Kashmiris Don't Depend on Pakistan: Hardline Separatist Leader

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, July 2: The hardline Kashmiri separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday asserted that people of Kashmir don't depend on Pakistan to carry forward their struggle for freedom.

Addressing media a day after the pro-Indian Kashmiri government revoked the order of transferring 40 acres of forest land to the Hindu religious board, the hardline Kashmiri separatist leader termed the revocation of land transfer as victory to the people of Kashmir.

He asked people to thank Almighty for the victory.

Geelani, pro-Pakistani Kashmiri leader, lashed at the Pakistan government for maintaining criminal silence over the land transfer issue. "The Pakistani government and media did not highlight the issue," he said.

The hardline Kashmiri leader said that the nine-day long successful agitation has proved that the Kashmiri movement for freedom is indigenous.

Taking a dig at Pakistan, Geelani said, "We don't need Pakistan's support. Ours is an indigenous movement and we will ourselves take it to the logical conclusion".

"We are not taking dictates from anybody and nor would we allow it," he added.

Terming the bursting of firecrackers to celebrate the cancellation of the land order as un-Islamic, he said that people should offer special thanks giving prayers in the mosques.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

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