Srinagar, Mar 27: On the death anniversary of prominent lawyer and human rights activist Advocate Jaleel Andrabi, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (HCBA) today organized a seminar ‘Kashmir Freedom Struggle in the current global political scenario and prospectus of a solution.’
 HCBA president Mian Abdul Qayoom while addressing the seminar paid rich tributes to martyrs. “The martyrs are the biggest investment into the movement and no one can afford to ignore their sacrifices. The sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris won't go in vain. Undulations of ups and downs can’t be ruled out in a freedom struggle. But every time one should not allow ones resolution to shake on seeing the movement weak,” Qayoom said.
 The Bar president said a constructive criticism should have a wide room. “And at the same time the leadership steering the movement should not be criticized unnecessarily to impair the cause of freedom struggle.”
 Speaking on the latent strength of the Kashmir issue, Qayoom said 18 UN Resolutions have been passed on Kashmir. “We should not give in to the challenges of the movement but should flaunt courage to defeat the designs that are detrimental to the movement.  Under suppression a nation should not live a subjugated life but should display unity to raise voice against the tyranny,” he said.
 Terming HCBA a body with a complete integrity and unity, he said it weathered all storms and did not divide like other organizations.
 On the occasion, Senior Advocate Z A Shah said truthfulness and unison in thoughts and outlook are very powerful to achieve a goal. “And Kashmiris as a nation should display these qualities. Concerted efforts should be put in place to devise a strategy that augurs well in finding a solution to Kashmir problem so that the efforts get materialized sooner than later,” he said.
 “It is unfortunate that divergent voices are coming from Kashmir and the same is taken with a bad taste by the International Community and is delaying a tangible solution of Kashmir. Great nations have achieved greatness when the individuals at their individual level changed their outlook and imbibed a character that worked in becoming their greatness,” Shah added.
 Advocate Arshad Andarbi, brother of Jaleel Andrabi while addressing the gathering said that the victim families have to fight the odds to get justice. “There is lack of support from those who were supposed to be on the forefront to extend support to these families,” he said.
 In his address, the Chief Guest, Ved Basin said that Kashmir is accepted as an issue today due to the sacrifices offered by the people especially the youth.
 He said both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and spend colossal amount on militarization and nuclear programmes. “Kashmir is the main cause for it. Tens of crores of rupees could be saved and spent on education and other sectors to boost their economies. Unfortunately the dialogue process is proceeding at a snail’s pace due to trust deficit and derailments caused by internal problems,” Bhasin said.
 He said Kashmiris are an indispensable party to the dispute and should be included in the parleys. “Confidence building measures should be made vibrant, trust deficit should be removed and demilitarization will help a great deal in this regard. Besides the draconian laws should be scrapped,” he said.
 Advocate N A Ronga said, “we are fighting a war with an enemy which is united and mighty and we are weak and divided. Leaders feel they are accountable to their master and not the people.”
 Columnist Z G Muhammad in his speech said the contemporary leadership is fractured which has impaired the Kashmir cause.
 Professor Hameeda Nayeem said though the holistic solution to Kashmir problem seems not so near, many interim measures including demilitarization, scrapping of the draconian laws, restoration of rights over water resources to the State can be taken for the benefit of the Kashmiris.
 Dr Sheikh Showkat said ups and downs are part and parcel of freedom struggles. “History bears testimony that with the changing situations the dynamics of the Indian Freedom Struggle has changed. In contemporary world if the right to self determination as a principle is relevant in other parts, why not in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
 Civil society member Shakeel Qalander said there is an indispensable need to set up a strong non- politico platform that is civil society alongside the political amalgam so that various issues are sort out in an institutional manner.
 Irfan Hafeez Lone vice president Baramulla Bar Association said a movement never shows refraction. “But the steering of the movement depends upon the leadership. There is no reason to feel disappointed as ups and downs are an integral part of any freedom struggle,” he said.
 Advocate Muhammad Reshi said the leaders should not be attacked blindly but constructive criticism should be welcomed.
 “We should criticize the leaders in a right perspective and pinpoint their weaknesses in a constructive manner so that they will take corrective measures. Kashmiris should remain guarded against the elements who are out to sell an ideology that promotes the cause of imperialists,” he said.
 Chairperson APDP Parveena Ahangar hailed the efforts of the Bar Association for fighting the cases of victim families without charging them.
 Advocate Majid Jahangir said nations can’t be sold as no one has an authority to sign such agreements when people are averse to them.  
 Among other who spoke on the occasion included Bar General Secretary G N Shaheen, Rifat Andrabi, Bashir Sidiqi, Advocates Manzoor Ahmad, Noorul Amin and Dr Zaffar Mehdi.
 Meanwhile, the Bar Association Islamabad Tuesday suspended work in memory of the martyred lawyers during past 22 years.
 A seminar, ‘Possible solution to Kashmir dispute” was also organised by Bar Association Islamabad.
 The members stressed upon the involvement of Kashmiri leadership in Indi-Pakistan talks. The members resolved that the dispute could only be solved on the table.
 The members paid homage to late lawyers including Advocate Jaleel Andrabi, Sheikh Altaf Hussain, Zulfikar Ahmad Jan, Muhammad Sultan Bhat, Ghulam Geelani Wani, Peer Husam-ud-din, Gh Qadir Sailani, Muhammad Abdullah Rather and Abdul Gani Bhat.
 Among others who spoke on the occasion included Advocate Abdul Samad Tak, M Y Sherdar, A M Khateeb, K A Ganai, R A Khan, Javaid Ahmad Parray and Mubashir Hussain.
 The seminar was also attended by Presidents of Bar Association Bijbehara, Vailoo, Shangas and others.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST