Civil society event highlights Kashmiris’ plight

Srinagar, September 08, 2013 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the plight of Kashmiris was highlighted in an event, Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir, organised by the civil society at the Municipal Park in Srinagar.

An emotional play staged by two young boys made all eyes wet. The play reminded the participants about tragedies inflicted on the people of Kashmir over the past 22 years including custodial disappearances, unmarked graves, fake encounters and much more.

The event started with emotional couplets of a poem written by Zareef Ahmed Zareef. The poems and songs of resilience and sufferings added colour to the event as participants raised pro-freedom slogans. The major attraction of the show was a play that shook hundreds of participants of the event making them weep.

The play was staged by two young boys, one acting as an elderly person while another one in his teens. In the play, an elderly person, who was carrying a bag full of letters, claimed that he was on a journey while the young boy tried his best to inquire what the journey was all about. Finally, the elderly man tells the boy “he was a witness to something”.

Leaving the bag full of letters with the boy for a while, the curious boy started bringing out the letters one by one. “I am waiting for you day in and out. I am your mother. It has been ages since I saw you,” the first letter read. The second letter reminded people of fake encounters while the third one was about a grave digger, who has buried dozens of people in unmarked graves.”

The entire park erupted with shrieks and cries when the young boy refused to return the bag to the elderly man. “I won’t return this, now it’s my property,” he said before closing the play.

“Kashmir is full of tragedies and we all are witness to it,” said Muhammad Iqbal, whose brother is missing since 1995. “I couldn’t stop tears as the play was very powerful and based on real things.” A group of women along with their children could be seen crying even after the play ended while the youth raised high-pitched pro-freedom slogans.

Two young boys, Saif and Fahad, enthralled the participants by singing resistance song ‘Resistance is our choice, it’s going to make some noise.’

Another play staged by three youth depicted a situation where they are tied and a fire in between them. The play was explained by Shafaqat Nazir, a lawyer, who was moderating the concert. “This shows that tough times won’t last. Time will come soon when Kashmir dispute would be resolved,” he said.

The APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq made a sudden appearance in the event in the afternoon. He saw all the pictures depicting atrocities by Indian forces that were put on display in the park.

Talking to reporters, the Mirwaiz said that no one was against the cultural programmes, but Zubin Mehta’s concert at Shalimar Garden was loaded with a political agenda. It is unfortunate that strict curbs had been put in place in Srinagar. The spokesman of the forum patronised by the veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, Ayaz Akbar, and human rights activist, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo also attended the event.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736