President Sardar Masood Khan has said that Shaheed Sheikh Abdul Aziz has kept the flame of freedom alive with his blood and he was a great Kashmiri leader who struggled for the freedom of Kashmiris from Indian oppression and ascertaining their right to self-determination.

He made these remarks while addressing a memorial service marking the martyrdom of All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz who laid down his life on 11 August 2008 while leading a freedom rally towards the Chakoti crossing.

Masood Khan said Sheikh Abdul Aziz was a strong advocate of the right to self-determination of Kashmiri people and believed that an independent plebiscite under UN supervision is the only solution to this long-standing issue.

President AJK said that India through the use of state terrorism is murdering the Kashmiris, young Kashmiris are being illegally arrested and sent to prisons all over India, womenfolk are being dishonoured and innocent protestors are blinded and maimed with lethal pellet guns.

He condemned New Delhi’s move towards repealing Article 35-A and trying to change the demography of IOK and creating a Hindu majority. He said that this move is not only a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention but also the rulings of the International Criminal Court.

Other speakers also paid tribute to Sheikh Abdul Aziz for his struggle for the freedom of Jammu and Kashmir and laying down his life for this great cause.