancing the cause for which he sacrificed his life.
Expressing reverence for the martyred Kashmiri leader, Molvi Bashir Ahmed Irfani, an APHC leader currently detained, conveyed from jail that Muhammad Maqbool Butt, alongside Muhammad Afzal Guru and other martyrs, injected renewed vigor into the Kashmir freedom movement, serving as perpetual inspirations for the Kashmiri populace. He emphasized that their legacy must be upheld through relentless pursuit of their mission.
Emphasizing the pivotal role of martyrs in galvanizing international attention towards the Kashmir dispute, APHC leaders Khawaja Firdous, Syed Bashir Andrabi, and Muhammad Shafi Lone asserted in a joint statement from Srinagar that the sacrifices of Maqbool Butt, Afzal Guru, and others have elevated the Kashmir cause to a global platform. They vowed unwavering resolve to realize the aspirations of these martyrs, regardless of the challenges.
Meanwhile, leaders of APHC’s AJK chapter, including Muhammad Farooq Rehmani and Muhammad Sultan Butt, underscored the injustice meted out to Muhammad Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru by the Indian government and judiciary. They lamented the continued suppression of Kashmiris, with thousands languishing in Indian jails and over a hundred thousand martyred since Maqbool Butt’s execution in 1984. Urging the international community to intervene, they called upon India to address the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people for lasting peace in South Asia.
As the Kashmiri people solemnly commemorate the sacrifices of their martyrs, the resounding call for justice and freedom resonates louder than ever, echoing across the valleys of occupied Kashmir and reverberating on the international stage.
