Mirpur: Senior Hurriyat leader and Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement, Altaf Ahmed Bhat, has said that Burhan Muzaffar Wani's martyrdom marked a turning point in the Kashmiri struggle for freedom, sparking a movement of hope, resilience, and global attention. 'He used his voice, not violence, to make the world listen,' Bhat told a gathering in Mirpur commemorating Burhan's 9th martyrdom anniversary. 'He showed that this struggle is not terrorism-it is a cry for justice rooted in international law.'

Organized by 1990 refugee families, the event was attended by senior Hurriyat figures, lawyers, civil society members, and journalists, where speakers paid rich tribute to Burhan Wani and all those who laid down their lives for Kashmir's freedom.

Senior Hurriyat leader Malik Aslam, who also addressed the gathering, said that Burhan Wani's sacrifice has immortalized him in the hearts of the Kashmiri people. 'He was not just a symbol of resistance, but a reflection of every young Kashmiri's yearning for dignity and freedom.' Malik Aslam emphasized that the movement will persist peacefully until justice is achieved.

Altaf Ahmed Bhat voiced serious alarm over the health conditions of Kashmiri political detainees in Indian jails, accusing the Indian government of turning prisons into tools of slow execution.

'Shabir Shah is battling cancer; Yasin Malik is isolated in solitary confinement; Asiya Andrabi is suffering from chronic illness; Zaffar Akbar Bhat, who had a brain hemorrhage, is being denied medical monitoring; and Dr. Abdul Hameed Fayyaz remains ill and unattended behind bars.'

Bhat described the custodial deaths of Ashraf Sehrai and Altaf Fantoush as not accidental but premeditated, saying:

'Denying treatment until death is a form of silent assassination. India is trying to erase resistance-not in the streets, but in prison cells.'

Referring to the May 2025 cross-border flare-up between India and Pakistan, Altaf Bhat urged restraint from both sides:

'After the recent skirmishes, maintaining the ceasefire along the Line of Control is essential-not only to prevent loss of innocent life, but to create space for political and diplomatic efforts to move forward.'

He called on the Government of Pakistan to intensify its global diplomatic outreach for Kashmir, emphasizing that such efforts must include delegations representing both Azad Kashmir and Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

'Those who have lived through the pain and seen it firsthand must be part of the voice being taken to global platforms.'

Bhat also urged the Kashmiri diaspora around the world to step up international lobbying, media advocacy, and awareness campaigns:

'The sons and daughters of the soil living abroad must act as ambassadors of truth. Whether in Washington, London, Istanbul, or Riyadh-they must keep Kashmir alive on the global conscience.'

On the plight of displaced families from IIOJK, Altaf Ahmed Bhat stressed the urgent need for comprehensive rehabilitation and recognition:

'Many families forced to flee decades ago are still living in uncertainty and poverty. Azad Kashmir and Pakistan must ensure they are supported with dignity. They should never feel abandoned.'

He also reiterated his demand that relief be provided to the families of martyrs in Poonch, Rajouri, and other conflict-hit areas in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Bhat ended his address by extending heartfelt appreciation to the Pakistan Armed Forces for their unwavering support of the Kashmir cause:

'They have defended our right to exist with honor. The bravery and commitment of our military give hope to every Kashmiri.'

Altaf Ahmed Bhat urged immediate medical relief and unconditional release of ailing Kashmiri detainees languishing in Indian jails.

He said continued detention without treatment amounts to slow, systematic execution and violates every norm of international humanitarian law.