MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas will spend his time on Eidul Fitr day on Tuesday with Pakistan army soldiers at the Line of Control (LoC) as well as with the post-1989 migrants from occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their camps to express solidarity with both.

       According to his spokesperson, Mr Ilyas would offer Eid prayers in the grand mosque (Eidgah) of Muzaffarabad before flying to some of the [so far unspecified] forward locations along the Line of Control to pay tribute to the soldiers guarding the country’s frontiers.

       “The purpose of spending some time with army soldiers is to send a message across the globe that the Kashmiris hold their defenders very dear in sharp contrast to their tormentors in the occupied territory — the despicable Indian army,” the spokesperson said in a press release.

       “Let the world know once again that every Kashmiri has deep-seated aversion to the Indian army which has been brazenly perpetrating war crimes in occupied Kashmir to quell the quest of Kashmiris for freedom,” he added.

       Continuing, the spokesperson said that PM Ilyas would also visit some camps of post-1989 migrants from occupied Kashmir on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad for having first-hand information about their problems.

       “The prime minister believes that the post-1989 refugees have rendered innumerable sacrifices by quitting their homes, properties and other belongings in the occupied territory and thus letting the outside world know the magnitude of atrocities at the hands of India’s occupation machinery,” the spokesperson said.

       He said the prime minister would see for himself the condition of camps and the problems being faced by their inhabitants and pass on directions to authorities concerned there and then for redress.

       Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2022