Rich tribute paid to Syed Ali Gilani at IRS

New York- homemad news

The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, organized a webinar entitled: “Evaluation: Kashmir’s Struggle for Self-Determination

The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, organized a webinar, entitled: “An appraisal: Kashmir’s struggle for self-determination. The panelists included Dr. Farhan Chak, Dr. Mujahid Gilani, Altaf Wani and Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai

Ambassador Nadeem Riyaz, President, IRS made moving remarks about Syed Ali Geelani. Today is a sad day, he said, because a great personality who needs no introduction, left us a year ago. Ambassador Riyaz continued that Geelani Sahib was a symbol of humanity, kind, compassionate, fearless, visionary, honest, sincere, incorruptible, and much more than that. He never compromised on the basic principle of right to self-determination of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

Ambassador Sahib added that Kashmir has become an open prison where rights of people are trampled with impunity. Rape is being used as a weapon of war. But the struggle will continue till it reaches to its logical conclusion – the fulfillment and implementation of UN security Council resolution.

Ms. Humera Iqbal, research analyst at IRS, who specializes in foreign policy issue of South Asia was the emcee. She said in her opening remarks that the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu & Kashmir is non-negotiable. The ongoing struggle of the people of Kashmir has become symbol of resistance against the inhuman conduct carried out by Indian occupation forces. The struggle will continue till the voices of the people of Kashmir are heard, Ms. Iqbal added.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Forum for Peace & Justice, while highlighting the responsibilities of global Kashmiri diaspora said, “we must be sleeplessly imaginative in devising revulsion of India’s colonization. Those displays can then be taken to the United Nations and to all international for a to seek their moral suasion behind a Kashmiri narrative.” “India’s occupation of Kashmir has been left undisturbed by the international community, even though its validity has never been accepted. At no stage, however, have the people of Kashmir shown themselves as reconciled to it,” Fai added.

Dr. Fai explained that Kashmir’s record of opposition to the rule foisted on it can by no standard be reckoned as less genuinely demonstrated than that of, say, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary (all members of European Union). But while the popular revolt in the countries of Eastern Europe has been observed and reported by the international media, that in Kashmir has remained largely hidden from the world’s view. Even the local journalists, who dare to report the atrocities committed by Indian occupation army on Kashmiri civilian population are arrested under a draconian law – Unlawful Activities Prevention act (UAPA). More than dozen Kashmiri journalists have been arrested under UAPA. That is why New York based, Committee to Protect Journalist has said that the news media in Kashmir has been pushed to the brink of extinction.

Geelani Sahib was incorruptible. 80 percent Kashmiris respect Geelani Sahib simply because he was not corrupt. Geelani Sahib was an honest and sincere to his people,” Fai quoted Dr. Sameer Kaul, a renowned cardiologist who hails from Kashmir and is a member of minority Pandit community. Geelani Sahib proved prophetic. He predicted during a press conference in Srinagar (Capital of Kashmir), on October 26, 2009 that “a time will come when 500,000 Biharia (Indian) and six to seven hundred thousand army will be given citizenship to change the demography of Kashmir. India will then say OK, let us have a referendum now.” Fai described that enactment of Domicile Law by India was designed to achieve that goal. More than 4.3 million domicile certificates have been issued within the past two years and more than 2.5 million new people have been added in the electoral list. India is literally pushing the nation of Kashmir to the brink of extinction, Fai warned.

Dr. Farhan Chak, internationally known Kashmiri Canadian scholar said that “on this glorious occasion, the people of Kashmir celebrate the life and legacy of Shaheed Syed Ali Shah Geelani. We honor the man who gave us a vision and showed us light where there was only darkness. He was a man that even is enemies knew was Incorruptible and uncompromising on the principle of self-determination.”

Dr. Chak added that “Today at the institute of regional studies, I shared the platform with icons of Kashmir’s freedom struggle such as Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai and Dr Mujahid Geelani and Altaf Wani. They have sacrificed tremendously for the Kashmir cause, and it was an honor to be with them today as we chart a new path forward and take our revolutionary movement to the next level. We are United and committed to confront the occupation by any means necessary.” Dr. Chak prayed to Allah SWT to guide our hearts and strengthen our hands as we resist the oppressor.

Dr Mujahid Gilani, President of the Kashmir Yo