In occupied Kashmir, senior APHC leader and the Chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, has strongly condemned the arrest of Hurriyat leaders, activists and youth ahead of the Gaw Kadal massacre anniversary and India’s Republic Day (26th January).

Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, who is under house arrest, in a statement issued in Srinagar, termed the arrest and harassment of Hurriyat leaders and activists as the worst form of state terrorism. He said that such undemocratic acts and intimidation would not be able to prevent the pro-freedom leadership and masses from speaking the truth and to carry forward the ongoing freedom movement.

Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai denouncing the unjustified restrictions over political activities of the resistance leader said that instead of facing the pro-freedom leadership on political turf, the occupation authorities preferred and believed in intimidation, detention and harassment. Such an attitude on part of the administration, he said, is the basic reason for prevailing gloomy situation and uncertainty in the territory. He asked the authorities to set free all resistance leaders and activists, face them on political turf, lift all restrictions and allow them to propagate their view to the people of the territory.