In Occupied Kashmir, life remained paralyzed on Friday, due to the complete shutdown on the fifth martyrdom anniversary of Kashmiri leader, Muhammad Afzal Guru.

According to Kashmir Media Service, call for the shutdown was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. All shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed while traffic was off the road.

India had executed Muhammad Afzal Guru in Tihar jail on this day in 2013 and another prominent Kashmiri leader, Muhammad Maqbool Butt in the same jail on 11th February in 1984. The bodies of the two martyrs remain buried in the premises of the jail.

Meanwhile, despite severe restrictions, hundreds of people including Hurriyet leaders visited the ancestral house of Muhammad Afzal Guru at Doabgah in Sopore and participated in a condolence reference.

Hurriyet leaders and organizations in their statements eulogized the sacrifices and contribution of Muhammad Maqbool Butt and Muhammad Afzal Guru in the ongoing freedom movement. They said that executions, killings, arrests, curfews, restrictions and other repressive measures could not stop the Kashmiri people from pursuing their just cause of freedom.

The 5th martyrdom anniversary of Kashmiri Hurriyet leader Muhammad Afzal Guru was observed on both sides of LoC with a renewed pledge to step up struggle for liberation of Occupied Kashmir.

Rallies were taken out and functions held in different districts across AJK to mark the day.

In a function held at Central Press Club Muzaffarabad, the Speakers paid glowing tributes to martyred liberation leader Afzal Guru and vowed to support Kashmiris in their just right to self-determination.

Later, a rally was taken out from press club to Burhan Muzaffar Wani chowk. The participants of the rally chanted anti-India and pro Pakistan and liberation slogans.