Shah rejects parole

Srinagar, Oct 23: Senior pro-freedom leader and chairman of Democratic Freedom Party, Shabir Ahmad Shah, who is undergoing detention under the Public Safety Act, Saturday rejected the Government’s offer to release him on parole.

Shah rejected the Government’s offer and said, “I have faced imprisonment for past nearly 25 years for the just cause and aspirations of Kashmiris. To suppress my resolve, the authorities also martyred my father. At this juncture if I won’t be able to meet my ailing mother for the last time, I will not have regrets. I want to maintain that even if I have to offer sacrifices of my two daughters for the freedom movement of Kashmir, I will never hesitate".

“I am indebted to Kashmiris for reposing faith and lending support to me. I urge the people to pray for speedy recovery of my mother,” Shah said.

In recent times Shah has been booked under PSA for seven times for “fomenting trouble in the Valley and acting at the behest of Inter Services Intelligence agency for advocating the secessionist ideology.”

It may be recalled here that the puppet authorities had issued orders regarding the temporary release of Shabir Ahmad Shah for a period of 30 days with immediate effect. However, the order has set many terms and conditions for his release including that he will not leave the territorial limit of district Srinagar without permission from the district magistrate.

Shah’s role can’t be just ignored: Khaita Singh

Srinagar, Oct 17: While appreciating the political resolve of Shabir Ahmed Shah, the president of International Democratic Party, Master Khaita Singh has said that Shah political role could not be ignored under the prevailing political situation.

Khaita Sing who was heading a seven-member delegation said this while talking to DFP vice president M Abdullah Tari on Sunday. Terming Shah as a great human asset and a dynamic politician leader Singh said that there was a need to bring Shah’s political philosophy into limelight within India. “The bloodshed of innocent people won’t stop unless the prevailing situation is presented in its real perspective”, he said adding that 

The visiting delegates expressed concern over the continuous detention of senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmed Shah and termed his incarceration as unjustified and unfounded.

The DFP vice president while expressing his gratitude to the visiting delegates said that the party would remain firmly stick to the political philosophy of the incarcerated leader.

Unity paramount to achieve the goal: Shah

17 Octber 2010

Give Kashmiris’ their right, Shah tells APD

Srinagar Sep 23: Members of the all-party delegation visiting Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday met the incarcerated senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah at Government Medical College Jammu.

A three-member group led by DMK MP T.R. Baalu went to the Col. Chopra nursing home of the Government Medical College Hospital here where Shah is undergoing treatment.

Shabir Shah, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party has been under illegal detention in Kot Bhalwal jail for over a year now under the infamous Public Safety Act.

While briefing the APD, delegation Shah made it clear that Kashmiris have been fighting for their inalienable right to self-determination adding that political concessions or economic packages can not solve the issue unless people of the troubled region were given their right to determination their political future.

He said that Kashmir was an internationally recognized disputed territory and the people have every right to fight for their inherited and pledged right guaranteed to them by the world community and the leadership of India and Pakistan as well. He maintained that Kashmiris have given unprecedented sacrifices to achieve the cherished goal and would never compromise on it. He said, “Indian leaders should honour the commitments made by their ancestors with the people of Kashmir”. “Kashmiris are not demanding anything illegal; ours’ demand is legitimate and just demand”, he added.

During one-hour-long discussion held at room number 204 of Chopra Nursing Home Jammu, the DFP chief also apprised the visiting Indian delegates of the simmering situation in Kashmir and said that if India was really sincere in resolving the dispute peacefully then it should bring an end to HR violations, repeal black laws and withdraw its troops from Jammu and Kashmir in order to pave a way for final settlement of Kashmir issue. 

Referring to the current uprising and the Indian brutalities Shah said that Indian troops have ruthlessly killed over 100 people and wounded more than 900 during the current mass uprising in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that it was high time that India should accept the ground reality and adopt a realistic approach to settle the dispute once and for all. 

Shah for Eid prayer at one place in Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug 27: The Hurriyat (M) incarcerated leader and Democratic Freedom Party president, Shabir Ahmad Shah has urged the people of Kashmir to offer Friday prayers on Jumat-ul-Wida and Eid prayer at one place in Srinagar.

Shah, also appealed to Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yaseen Malik and other leaders to take steps for offering congregational Nimaz on Jamiat-ul-Wida and Eid Nimaz at one place in Srinagar where resolutions could be adopted by the people, demanding resolution of Kashmir issue through implementation of UN Resolutions. Shah, who is serving detention in Kote Bilwal Jail, Jammu, was on Friday taken to medical college, Jammu, for treatment. 

Shah made a passionate appeal to the people of Kashmir to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood. He said the ongoing struggle for freedom was passing through its decisive phase.

DFP concerned over HR violations in Kashmir

Srinagar, August 3: Expressing serious concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Kahmir, the acting president of Democratic Freedom Party, M Abdullah Tari has said that India was trying to suppress Kashmiriris’ mass movement by using its military might.

Citing the recent killings of innocent civilians by Indian troops across the valley Tari said that India has declared a war against people of Kashmir. Terming it as worst kind of state-terrorism he said that India has imposed undue restrictions on print and electronic media to conceal the heinous crime that it has inflicted upon the people of Kashmir.

Referring to Indian home minister P Chidambaram's statement he said that the so-called secret diplomacy was no solution to Kashmir issue. He said that Kashmir was an issue of right to self-determination that was guaranteed to them by the world community besides the leadership of India. He said that during his historical speech at Lal Chowk Srinagar the Indian premier Jawahar Lal Nehru had also promised the people of Kashmir that they would be given the right to choose their political destiny. He regrettably noted that 63-years down the lane India did not fulfill this promise.

He said that the basic purpose of Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle was to pressurize India to honour the commitments that it made with the people of Kashmir. To achieve this pledged right, the right to self-determination Tari pointed out that the DFP chief Shabir Ahmed Shah had to spent half of his life in Indian jails.

Expressing solidarity with the people whose near and dear ones were killed during recent wave of violence in Kashmir, the DFP secretary general said that the Kashmiris’ struggle was an indigenous mass movement and no one would be allowed to play with the sentiments of the people of Kashmir who have rendered matchless sacrifices during the past 21 years long resistance movement.

He maintained that secret-talks would not bring any change on ground saying that India should come forward with a positive mindset to get the dispute resolved peacefully. Instead of current-traditional rhetoric, he said that India should change its policy on Kashmir by taking into account the ground reality. 

Meanwhile, vice president of DFP Mehmood Ahmed Saghar has condemned in strong terms the use of brute force against innocent civilians by Indian troops. Terming it as violation of human rights he appealed the world HR bodies to take cognizance of Indian high-headedness.

Shah an asset for the peace loving people of the world: Lord Galloway

London, Mar 08: Renowned British parliamentarian and Anti war coalition leader MP. George Galloway while expressing serious concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Occupied Kashmir has shown complete solidarity with DFP chief Shabir Ahmed Shah saying that the incarcerated Hurriyat leader was an asset for peace loving people of the world.

The British parliamentarian made these remarks while talking to media men here on Tuesday. "Had Mr. Shah been born in the west he would have received Nobel Peace prize", he added.

A demonstration organized by Democratic Freedom Party UK Zone, Justice Foundation and the All Parties Kashmir Co-ordination Committee was also held in front of Marlborough House on Pall Mall in London today where members of the Commonwealth gathered to celebrate Commonwealth Day in the presence of Her Excellency Queen Elizabeth II.

On the occasion prominent political figures of the United Kingdom visited the site. Parliamentarian Lord Sheikh and his wife also participated in demonstration and showed concern about the health of Shabbir Ahmad Shah.

Carrying pictures of ailing senior Hurriyat leader Shabbir Ahmad Shah and banners with slogans calling for peace in Kashmir, the demonstrators urged the Commonwealth to play its pivotal role in mitigating the sufferings of Kashmiris. Besides highlighting the human rights situation they urged it to take appropriate measures to ensure safe release of senior Kashmiri leader and President of Democratic Freedom Party Shabbir Ahmad Shah.

Calling for an end to the human rights abuses in Kashmir the UK Kashmiri Diaspora demanded immediate release of political prisoners of Kashmir especially Shabbir Ahmad Shah who is detained illegally in Kathua jail in deteriorating health conditions despite the High Court release orders.

A memorandum was also presented to Queen Elizabeth II, wherein the British Kashmiris asked for empowerment of Kashmiris as the basic party to the dispute in any future dialogue. "The youth of Kashmir are getting more and more frustrated as they do not foresee a result oriented engagement and way forward.", the communiqué said.

Of those who spoke on the occasion included Advocate Ershad Malik, N. A Shawl and others. They said that in any composite dialogue on Kashmir, authentic voice of Kashmir should be integrated. Prospective Parliamentary candidate of Liberal Democrat Party Chaudhary Qurban said that world community should pay attention towards Kashmir dispute now. Renowned British kashmiris will take the issue of Shabbir Shah's deteriorating health with the foreign minister of United Kingdom Mr. David Milliband tomorrow in the House of Lords.

Shah detained under PSA, shifted to Kotbhalwal jail

Srinagar, July 05: The puppet authorities booked senior APHC leader and Chairman of Democratic Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmad Shah under draconian Public Safety Act (PSA), eighth time in a row and lodged him in Kotbhalwal Jail, Jammu.

The detained leader was shifted from Joint Interrogation Centre, Jammu, to Joint Interrogation Centre, Humhama, on June 30 and on July 2 he was lodged in Central Jail, Srinagar. However, on July 5, Shabbir Shah was shifted to Kotbhalwal jail and detained under PSA.

“The authorities at Srinagr Central Jail informed Shah that he has been booked under Public Safety Act and will be shifted to Kotbhalwal Jail, Jammu”, Dr Bilquees, wife of Shabbir Ahamd Shah, told media men. “Though we had insisted that he be shifted later as he was undergoing certain urine tests at Soura hospital, the authorities did not pay any heed to our pleas and shifted him to Kotbhalwal Jail, Jammu.”

Dr Bilquees said, “The medical tests of Shabbir Shah are still awaited. Even before he could have been bailed out in the fresh false cases lodged at Police Station, Srinagar, the authorities booked him under PSA. They even did not show us the grounds of detention,” she added.

She said that before seeking bail in the fresh FIR, they had asked for a police report, which had not, so far, been provided.

Shah who was in the central jail here on a nine day judicial remand on being brought back from the JIC, Jammu, on June 30, suffered a major deterioration in his health just within two days, and doctors from the SKIMS had advised him complete rest.

As a result of severe infection that had spread throughout his body Shah has become extremely weak physically.
“Flouting court orders, the authorities did not allow him any rest as advised by doctors, but shifted him to Kot Bhalwal jail in the dead of the night even though the judiciary had directed him into its own remand for nine days

Shabbir Shah is being accused of strengthening secessionist ideology in Kashmir and waging a war against Indian union.

Shah supports Eidgah Chalo call

Srinagar July 1: Extending full support to the “Quit Kashmir” movement, the Hurriyat Conference (M) senior leader and Democratic Freedom Party chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah has appealed to the people to participate in large numbers in Eidgah Chalo programme and make it a success.

Shah, while talking to reporters at Saddar Court here after his trial, also supported Hurriyat (G)’s proposal to limit Amarnath Yatra period to 15 days. He however maintained that in accordance with the principles of our religion Kashmiri Muslims have lent their full co-operation to Hindu pilgrimages.

In view of the present phase of the ongoing struggle Shah said that Hurriyat leadership should forge unity at all levels to take the movement to its logical end. "Burying their differences, the leadership must evolve a comprehensive strategy to lead the masses effectively”, he added.  
Reacting to the Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram’s statement, Shah termed it an attempt to associate the ongoing struggle with Lashkar-e-Toiba to justify the ‘civilian killings.’

Voicing serious concern over the spree of killings at the hands of Indian troops, Shah said that the policy of oppression could not deter Kashmiris from pursuing their national objective. About the issue of demilitarization Shah said, “When we talk about demilitarization it does not mean sending troops back to barracks but we want complete withdrawal of Indian troops from Jammu and Kashmir”.

Shah said that by terming AFSA a sacred document Indian Army chief has provided a legal justification to occupation forces to carry out genocide of Kashmiris . “As a result more than a dozen youth were ruthlessly killed by Indian troops across the valley”, he added.

About Quit Kashmir campaign he said that it was the same movement that was put up for sale by Omar Abdullah’s grand father Sheikh Abdullah for his petty interests.

Saghar condemns Abdullah Tari’s arrest

 

Islamabad, June 25: The convener of APHC-M Pak chapter and vice president of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Mehmood Ahmed Saghar has strongly condemned the arrest of party’s Acting Chairman, Muhammad Abdullah Tari and demanded his immediate release along with other Hurriyet leaders and activists.
In a press statement issued here today Saghar said that the arrest of political leaders amply demonstrate Indians tyrannical and dictatorial attitude towards Kashmiris. He said that resorting to pressure tactics India was trying to demoralize the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that despite India’s suppressive policies Kashmiris would never compromise on their basic and fundamental right the right to self-determination.

Saghar also voiced concern over the HR situation in Kashmir and urged India to stop what he called the bloodbath of innocent Kashmiris. He also appealed the international community to take notice of stepped up human rights violations in Kashmir and put pressure on India to resolve the long-standing Kashmir dispute in accordance with Kashmiris’ aspirations.

DFP condemns Abdullah Tari’s arrest

Srinagar, June 23 : The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has strongly condemned the arrest of party’s Acting Chairman, Muhammad Abdullah Tari and demanded his immediate release along with other Hurriyet leaders and activists.

The spokesman of Democratic Freedom Party in a statement issued in Srinagar said that the occupation authorities had kept party Chairman, Shabbir Ahmad Shah behind the bar for 26 years but couldn’t succeed to suppress his voice through use of brute force.

He said that the morale of the people of Jammu and Kashmir was very high and they would never compromise on their basic right to self-determinations for which they had been rendering sacrifices for last several decades. He said that the day was not far when the people of the occupied territory would get rid of Indian bondage.

The spokesman also appealed the international community to take notice of Indian state terrorism in occupied Kashmir and put pressure on India to resolve the long-standing Kashmir dispute in accordance with Kashmiris’ aspirations.

Intl community must be sensitized to play role to ensure Shah's release: Dr Chatterji

London, June 19: Delegates at a seminar held at Salt Hill Park, in UK has strongly condemned the unabated human rights violations by Indian troop in Kashmir and demanded immediate release illegally detained senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmed Shah and other political prisoners languishing in various jails in and out side Kashmir. Addressing the seminar organized by Justice Foundation the speakers voiced grave concern over the deteriorating human rights situation and demanded the international community to take cognizance of human rights abuses perpetrated by Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir.
While answering the queries raised by Ershad Malik in his speech, Angana Chertterji said, “It is the duty of all of us to contact, stimulate and persuade International Institutions and Human rights Organizations to make Mr Shabir Ahmad Shah’s release possible. We should double our efforts in this regard”.
Lord Ahmad while expressing his concerns on the continuous detention of President of Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party Mr Shabir Ahmad Shah said that India is a shameless country, we can’t believe that so called biggest democracy in the world does not honour the orders of her own courts in Mr Shah’s cases. We should involve student organizations and International lobbies to build pressure on Indian Government to release our Kashmiri Nelson Mandela.
Besides noted philanthropist the seminar was attended by Professor Richard Shepiro of California Institute of Integral Studies, Lord Ahmad Chairman Kashmir Committee in British Parliament, Professor Anshol Director Kashmir Centre London and Ershad Malik London based Kashmiri Solicitor and representatives of Democratic Freedom Party in UK and Europe.
Political and Human right activists, students and representatives of Kashmiri Diaspora from various cities of United Kingdom also participated in this seminar.

  Tari hails release of NF chief
Srinagar, May 27: Expressing satisfaction over the release of National Front Chief, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, the acting president of DFP M Abdullah Tari has said that India’s decision to release the detained Hurriyat leaders shows India’s willingness to associate Hurriyat leadership with the dialogue process as a principle party to the dispute.

Tari hailed the efforts being made to resolve the dispute of Kashmir and hoped that India would take appropriate measures to safeguard the future of millions of people living in South Asia thereby resolving the long simmering dispute of Kashmiris.