Incarcerated chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Muhammad Yasin Malik (JKLF) today announced the protest programmes that would be held in different countries to mark the 35th anniversary of Muhammad Maqbool Bhat as Maqbool Day.
“Various protest programs will be held across the globe on the occasion of Muhammad Maqbool Bhat’s 35th martyrdom day and Kashmiris living throughout the world will observe this day as a national day,” a JKLF spokesman quoted Malik as having said in his message from Kothibagh Police Station here.
“In Jammu and Kashmir programs announced by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) will be followed in letter and spirit as protest marches, sit-in and submitting memorandums seeking the return of mortal remains of the great leader,” Malik said.
“According to JRL protest program complete shutdown will be observed on 9th and 11th February. On 10th February, prayers meetings will be held for martyrs in every Masjid. Protests demanding mortal remains of Muhammad Maqbool Butt and Muhammad Afazl Guru will be held at Lal Chowk Srinagar on 11th February, besides a complete shutdown in the Valley. A memorandum to UN secretary general demanding mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru will also be dispatched,” he said.
“A memorial meeting will be also held at the birth place of Maqbool Bhat at Trehgam Kupwara in which JKLF leaders and activists will pay rich tributes to the great martyr. JKLF leaders and activists will hold protests in Islamabad Pakistan, Lahore, Karachi and other cities of Pakistan while as programs will also be held across Europe, UK, USA, Canada, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other parts of Middle East. Rallies, protests, seminars and prayers meetings will be held at every district headquarters of Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan including Rawalpindi / Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Quetta divisions in Pakistan. Besides a protest on 11th February outside Indian Embassy in London at 12 noon local time, UK Zone has also announced week long many programs in their respective branches. European Union Zone has also announced a protest on 11th February in front of Indian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium at 2 pm their local time. Programs will be held in the prominent countries of European Union like France, Finland, Spain, Germany, Italy etc. Middle East (Gulf) Zone will also hold similar programs from 10th February onwards in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar branches. JKLF units in Saudi Arabian cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, Damam, and in United Arab Emirate (UAE) cities like Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and Doha unit in Qatar will also hold similar programs on the occasion. Besides demanding the handing over of the mortal remains of Muhammad Maqbool Butt, his philosophy, ideology, struggle and sacrifices will be highlighted during these programs. Besides this, the struggle and sacrifices rendered by seven Chakoti PaK martyrs of 1992 will also be recalled during these programs,” Malik said.