Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a prominent intellectual and liberal leader, Ghulam Abbas in Kotli district of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)on Monday morning.
According to his relatives, Abbas had come to perform the last rites of his father from Canada. On Monday, around 4 in the morning, armed men rang the doorbell of his house and when he opened the door, he was shot dead.
According to local sources, those who speak of unity and true independence of Kashmir are always targeted by Pakistani intelligence agencies. Abbas’ continuous struggle for independence for the people of PoJK Gilgit-Baltistan is well-known.
Activist and friend of Abbas wrote on Twitter: “Dr Ghulam Abbas was killed because he challenged the Pakistani narrative on Jammu and Kashmir.”
Dr Ghulam Abbas was killed because he challenged the Pakistani narrative on Jammu and Kashmir.https://t.co/GQJUOYJr7d
— Dr Shabir Choudhry (@Drshabir) June 22, 2021
Another activist tweeted that Abbas has been martyred in Kotli. He was the champion of religious harmony and unity in Jammu and Kashmir. He is martyred to stop the Reunification Movement in Jammu and Kashmir. We condemn his martyrdom and demand arrest of his killers.
Dr Ghulam Abbas is martyred in Kotli. He was the champion of religious harmony and unity in Jammu and Kashmir. He is martyred to stop the Reunification Movement in Jammu and Kashmir. We condemn his martyrdom and demand arrest of his killers.
Sameena Rana – J&k pic.twitter.com/VGgf3WW3Kk— Sameena Raja – J&K (@SamRaja21700228) June 21, 2021
Another Twitter user from Kotli of POK, wrote: “Dr. Ghulam Abbas, an intellectual and patriot, was assassinated by unknown. Who are these unknown? From Arif Shahid to Dr Ghulam Abbas, killings continue but unknown.”
Kotli AJK
Dr. Ghulam Abbas, an intellectual and patriot, was assassinated by unknown. Who are these unknown ? From Arif Shahid to Dr Ghulam Abbas, killings continue but unknown. pic.twitter.com/PmhLnfkkyL— Habib (@RajaHabib3) June 21, 2021
Another user shared the picture of Ghulam Abbas with a picture of former Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulab Singh. “Pro India Kashmiri peaceful activist Dr. Ghulam Abbas who was resident of Kotli, Pakistan occupied #Kashmir has been murdered yesterday at his home in Kotli. He was a peace promoter b/w different religion and was also critic of Pak army illegal annexation of Kashmir.”
Pro India Kashmiri peaceful activist Dr. Ghulam Abbas who was resident of Kotli, Pakistan occupied #Kashmir has been murdered yesterday at his home in Kotli. He was a peace promoter b/w different religions and was also critic of Pak army illegal annexation of Kashmir pic.twitter.com/P3lHMbTqr1
— Md Aasif Khan (@MdAasif1001) June 22, 2021
The United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) has strongly condemned the indiscriminate killing of Dr Ghulam Abbas, a prominent nationalist political activist and interfaith activist in Kotli district of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, reports ANI.
In a statement, UKPNP accused the Pakistan government of torture of those who are fighting for the restoration of the unity of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Our Party believes that political activists, intellectuals and journalists who have been fighting peacefully for a long time are being tortured and especially those who are peacefully fighting for the restoration of the unity of the state of Jammu and Kashmir," the statement said.
"All over the world, the peace-loving activists are appreciated by political fraternity and human rights Organisations, but Pakistan's elite seeks to silence them as foreign agents in pursuit of their specific and strategic designs," it added.
The party has called on the local administration to immediately arrest his killers and bring them to justice. (With Inputs from ANI)
