Reema Shaukat
THE month of February remains a painful month in the life of Kashmiris. It is in this month when Kashmir Solidarity Day is commemorated by Pakistani nation with a commitment and promise to extend their moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiri brethren. It is also observed to not only support their fair and impartial right of self-determination but to eulogize their sacrifices they are making every day by bearing brutality from the hands of Indian military. Definitely this unfinished agenda of partition now needs to be resolved on an immediate basis. This saga had not started in a single day. Everyday has new story which adds more salt to the wounds of innocent Kashmiris. While turning the pages of history, one finds that Puppet Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was forced to resign on 19 January 1990 and Governor Rule was imposed in India-occupied Kashmir under Jagmohan Malhotra who was well known for his hatred against Muslims in general and Kashmiris in particular.
With his imposition of Governor Rule, he unleashed a new reign of terror on Kashmiris. Indian forces barricaded Srinagar and door-to-door search operations were carried out. In the name of these search operations many women were abused and men tortured. As the news of this havoc spread, thousands of people from the IoK gathered in the streets of Srinagar and protested against this abysmal doing of Indian military. Sadly during the gripe Indian forces on the orders of Governor Jagmohan Malhotra opened fire on peaceful protestors, killing around fifty and leaving hundreds as injured. These mass killings of 21 January 1990 are considered as one of the worst massacres in the history of Kashmir. This bloodshed shocked every Pakistani and nationwide strike was observed on 05 February 1990. People greatly supported aggrieved Kashmiris, expressed solidarity and stressed upon international community to take notice of Indian atrocious defiance in Kashmir. Government of Pakistan that year officially designated 05 February as Kashmir Solidarity Day.
We have witnessed Kashmir uprising in new shape after the martyrdom of young Burhan Wani. But this uprising was observed and still seen with every passing day in the life of the Kashmiris. The deaths of Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru in the past are also two major events for Kashmiris which have led their freedom struggle with more intensity. The two prominent heroes of Kashmir freedom struggle were executed in the Tihar Jail of New Delhi on 11 February 1984 and on 09 February 2013 respectively by Indian occupation authorities.
It is mentioned in historical findings that while growing up under the shadows of the oppressive feudal system of the Dogra rule, Maqbool Butt’s vision was shaped and his political awakening led him to pursue a difficult path with danger and uncertainty but he always wanted to walk on the path of political activism and struggle for the independence of Kashmir from the clutches of India. Afzal Guru was convicted by Indian Supreme Court in 2001 Parliament attack case, which stated that the collective conscience of the society will be satisfied only if the death penalty is awarded to Afzal Guru. Such is the sad state of affairs by the Indian justice system that they without any investigation and false claims ordered the hanging of Afzal Guru but they never knew these hangings will bring new chapter to Kashmir’s freedom struggle.
Arundhati Roy, one of the sane voices in India, termed the hanging of Guru as stain on India’s democracy. Sadly, India never returned the remains of both Kashmiris to be buried with honour. Every year on their death anniversaries shutter down strike is observed throughout Kashmir and Kashmiris all over the world pay tribute to Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru and show solidarity with their cause. They reiterate that Kashmir is not a religious or territorial dispute. This dispute is about the future of millions of people who want to live a life of dignity and respect. Millions of people are calling on India to return the mortal remains of both leaders in accordance with the principles of law and justice. However, the successive governments of India have rejected this demand and refused to return the mortal remains of the two martyrs to the people.
Execution of both ideologues Maqbool Butt and Mohammad Afzal Guru was based on politically-motivated judgments which were against all norms of justice and fairness. They were executed just “to satisfy the collective ego of the Indian society” rather than on the basis of concrete evidence or the principle of fair justice. Since 05t August 2019 the situation in India-occupied Kashmir has worsened as India abrogated the special status of Kashmir. But not matter what the circumstances in IoK are, Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru are considered as ideologues, statesmen, warriors, political leaders and diplomats who led the Kashmiri nation on all fronts and sacrificed their lives for the sacred cause. Butt and Guru like many other Kashmiri leaders and iconic youth will always remain a symbol of freedom and right not only for Kashmiri nation but for all the nations which are striving for their freedom and liberation.
— The writer works for Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, a think-tank based in Islamabad.
