Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Apr 24: An All Party Meeting (APM) chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here on Thursday termed the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead as barbaric and inhuman, the meeting also supported the steps taken by the Centre in response to the carnage and paid rich tributes to martyr Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a local horse ride operator, who was killed while attempting to fight off terrorists to save tourists.
After the meeting ended, the Chief Minister, while addressing a news conference here said, “Unanimous resolution was passed to denounce the deadly attack and expressing solidarity with the families of the victims. The resolution also reiterated J&K’s commitment to peace and communal harmony.”
The resolution, Omar said, described the April 22 attack on unarmed civilians as “barbaric” and an “attack on the values of Kashmiriyat and the idea of India”.
“The participants strongly denounced the attack on defenceless civilians and expressed their shock and agony. Such cowardly acts of brutality have no place in society and are a direct attack on the region’s traditions of unity and harmony,” the Chief Minister said. “The leaders pledged full support for all efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and affirmed that no act of terror could weaken their resolve.”
Participants, the Chief Minister said, also expressed support for the steps taken by the Union Government in response to the attack.
It’s in place to mention here that India on Wednesday downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced a raft of measures including expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the Pahalgam carnage.
The punitive measures against Pakistan were decided at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Omar said that during the all party meeting special tributes were paid to Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a local horse ride operator who was killed while attempting to fight off terrorists to save tourists. “The resolution hailed him as a symbol of Kashmiriyat and Kashmir’s hospitality. His bravery would remain an inspiration for all,” he said, adding that the resolution also extended deepest condolences to the families of the victims and expressed solidarity with them. “It also commended J&K people for their overwhelming support to tourists and for organising peaceful demonstrations across the region to condemn the attack,” the Chief Minister said.
Expressing concern over the safety of Kashmiri students and citizens outside the Union Territory, the resolution made an earnest appeal to all state governments and Union Territories to ensure their protection.
It urged authorities to prevent any form of harassment, discrimination, or intimidation against Kashmiris residing or traveling outside J&K.
The meeting called upon political parties, religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organizations, and the media to maintain calm and resist any attempts to disrupt harmony.
It emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to ensure the prosperity and stability of Jammu & Kashmir.
The all-party meeting was attended by leaders including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, NC President Farooq Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, several ministers, Members of Parliament, former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress leaders Tariq Hameed Karra and Nizamuddin Bhat, CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami, Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone, PDP leaders Mehboob Beigh and Basharat Bukhari, Apni Party president Syed Altaf Bukhari, and BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur, and others.
