ISLAMABAD: Kashmiris around the world on Sunday commemorated the third death anniversary of senior Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani, who passed away on September 1, 2021, while under house arrest at his residence in Hyderpora, Srinagar.
On the call of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the Kashmiri Diaspora held peaceful demonstrations worldwide to highlight Indian brutalities in the illegally occupied territory.
Jailed APHC Chairman Masarat Aalam Butt, in his message from New Delhi’s Tihar Jail, said India will never succeed in extinguishing the Kashmiri people’s desire for freedom.
Posters were displayed across various areas of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) calling people to honour Syed Ali Gilani’s memory and reinforcing that the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs will not be forgotten.
Meanwhile, public gatherings, seminars, and rallies were held across Azad Jammu and Kashmir under the Kashmir Liberation Commission, Pasban-e-Hurriyat, Hurriyat organizations, and education institutions wherein tributes were paid to the famous slogan ‘Hum Pakistani Hain, Pakistan Hamara Hai’ of Syed Ali Gilani.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed the nation’s unwavering moral, diplomatic, and political support to the Kashmiri people on the third death anniversary of Syed Ali Shah Gilani.
Both leaders paid tribute to Gilani, recognizing his lifelong struggle for the right to self-determination for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In his message, PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that Gilani’s name would forever be associated with the Kashmiris’ freedom movement, highlighting his unwavering resolve despite years of imprisonment.
The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the Kashmiri cause, stressing that Geelani’s sacrifices would not be in vain.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari also lauded Syed Ali Gilani’s enduring legacy, describing him as a beacon of hope and resistance for the oppressed people of IIOJK.
Zardari praised Geelani’s relentless efforts and assured that Pakistan would continue to advocate for the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination as enshrined in United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The messages from Pakistan’s leadership reflect the country’s steadfast stance on the Kashmir issue, underlining their support for the Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom.
Born in 1929 in Zeri Manz, Tehsil Bandipora, Syed Ali Gilani was a central figure in the Kashmiri freedom movement, known for his staunch advocacy for the region’s accession to Pakistan. His political career included multiple terms in the legislative assembly of IIOJK and leadership roles within the National Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
In 1993, Gilani co-founded the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and served as its chairman multiple times until 2006. Despite being under house arrest for the last eleven years of his life and having his passport confiscated by Indian authorities in 1981, Gilani’s dedication to the Kashmir cause remained unwavering.
He passed away on September 1, 2021, and his body was buried wrapped in the Pakistani flag. The Government of Pakistan honored him with the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian award, recognizing his profound contributions to the freedom movement.
