Islamabad, April 26 (HunzaNews):True patriot and a leader Amanullah Khan, architect of Independent Kashmir thought dies in Rawalpindi on Tuesday at the age of 82 after fighting a year-long battle against chronic lung disease.
Amanullah Khan is survived by one child, a daughter named Asma who is married to separatist turned pro-India politician Sajad Gani Lone. The founder member of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Amanulla Khan wrote two books, Free Kashmir (English) and my autobiography (in Urdu), and about 3 dozen booklets and pamphlets in English and Urdu about 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.
Amanullah Khan is the only Kashmiri who has been imprisoned abroad (England 16 months, Belgium 72 days and New York (UN Lockup for one day) as well as in Kashmir and Pakistan (Handwara, Gilgit, Azad Kashmir, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore (in the torture centre called Shahi Qilla Lahore) for his activities related to liberation of Kashmir and often subjected to unbearable mental and physical torture during detention.
Amanullah Khan is the only Kashmiri political figure against whom India has got International Warrants of Arrest (Red Notice) issued by Interpol and Pakistan has confiscated his passport, both doing so in order to keep him from political activities abroad to project his independence ideology. As far back as in 1973, Mr Amanullah Khan was offered Presidentship of Pakistan People’s Party in Gilgit Baltistan which would entitle him to become areas first Chief Minister but he flatly refused saying that, that was against his political ideology.
Amanullah Khan has played key role in matters concerning formation of the ideology, policies and strategy of JKLF and in their implementation.
He is usually termed as the ‘common political property’ of all the three parts of Jammu Kashmir State i.e. of Gilgit Baltistan (his birth place and for whose people’s political, constitutional rights he spent over 15 months in prison in 1970-72 besides being expelled from the area three times), of Indian controlled part (where he spent 12 years and got attached to the freedom movement) and of Azad Kashmir (where his ideology matured and flourished) and also because his JKLF functions in all the three parts and works for their reunification and independence.
WHO IS AMANULLAH KHAN
Amanullah Khan (24 August 1934 – 26 April 2016) was born in the Astore area of Gilgit. In 1940, he went to Kashmir in pursuit of educational opportunities. He passed his Matric Exam from Kashmir University in 1950 obtaining a place in the merit list (by standing 1st amogst all Muslim Students in the state). He then joined S.P. College and later Amar Singh College Srinagar and migrated to Pakistan in 1952. There he joined S.M. College Karachi graduated in 1957 and obtained a Degree in Law in 1962, all this as a self-supporting student.
He was the co-founder of the Kashmir Independent Committee in 1963, was elected Secretary General of JK Plebiscite Front (PF) in 1965. He Co-founded the JK National Liberation Front (NLF) with Maqbool Bhat. (Maqbool Bhat was sent to gallows in Tihar Jail New Delhi in 1984.) Before being hanged, Bhat had spent 10 years in Indian prisons dubbed an agent of Pakistan and three years in Pakistan dubbed an Indian agent. Khan spent 15 months in Gilgit prison in 1970-72, accused of being an Indian agent and was tried in absentia in Srinagar, accused of being an agent of Pakistan. In 1976 Mr. Khan went to England where in May 1977 he formed JKLF by renaming the England branches of JKNLF. He was arrested in England in September 1985 and acquitted but deported in December 1986. Once in Pakistan he was the chief architect in Starting the armed freedom struggle in 1988 in Indian controlled Kashmir. The Indian government had his U.S. Visa cancelled in 1990, got Interpol Warrants of Arrest issued against him and had him arrested in Belgium in October 1993 where he had been invited by the European Parliament to attend a seminar on Kashmir. Both Farooq Abdullah and George Fernandes, who were also attending the seminar, condemned his arrest. The Belgian court rejected the Indian government’s demand for his extradition to India and released him after about three months.
Amanullah Khan has only one child, a daughter named Asma who married Sajjad Ghani Lone, the son of Abdul Ghani Lone, Chairman of JK People’s Conference in November, 2000. She is based in Srinagar and writes about different aspects of the Kashmir Issues and regional geo-political issues. Mr. Khan has written two books, Free Kashmir (English) and my autobiography (in Urdu), and about 3 dozen booklets and pamphlets in English and Urdu about different aspects of the Kashmir issue and the Freedom Movement. He has visited over 20 countries to lobby for his cause including attending the UN General Assembly and held many press conferences there.
According to him he is not an enemy of the people or the state of India or Pakistan (except Kashmir) but only of the governmental machinery which has kept his motherland under subjugation and of those politicians who deny to Kashmiris their inherent and pledged right of self-determination.
Demise Widely Condoled
Separatist leaders Tuesday condoled the demise of founding members of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Amanullah Khan, who passed away in Rawalpindi Pakistan after a prolonged illness.
Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Geelani in his condolence message said that Amanullah Khan eagerly wanted to take people of Kashmir out of miseries and trouble. Expressing heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family, Geelani prayed for the departed soul.
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said that today Jammu 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. Aman sahib was Pioneer of Jammu Kashmir freedom struggle, herald of independent Jammu Kashmir, glowing example of Persistence, great politician, intellectual, diplomat and leader who from his youth till the time of his death remain steadfast in resistance movement and despite various hardships never budged or compromised on his principles. He was an ideologue, a great orator, prolific writer, a high class intellectual, a great patriot, a teacher, a political thinker and above all a humble down to earth Muslim who wrote hundreds of books, thousands of pamphlets, papers, columns and used his every ability for promoting the cause of Kashmiris. He not only was a great leader on political front but an Intelligent and dynamic diplomat and jurist. Aman sahib is the only Kashmiri leader who had privilege of addressing a press conference inside United Nations hall and he was in fact the first and only Kashmiri who had courage to go inside general assembly hall and interrupt Indian envoy’s speech and distribute pamphlets regarding Kashmir cause. Yasin Malik said that though Aman sahib’s struggle and sacrifices cannot be summed up in words but his efforts to unite JKLF in 2011 were unparallel. Despite being a pioneer, a historical person and ideologue his attitude towards young ones was so humble that he never shied away from following them. He transferred his legacy to the new generation and taught them the lessons of truthfulness, dedication and steadfastness. Yasin Sahib said that he remained treading the path of resistance and struggle till his last breath and thus has left great examples to his fellow Kashmiris.
In his condolence message, the Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the departed leader dedicated his life right from his childhood to his last breath to the great cause of Kashmir’s freedom and faced uncountable problems, obstacles and difficulties while pursuing the path of freedom of Kashmir. He gave innumerable sacrifices but his resolve and dedication towards the goal of freedom never showed any signs of weakness.
Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah expressed heartfelt grief over the demise of Amanullah Khan saying we got deprived of a great leader of the freedom movement.
In a statement issued to press, Shah while paying tributes to the deceased said Amanullah Khan throughout his life fought for the freedom and honour and dignity of his nation and remained steadfast on his mission till his last breath.
Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) leaders Shabir Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Iqbal Mir, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo and Imtiyaz Reshi in a joint statement also paid glowing tributes to Itoo.
“Amanullah Khan was a brave fighter and noble soul. He instead of choosing a comfortable life fought for the people of Kashmir,” the HCJK leaders said praying for the departed soul and expressing solidarity with his family.
JKLF (H) Chairman Javaid Ahmad Mir expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, leader Ammnullah Khan.
Mir described the passing away of Amanullah Khan as a great loss to the Kashmir resistance movement. He conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul.
Salvation Movement Chairman Zafar Akbar Bhat paid his heartfelt tributes to resistant leader Aman Ullah Khan .He in his message expressed his sympathy and condolences with the bereaved family and said that the services rendered by late Aman Ullah Khan will serve as guide line for resistant leaders and people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Islamic Political Party Chairman Mohammad Yousuf Naqash had expressed grief over the demise of founder of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Amanullah Khan and termed it as irreparable loss for the freedom struggle.
National Peoples Party Chairman Syed Salim Geelani while expressing grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Amanullah Khan prayed for his eternal peace.
Chairman Kashmir Freedom Front Bashir Ahmad Andrabi tremendous tributes were paid to Amanullah Khan the founder of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and lauded his contribution to freedom struggle and paid for the heavenly abode to departed soul and thousands of other Kashmir martyrs.
Bilal Lone leaves for Pakistan
Senior Hurriyat (M) leader and Chairman separatist faction of Peoples Conference (PC) Bilal Gani Lone today left for Rawalpindi, Pakistan wherein he will participate in the last rites of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Amanullah Khan who passed away this morning. Incidentally the deceased also happens the father in law of Sajjad Gani Lone presently serving a state cabinet minister in Jammu and Kashmir.
Only Kashmir
