SRINAGAR: Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Saturday observed the 21st foundation day of the pro-freedom amalgam and reiterated to carry forward the struggle for Kashmiris right to self-determination “inspite of difficulties and hardships.”
In a statement, the amalgam spokesman said that “a special joint session of its Executive Council, General Council and Working Committee was held at its Rajbagh Head Quarters with Mirwaiz in chair.
All the heads of the constituents of participated in the session which included Professor Abdul Gani Butt, Moulana Abass Ansari, Bilal Gani Lone, Agha Syed Mujtaba Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi, Mohammad Musadiq Adil, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Political Advisor Advocate Abdul Majid Banday, Media Advisor Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Syed Saleem Geelani, Abdul Manan Bukhari, Er. Hilal Ahmad War, Hakeem Abdul Rasheed, Chowdary Shaheen Iqbal, Syed Bashir Andrabi, Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, Abdul Qayoom (National Front), Ghulam Mohammad Sankar, Ghulam Mohammad Nagoo, Abdul Rasheed Antu, Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Ghulam Nabi Najar and Jaffar Kashmiri, the statement said.
The statement said that while “referring to March 8, 1993, the speakers in the joint session stated that on the said date, the representative assembly of various religious, social and political organizations of Kashmir in a special meeting held at historic Mirwaiz Manzil Srinagar under the chairmanship of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq decided to have a common political platform under the name of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference with an objective to carry forward struggle to secure for the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir the exercise of the right of self determination and also to make endeavors for an alternative negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute amongst all the three parties to the dispute viz. people of the state Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan.”
According to the statement, the heads of various constituents of the conglomerate expressed their views and suggestions to make Hurriyat more vibrant and to make its efforts for the resolution of Kashmir issue more effective and result oriented.
“It was stated that right from the day of its foundation, Hurriyat Conference has engaged in political and diplomatic struggle, both at local as well as international level, to try and find a peaceful, just and permanent solution to long pending Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir and is making every possible effort in this direction,” the statement said.
The meeting also adopted various resolutions stating that Hurriyat Conference was “a symbol of the unity and political solidarity of freedom-loving people of Jammu and Kashmir which in accordance with its constitutional stand is pursuing the cause of Kashmiri people at all levels including international level, with dedication and discipline and inspite of all the difficulties continue its efforts to find a just honorable and permanent solution of Kashmir issue.”
“The amalgam once again reiterated “that this representative alliance will continue its efforts to achieve the purpose for which it has been formed and made it profoundly clear that abiding by the principles as laid down in its constitution, it will continue its just struggle with full discipline and determination,” the statement said.
The resolution adopted by the joint session also said that “Hurriyat Conference has always been for the unity of thought and action; it has always kept and continues to keep its doors open for any sincere person or group belonging to the resistance movement.”
The amalgam also paid tributes to “all those who laid down their lives for the cause during the ongoing movement which include Shaheed-e-Milat Moulana Mohammad Farooq, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat Khawja Abdul Gani Lone, Shaheed-e-Azeemat Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Shaheed S. Hameed, Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, Shaheed Afzal Guru, Shaheed Mohammad Rafiq Shaheen and all other martyrs of the movement.”
The amalgam, according to the statement, also pledged that being the custodian of the blood of martyrs, it will continue its struggle to carry forward the mission of martyrs to its logical end inspite of all difficulties to find a just and lasting solution of Kashmir issue.
According to the statement, the meeting also resolved that “Hurriyat Conference considers the steadfastness and commitment towards the movement unavoidable for the success in the purpose and while adhering to its constitution stand firmly it will continue the struggle with full determination and also expects from Kashmiri nation that keeping in view the priceless sacrifices offered for the movement the people will continue as always their commitment and support towards the cause.”
The pro-freedom conglomerate further said that it “has always been for better relations between Pakistan and India and feels that a just solution of Kashmir issue is not only in the best interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also the entire population of the Sub-continent.”
It also said that while supporting a meaningful dialogue among all the three parties Hurriyat, however considers that without the actual participation of Kashmiris and without respecting the wishes and the sacrifices offered by them no dialogue process is going to bear fruit.”
The amalgam also expressed concern over the health of the Syed Ali Geelani, who heads parallel Hurriyat faction, and prayed for his speedy recovery.

Reader correspondent