Independent Kashmir Ideologue Amanullah Khan Dead

SRINAGAR:  Veteran Kashmiri leader and ideologue of an independent Kashmir Amanullah Khan died at Rawalpindi, Pakistan on Tuesday. He was 82.
Khan, considered to be the architect of armed insurgency that engulfed Kashmir in late eighties, was from Gilgit in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, but was raised in Srinagar and Kupwara.
Khan was also co-founder of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) .
“Amanullah Khan breathed his last early Tuesday morning at a hospital in Rawalpindi after fighting a year-long battle against chronic lung disease”, JKLF Vice Chairman, Saleem Haroon told media persons.    
The funeral prayers of late leader would be offered at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m, a JKLF spokesman said. Late JKLf leader will be later laid to rest at Eidgah grounds in Gilgit.
In Srinagar JKLF is planning funeral prayers in absentia at Lal Chowk simultaneously.  
JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik, described Amanullah Khan a ‘pioneer of Kashmir freedom struggle, glowing example of persistence, great politician, intellectual, diplomat and leader”.
Amanullah Khan was born in the Astore area of Gilgit in undivided Kashmir on August 24, 1934. He was sent to Srinagar at the age by his father who hailed from Haihama, Kupwara. Khan’s mother was from Astore. Khan received his basic education in Srinagar and Kupwara before migrating to Karachi, Pakistan in 1952.
He passed his Matric Exam from Kashmir University in 1950 obtaining a place in the merit list (by standing 1st amongst all Muslim Students in the state). He then joined S.P. College and later Amar Singh College Srinagar.
In Karachi he joined S.M. College and graduated from there in 1957, obtained a degree in law in 1962.
He co-founded Kashmir Independent Committee in 1963, and was elected Secretary General of JK Plebiscite Front (PF) in 1965.
He later co-founded the JK National Liberation Front (NLF) with late Muhammad Maqbool Bhat. The group shot into prominence when Hashim Qureshi and his cousin hijacked an Indian Airlines Fokker F27 plane Ganga in 1971 following which Amanullah Khan and his group were hounded by security services in Pakistan.
 In 1976 Khan migrated to England where in May 1977 he formed JKLF by renaming the England branches of JKNLF. He was arrested in Britain in September 1985 and acquitted but deported to Pakistan in December 1986.
Amanullah Khan is survived by daughter, Asma who is married to separatist turned mainstream politician Sajad Gani Lone. 
Mr. Khan wrote two books, Free Kashmir (English) and Jehd-e-Musalsal (autobiography in Urdu), and about 3 dozen booklets and pamphlets in English and Urdu on different aspects of the Kashmir issue and the freedom movement. He visited over 20 countries to lobby for the Kashmir cause including attending the UN General Assembly and held many press conferences to highlight Kashmir issue.

Funeral prayers in absentia today
JKLF said the funeral prayers in absentia for the Amanullah Khan will be held at Lal Chowk Srinagar on 27th April at 2:00 pm. JKLF leaders along with people from all walks of life and his admirers will participate in the funeral prayers.
Yasin Malik while presiding a condolence meeting held at JKLF offices said that today Jammu and Kashmir has lost its most valiant son and because of this day will always be remembered as a sad day for Kashmir.
He said that Aman sahib’s demise has closed down a glorious chapter of our history.

Khan was a born warrior: Rasheed
Awami Ittehad Party chief and independent MLA Er Rasheed Tuesday condoled the death of JKLF chief Amanullah Khan who expired this morning in Rawalpindi.
He said that Amanullah Khan stood against the wind during the times when those who today claim to be the lone “warriors” of resistance movement found no harm in contesting elections under Indian constitution.
He was the one who used to talk about the necessity to resolve Kashmir dispute at times when nobody would even dare to speak a word on Kashmir, Rasheed added

Khan was a movement in himself: Hizb
Militant outfit Hizbul Mujhadeen Tuesday paid rich tribute to Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front founding member Amanullah Khan who breathed his last in Rawalpindi Pakistan.
Hizb chief Syed Salahuddin said that Amanullah Khan was a movement in himself who wholeheartedly fought for the people of Kashmir. “His separation is painful. He spent his whole life for raising Kashmir issue and pleaded their case. He is a torch bearer for us and Inshallah his efforts towards Kashmir Freedom Struggle will bear fruits one day,” he said.
Salahuddin while expressing sympathies with the bereaved family prayed for the departed soul.

Bilal Lone leaves for Pakistan
Srinagar: Senior Hurriyat (M) leader and Chairman separatist faction of Peoples Conference Bilal Gani Lone today left for Rawalpindi, Pakistan where he will participate in the last rites Amanullah Khan. The deceased is the father in law of Bilal’s brother Sajad Gani Lone, a senior rank minister in the state govt. 

Pak FO condoles Khan’s death
Pakistan Foreign Office has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Amanaullah Khan describing him a veteran Kashmiri leader whose death ‘is an immense loss to the Kashmiris’ cause of realization of their right to self-determination, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.’
The Government and people of Pakistan express their deep sorrow and convey their heartfelt condolences to his family members and friends, a press communiqué from the Foreign Office, said. “May the departed soul rest in eternal peace and may the Almighty give his family members the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now

MONTHLY	Rs 100
YEARLY	Rs 1000
LIFETIME	Rs 10000

CLICK FOR DETAILS