The occupation authorities again barred senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from attending the educational seminar at the historic Islamia School Rajouri Kadal in connection with the Martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his residence in Srinagar on 21st May in 1990. On the same day, seventy mourners were killed when Indian troops opened indiscriminate fire on his funeral procession in Hawal area of Srinagar. Twelve years later on May 21 in 2002, unknown attackers had shot dead Khawaja Abdul Ghani Lone when he was returning after addressing a gathering at the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was put under illegal and arbitrary house detention on May 3 and continues to be detained.
As per details, Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam organised a prestigious reformative and educational seminar titled “Our Society, Our Responsibilities” in the auditorium of Islamia Higher Secondary School, Rajouri Kadal in connection with the martyrdom anniversary of the former President of Anjuman Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq (RA) in which students from various renowned schools of the valley expressed their thoughts in relation to the topic.
According to the programme, the seminar was to be presided over by the president of the Anjuman, Mirwaiz Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq. However, the administration has continued to keep him under house arrest, thereby imposing restrictions on all his religious, social, and official activities. As a result, Mirwaiz was not permitted to attend the seminar today.
As such, the duties of presiding over the seminar were carried out by the prominent religious scholar, Moulana Showkat Hussain Keing. In addition to the executive members of the association, several religious and social figures from the valley were also present on the occasion.
The seminar was attended by students from several renowned educational institutions in the valley, including Green Valley Educational Institute, Motherland High School, Burn Hall Higher Secondary School, Nusrat-ul-Islam High School Ashajipora Anantnag, Tibetan Public School, Islamia High School Bijbehara, Islamia Higher Secondary School Rajouri Kadal, Islamia High School Botakadal, and Islamia High School Safakadal, among others.
In the seminar, the participating students discussed various issues relevant to the theme, highlighting the numerous problems faced by Kashmiri society. They pointed out serious issues such as social evils, waywardness, drug abuse, domestic violence, and the increasing incidents of suicide as significant causes of the destruction of Kashmiri society in the current circumstances. They asserted that, as a community, we are all responsible for the present state of our society. To rectify these issues, everyone must unite and collectively take action against these problems according to their capabilities.
In his presidential address, Maulana Showkat Hussain Keing termed the restrictions imposed on the current president of the Anjuman, Mirwaiz Dr Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, as undemocratic. He expressed deep concern over the antagonistic approach taken by the administration towards Mirwaiz, stating that this behavior is extremely worrying.
Maulana Showkat Hussain Keing paid a heartfelt tribute to Shaheed-e-Millat for his invaluable reformative and educational services, stating that the martyred leader emerged as a significant reformer of the nation, following in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessors. In a short span of time, the remarkable contributions he made towards the reformation of the community have rendered him immortal, he said.
In the seminar, students who showcased outstanding academic performances were awarded cash prizes, certificates of appreciation, and medals. Kamila Shameem from Green Valley Educational Institute secured the first position, Syed Taban Tariq from Burn Hall Higher Secondary School won the second position, and Maheen Khurshid from Islamia High School Ashaji Pora Islamabad was awarded the third position. Consolation prizes were given to Qureen Showkat from Motherland High School and Madiha Feroz from Islamia Higher Secondary School Rajouri Kadal. The duties of judging the seminar were performed by Dr G.M. Khan, Engineer Mir Abdul Majeed, and Mufti Ghulam Rasool Samoon.
On the occasion, the 2024 issue of the magazine Nusrat-ul-Islam, dedicated to Shaheed-e-Millat (RA), was also released. Additionally, a collective prayer was held for the forgiveness and heavenly abode of Shaheed-e-Millat (RA), the founder of the Anjuman, Mirwaiz Allama Rasool Shah (RA), all the deceased former presidents, general secretaries, supporters, and martyrs.—KMS
