JAMMU: The 42 year Shabir Ahmed Shah, who has been described by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience,” was released from the Jammu Central Jail Oct.14 after being in prison for 1,840 days, the longest Spell of detention, any Kashmir separatist leader has undergone.

A large number of men and ‘Women, cutting across community affiliation, greeted the People’s League supremo when he stepped out of the jail amid ‘Slogans of “Shabir Shah Shehanshah (emperor). Nelson Mandela of Kashmir zindabad.” Shih was profusely garlanded and his supporters carried him on their shoulders to enable the people to have a glimpse. Shah shouted, “We Want freedom” before boarding an open jeep.

He was carried in a procession from the jail to a hotel, where he would be staying for a couple of days before leaving for Srinagar, and the caravan finished the 2km distance in two hours, The route of the procession had to be diverted twice following threats of disruption of the march by of groups of local youth, In front of the hotel Shah’s supporters shouted antipolice slogans when the precisionists were not allowed to march to the City Chowk for holding a public meeting in view of the tension in the area.

The police had to raise a human ‘wall to prevent the caravan of cars from moving forward from the hotel. Shah’s close associate, Nayeem Khan, tried to persuade the police but when he failed, Touder slogans against the police were shouted. It was ultimately Shah who intervened and ‘said he be allowed to march up to the Dak Bungalow where he would address his followers.

Government circles said that Shah’s release was part of the state administration’s program of initiating the political process in Kashmir, In this connection, the JKLF chief, Yasin Malik, Islamic Students League chief, Shakeel Bakshi, who accompanied Shabir Shah Friday, Syed Ali Shah Geelani of JamaatiIslami and Abdul Gani Lone of the Peoples” Conference have already been released in recent weeks.

Addressing people in front of the Dak Bungalow, Shabir Shah described the government’s move for holding the assembly poll as a futile exercise. He called for the grant of right of self-determination for the people of the state so that they could shape their future as per their choice.

“If New Delhi or Islamabad tries to thrust any solution on us, it will have serious repercussions, for it is the question of 1.25 crore people of the undivided that of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that talks of political process was 1idiculous and the only solution to the Kashmir imbroglio was to allow the people to have their way in the matter, He said he would try to unite all militant groups and political leaders so that a strong movement was built for the freedom of Kashmir.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 21, 1994

 

Article extracted from this publication >>