Valley Shuts Up For Maqbool Bhat (butt)

JKLF protests, reiterates demand for Maqbool Butt's mortal remains.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Activists of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) today held protest demonstrations in favour of the demand that the mortal remains of JKLF founder chairman Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Butt should be given back to Kashmiris. Meanwhile a number of pro-freedom organisations issued statements from their respective parties stressing for the same demand. These parties have decided to hold seminars and programmes throughout the week in memory of Butt and his contributions to the freedom movement in Kashmir.The protesters holding play cards and banners in their hands were raising forceful slogans in favour of their demand that mortal remains of the most primary pro-freedom leader be return to Kashmiris. The protesters urged the secretary general of the United Nations Organizations (UNO) Ban Ki Moon to pressurize the government of India to hand over the mortal remains of Mohammad Maqbool Butt to Kashmiris who have been demanding it for the last many years.Butt was hanged in New Delhi's Tihar Jail on February 11, 1984, for his alleged invoment in murdering of an intelligence officer. The separatist leaders are refuting the charges saying that the accusation was fabricated to hang the separatist leader and to suppress the freedom movement against Indian rule.The protest demonstration ended peacefully at martyr's graveyard, where JKLF leaders addressed the people. They said that the mission of Butt would be continued till it reaches its logical end."The government of India used all its force to sabotage the ongoing freedom movement, but the commitment and the countless sacrifices given by the people of the state for the complete independence against Indian role have once again proved that the sacrifice of Maqbool Bhat has not gone futile," the leaders stressed in their speeches.The JKLF leaders said that the week long activities of the organisation would continue to pay rich tributes to the founder chairman of their organisation.Meanwhile, a number of pro-freedom parties have decided to organise various programmes and seminars from February 11 onwards to pay rich tributes to the JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Butt on his 25th death anniversary. These parties have decided to hold seminars and programmes throughout the week in memory of Butt and his contributions to the freedom movement in Kashmir.Both the factions of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Salvation Movement (SM), Muslim league and other organizations paid rich tribute tributes to the JKLF founder leader. The leaders of some smaller groups like the chairman of SM Zaffar Akbar Bhat have urged the separatist parties to unite and work for the common cause of right of self determination. They have said that it would be biggest tribute to the Maqbool Butt if the separatist parties would narrow down their differences and work jointly to take the movement to its logical end.The High Court Bar Association has decided to observe complete strike on February 11 to commemorate 25th death anniversary of Maqbool Butt and as urged the Indian authorities to hand over the death body of the JKLF leader’s The association has decided to assemble at Sadder Court complex to participate in the Fateh proceeding’s

Meanwhile Normal life in Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar was badly hit Wednesday by the general shutdown called by the separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to commemorate the death anniversary of its founder Muhammad Maqbool Bhat.Markets remained closed and public transport was off the roads although a few private vehicles could be seen.Attendance in government offices was also thin because of the non-availability of public transport.Reports from other district headquarters of the valley indicated that the shutdown had affected life there as well.Bhat was hanged this day in 1984 in New Delhi's Tihar Jail. Since then, the JKLF has been calling for a protest shutdown on Feb 11 each year.

The group has also been demanding that the remains of its founder, who was buried inside Tihar Jail after his execution, be handed over to his relatives for burial.