SrinagarJuly 17
: State authorities Friday prevented worshippers from offering congregational prayers for the third consecutive week in the historic Jamia Masjid and other Masjids of the capital city.
Reports and eyewitnesses said that like past two weeks, Jamia Masjid, in the heart of the old city remained out of bounds for the worshippers due to imposition of curfew by the state administration to thwart the proposed ‘Batmaloo chalo’ march called by Hurriyat Conference (G).
CRPF troops and policemen armed with riot gear and sophisticated weapons, enforced strict curfew in Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara, Hawal, Saraf Kadal, Nawa Kadal, Kawdara, Safa Kadal, Nawab Bazar, Fateh Kadal, Zaina Kadal and other parts of the old city.
Nowhatta, housing the historic Jamia Masjid, was sealed off by troops and policemen from all the sides.
All roads leading to the old city were sealed by CRPF troops and police with barricades and razor wire. At many places, forces have deployed armored vehicle to restrict the movement of civilians.
“CRPF and police have sealed lanes and by lanes with barbed wire. They don’t allow people to move out of their houses,” a caller identifying himself as Parvez Ahmad of Khwaja Bazar said.
“We were not even allowed to offer Friday prayers at Jamia. he added.
Similar restrictions forced the worshippers to stay indoors in other areas of the city. No prayers were offered in almost all the Masjid’s situated at the main roads or highways. Friday prayers, however, were offered in interior parts of the capital city
Hurriyat (G) issues fresh protest calendar
Relaxation in strike till 2 pm today
Srinagar July 17:
Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani Friday issued a fresh protest program for next nine days
As per the new calendar, there is relaxation till 2 pm in the strike tomorrow while as it urged students to stage protest demonstrations across the valley to express solidarity with fellow colleagues who were killed recently.
“There will be a deal (relaxation) till 2 pm tomorrow so that people could enquire about the relatives while all students including those in universities, colleges and the schools are urged to stage peaceful protests to express solidarity with the fellow colleagues who were killed’ recently a spokesman of the amalgam, Peer Saifullah announced at a Friday gathering at Galwanpora, Hyderpora here,
On Sunday, he said, a complete shutdown will be observed against “atrocities.” “On the day, people are urged to raise protest five times after every prayer.”
“On Monday, leaders of employees union are requested to registered their protest,” he said, adding, “On Tuesday, protests would be staged against detention of youth and leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Mian Abdul Qayoom, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Aiyaz Akhbar and others. By these protests, people will express solidarity with the detainees,” he added.
“On Wednesday and Thursday, the people are urged to stage sit-in on roads in their respective localities,” he said, “On July 16, Friday, people are appealed to march towards respective district headquarters and stage protest.”
“For people in Srinagar, Khanqah in old city has been designated as headquarter and people are appealed to protest there while for other district, it would be central Jamia Masjids like Beerwah for Budgam, Duderhama for Ganderbal,” he added.
On Saturday (July 24), he said, Lawyers and “medicos including doctors are requested to stage protests.” There will be complete relaxtion on Sunday (July 25), he addedSmall gathering in Hazratbal on Mehraj festival
Srinagar 17 july:
As curfew was re-imposed in most parts of the Srinagar, the rush of the devotees remained on low ebb from many thousands to just few thousand at Hazratbal Shrine on Friday following Mehraj-ul-Alam.
Official sources said that only around five to six thousand men and women thronged Asar-e-Sharief Hazratbal, throughout the day to have glimpses of the Holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), displayed after every prayer at the Shrine.
As per a rough estimate, around four thousand converged at the shrine on Friday prayers and included people put up in the vicinity of the shrine, located in outskirts of the Srinagar. In February this year, around one lakh devotees had converged at the historic Hazratbal shrine on Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi (SAW) festivities.
Although the gathering was small, devotees were seen folding their hands for divine help while some had tears trickling down their faces, as they prayed to have their wishes fulfilled on the occasion.
During the prayers Imam (cleric) of Hazratbal, Bashir-udin Farooqi highlighted the various aspects of the Shab-e-Meraj (anniversary of the night-time ascension of the Prophet (SAW) to heaven).
Reports of Meiraj-ul-Alam celebrations were received from all across the valley including Jenab Sahib Soura, Asar-i-Sharief Shehri Kalashpora, Ka’aba Marg, Asar-i-Sharief, Baramulla, Aham Sharief, Bandipora and other places. However, the rush of the devotees remained on low ebb. They said only those devotees neighboring the shrines could offer the prayers
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Indo-Pak talks failure due to Kashmir: Mirwaiz
Srinagar july 17:
On a day when Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said India wasn’t prepared for the dialogue with Imamabad, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Friday said the reason for the deadlock in talks between the two countries was discussing “trivial” issues while ignoring the core issue of Kashmir..
“Talks would be meaningless unless India does not resolve the Kashmir issue by engaging Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership in a meaningful dialogue. Unfortunately India’s approach has always been negative whenever it holds talks with either Pakistan or Kashmiris . Instead of resolving the Kashmir dispute, India has always tried to elongate it,” Mirwaiz said.
In a statement issued here, Mirwaiz rejected the Indian external minister SM Khrishna’s statement that Kashmir was India’s internal issue. “Kashmir issue is an internationally accepted dispute and both Pakistan and Kashmiris were parties to it,” Mirwaz, who continues to be under house arrest, said.
The Hurriyat Chairman also condemned the restrictions imposed by the authorities on Friday prayers in the historical Jamia Masjid for the third consecutive week while terming the restrictions on people on allowing Friday prayers at other major mosques today as the government’s “anti-people” policy. He expressed serious concern over the arrest of youth and urged people to continue staging peaceful protests in accordance with the Hurriyat programme.
Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Hurriyat faction while condemning the arrest and house arrest of several Hurriyat leaders said people in large numbers participated in peaceful sit in demonstrations today in |Handawara, Sopore, Kupwara, Manasbal, Safapora, Pampore and other areas of Valley--
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