Rawalakot (Pakistan-occupied J&K), June 30: Anger is mounting across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) tonight after the arrest of top Kashmiri leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir, who has been leading the ongoing agitation against the oppression being committed on locals by the occupying forces.
Mir was arrested to prevent him from reaching Rawalakot, which has become the epicentre of the nearly month-old mass uprising against Pakistan.
People in lakhs, from all over POJK, have been holding a dharna in Rawalakot since June 7, the day Pakistani forces killed and injured over 200 Kashmiris in the most brutal violent crackdown.
According to reports, even while arresting Mir who had been evasive for weeks, the Pakistani forces indulged in brutality, including firing of hundreds of rounds of bullets.
“Shaukat Nawaz Mir has been arrested but not the movement,” said the J&K Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) which he leads.
As soon as the news of his arrest spread, anger mounted at the dharna site as well as rest of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with Kashmiris vowing to make it the final fight against Pakistan.
“Had Shaukat Nawaz Mir reached the sit-in, the morale of the people would have increased manifold, the spirit would have been higher, the number of people would have increased and a new energy would have been created everywhere…
“Unfortunately, while trying to reach the sit-in, he was arrested due to an operation by the intelligence or police and other institutions (of Pakistan)…
“But everyone should remember one thing..People’s movements do not run with the support of a single individual…This is not only Shaukat Nawaz Mir’s movement nor just that of the core members…This is the movement of the entire people,” the Awami Action Committee said in a post on X.
“Shaukat Nawaz Mir is our leader and will always remain a leader, but he himself has taught us this lesson that a movement is more important than leadership and its objectives are more important than a movement,” it said.
“He has shown us the way. Now it is the responsibility of the people to follow this path…No one arrest should dampen the morale or stop the steps.
“Today, we are stronger than ever and more than ever. It is time to unite and come out in larger numbers than before… In such a struggle, there are arrests, raids, prisons and sacrifices have to be made… This has been the history of every people’s movement…
“We are sure that Shaukat Nawaz Mir will soon be among the people again. And until then, the people will be his courage, will be his voice and will carry forward his mission… God willing, this movement will not be weakened by any arrest, but will emerge stronger than before… Ultimately, victory will be for the people.
“And defeat will be for the system of oppression, arrogance and exploitation.”
Earlier, in the day, speakers addressing the dharna repeatedly emphasised that “Kashmir is not part of Pakistan”, evoking loud cheers from the assembled people. (NVI)
