Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has paid glowing tribute to veteran Kashmiri Hurriyat leader and founding leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Syed Ali Gilani on eve of his fifth martyrdom anniversary amid acknowledging his courageous leadership, unwavering commitment to the Kashmir cause and profound love for Pakistan.
Syed Ali Gilani embraced martyrdom in the custody of Indian police on September 01, 2021, at his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar, where he had been kept under continued house arrest for over a decade. Despite his wish to be buried at Mazar-e-Shuhada in Eidgah, Srinagar, Indian forces forcibly buried him at night in the Hyderpora cemetery.
Syed Ali Gilani throughout his life championed the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and advocated the settlement of the Kashmir dispute in line with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party spokesperson Advocate Arshad Iqbal, while paying tribute to the veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani ahead of his fifth martyrdom anniversary, called the martyred leader’s lifelong struggle, steadfastness and unwavering commitment to the Kashmir cause a guiding light for freedom-loving Kashmiris. Advocate Arshad Iqbal described Syed Ali Gilani as an ideological and principled leader who devoted his entire life to the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. He said Gilani demonstrated “unparalleled perseverance, courage and steadfastness” in his struggle against Indian occupation and, despite prolonged imprisonment, house arrest and state repression, never compromised on his stance. “The slogan ‘We are Pakistanis, and Pakistan belongs to us’ became a defining symbol of Syed Ali Gilani’s political thought and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” Iqbal said, adding that Gilani’s objective remained securing the right to self-determination as guaranteed by UN resolutions. Calling his death “an irreparable loss” for the freedom movement, Iqbal said Gilani’s ideology and sacrifices continue to guide the struggle. He urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to fulfill its responsibilities and exert diplomatic pressure on India to grant Kashmiris their inalienable right. Iqbal reaffirmed that DFP would continue to pursue the mission through political, diplomatic and peaceful means.
Tehreek-e-Hurriyet Jammu and Kashmir, in a statement in Srinagar, said that Syed Ali Gilani remained resolute like a rock on his stance regarding the Kashmir dispute. It added that Gilani’s immortal role in the freedom movement would be inscribed in golden letters in the history of Kashmir.
Muslim League Jammu and Kashmir, in a statement in Srinagar, described Syed Ali Gilani as a fearless leader who, refusing to compromise with the deceitful enemy, became a powerful voice for the oppressed people. It vowed that the people of Kashmir would, at all costs, carry forward the mission of Syed Ali Gilani and countless other Kashmiri martyrs to its logical conclusion.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League, Muslim Khawateen Markaz, Kashmir Tehreek-e-Khawateen, National Front, Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir, Young Men’s League, Tehreek-e-Wahdat-e-Islami, Pairwan-e-Wilayat, Abdul Rashid Lone, Abdul Samad Inqilabi and other Hurriyat organizations, in their statements in Srinagar, highlighted Syed Ali Gilani’s lifelong struggle against illegal Indian occupation. They said he spent his entire life resisting injustice and oppressive Indian rule, never deviating from his principled stance. They described Syed Ali Gilani as more than a leader, saying he was a symbol of continuous struggle, unwavering conviction, revolution, hope and light. They also stressed that Syed Ali Gilani’s ideals and mission are alive and will be remembered as a significant legacy of both the past and present century.