Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chief cleric of Kashmir, who came back from New Delhi after NIA questioned him for three days, said that the leadership of Kashmir will not change their stance because of force.
Mirwaiz, who is also the Chairman of Hurriyat (M), during his Friday sermon at the historic Jamia Masjid said, “Our stand is based on truth. We won’t change it because of the use of force as it represents the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said that the leadership of India, Pakistan and Kashmir have to resolve the issue.
“Elections will continue to be held and governments will come and go but Kashmir issue will remain there till it is not resolved,” said the Mirwaiz.
At Jamia,draw my strength from faith in almighty and prayers and support of people.The pulpit of Jamia will always provide religious guidance and raise the people’s strong voice for resolution of the lingering Kashmir issue. Its the best guarantee of lasting peace in the region. pic.twitter.com/DBm5dTBP2W
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) April 12, 2019
He said that the armed forces and the people of Kashmir are getting consumed in Kashmir conflict and that the government of India was not taking any initiative to resolve this issue.
On Thursday afternoon, Mirwaiz arrived back in Srinagar after spending three days at the headquarters of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi.
Mirwaiz flew to New Delhi last week after being summoned by NIA in an alleged funding case. Earlier JKLF Chief Yasin Malik was sent to NIA custody till April 22.
The NIA has also summoned Naseem Geelani, son of Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
After reaching Delhi, Mirwaiz had appealed to all the people back home to stay calm and assured that the Hurriyat leadership will continue to seek political resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Last week, the NIA issued a third summon to Mirwaiz to appear for questioning in the case. Mirwaiz had earlier refused to travel to Delhi citing security concerns.
The chief cleric of Kashmir also added that Kashmiri will continue to seek peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute.
Earlier, Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani said that if NIA wants to question anyone, they can do it in the valley itself.
Many people from Kashmir including resistance leaders have already been arrested by the NIA in connection with the case and have been lodged in Tihar jail in Delhi.
In May, 2018, after the court hearings of Kashmiris booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 and money laundering offences by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, a Delhi High Court administrative order had transferred the case from the court of Additional Sessions Judge Justice Tarun Sehrawat to District and Sessions Judge (DSJ) Poonam A Bamba.
The families of the incarcerated Hurriyat leaders feel that with the transfer, the case status is back a square one.
In September, Independent Jammu and Kashmir MLA, Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, popularly known as Engineer Rasheed, was summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), for questioning in a case related to the “funding of terror activities” in the Valley, officials said on Thursday.
In October, United Jihad Council Chief Syed Salahuddin’s son Shahid Yousuf was sent to a seven day NIA custody by a court in New Delhi.
Yousuf was arrested by the NIA and being accused of receiving money from his father in 2011.
On November 1, judicial remand of Dukhtaran-e-Millat chairperson Asiya Andrabi, its secretary general Nahida Nasreen and its spokesperson Fahmeeda Sofi which ended was extended.
NIA also raided the house of a prominent businessman in Lal Bazaar area of Srinagar.
The alleged terror funding case involves Altaf Ahmad Shah, alias Altaf Fantosh, son-in-law of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali and photojournalist Kamran Yusuf along with nine other accused.
Kamran Yousuf has been given bail, along with one other accused, Javed Bhat, due to lack of evidences.
