State Mourning in Azad Kashmir on Killing of Hostages in Iraq
By Altaf Hamid Rao - Pakistan Times Kashmir Bureau Chief

MIRPUR (AJK): A State mourning was observed throughout Azad Jammu Kashmir to express deep sense of shock and grief over the gruesome killing of two innocent AJK-born Pakistani hostages by the abductors in Iraq on Friday.

Flag at Half-mast

The national flag of Pakistan with the ensign of Azad Kashmir flew at half mast as a mark of tribute, homage and respect to the departed souls of Raja Azad and Sajid Naeem, who hailed from Rawalakot in Azad Kashmir, at every place in the liberated territory.

Protest demonstrations followed by rallies and processions in all small and major towns including the district headquarters of Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bagh, Bhimbher, Palandri and their ancestral town Rawalkot were the hallmark of the day.

Deep Grief

Ever since, the assassination of the two illustrious sons of the soil by the cluster of militants in Iraq, the entire Azad Kashmir fell into deep grief over this brutal act of violence and terrorism with an outright vow to keep supporting the global fight against terrorism.

People termed the killing of Raja Azad and Sajid Naeem as a blatant and awful act against humanity and a total negation of the teachings of Islam, which forbid such gruesome actions and instead call for affection, respect, fairness and affinity among all, irrespective of ones cast or color, creed or gender to uphold the moral values by all perceptions.

How can these wicked militants claim to be a limb of Islam by putting their own brethren to death in a horrific way, people remarked by adding; 'these hideous elements, the extremists are, in fact inhuman and shall be punished in an exemplary way in this world and hereafter.'

In Mirpur, the shocked people from all walks of life thronged into the streets to condemn the killing of the two innocent Pakistani hostages. Protest demonstration took place with attendance by the members of the business community, lawyers, journalists, laborers, students as well as social and political workers. w

Holding banners, the procession marched through the city streets shouting slogans against the international terrorism.

Condolence Moot

The procession turned into the condolence meeting on this occasion. Addressing the condolence gathering speakers vehemently condemned the killing of Raja Azad and Sajid Naeem describing it an act of sheer violence and terrorism and violent attack on the innocent humanity. They supported the global war against the international terrorism and the role of Pakistan joining this crusade to eliminate terrorism in its all forms and manifestations.

The Speakers said that it is the most cowardly act on the part of the nasty killers against the innocent Pakistani hostages. “The martyrdom of Azad and Naeem is the killing of the entire humanity and a big challenge for those global forces fighting against the international terrorism”, they declared.

Speaker further said that he people of Jammu and Kashmir have not ever taken any step against the freedom and independence of Iraq. "Rather the Kashmiri have always supported the suppressed nation of the entire world side by side their freedom and the right of self determination", they added.

Resolution

Through a resolution, the condolence public meeting strongly condemned the killing of the two innocent Pakistanis and expressed deep sense of shock and grief over the brutal assassination of the two citizens of Azad Kashmir.

The resolution demanded of the government of Pakistan to make early arrangement for shifting of the bodies of the two victims of the global terrorism from Iraq to their ancestral town for burial.

JI holds Protest Demo in Multan

'Pakistan Times' Multan Bureau adds; Jamat Islami Multan Friday staged a protest demonstration against the killing of two Pakistani hostages in Iraq.

The protest demonstration was led by JI Naib Ameer Multan Dr. Hafeez Anwar.

The demonstrators were holding placards and raising slogans in favour of Iraqi people and against the USA. Local JI leaders addressed the gathering and later demonstrators dispersed peacefully.●