Pakistan Prime Minister expresses grief over death of Burhan Wani

Islamabad(News Agency) – Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep shock at the killing of Hizb–ul-Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani. He went on to condemn the deaths of civilians in Jammu & Kashmir by the Indian security forces.

Sharif said it was “deplorable that excessive and unlawful force was used against the civilians by the Indian forces. “Oppressive measures such as these cannot deter the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.” The Pakistani Prime Minister issued his statement soon after returning from London following an open heart surgery. Pakistan radio broadcast the news of PM Sharif’s deep shock at these happenings.

For some time now, Sharif is being criticized within his country for political silence on Kashmir. Bilawal Bhutto, leader of the opposition ‘Pakistan Peoples Party’, strongly criticized PM stating, ‘Sharif is a close friend of Indian PM and Sharif is betraying Pakistan’. It is being said that Sharif broke his silence in such manner to silence his critics and divert attention from Pakistani failures on many fronts. Other opposition leaders and the Pakistani media have also been staunch critics of Sharif.

On the one hand Sharif is expressing shock and demanding referendum in Kashmir, at same time terrorist leaders held an assembly in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). A special prayer meeting was organized for Burhan Wani in Muzaffarabad. The meet was attended by Sayyad Salahudeen, founder of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Hafiz Saeed, founder of ‘Jama’at–ud–Da’vah’. Both proclaimed terrorists threatened India with revenge for the death of Burhan Wani.

Hafiz Saeed asked Pakistan to take advantage of the current unrest in Kashmir. He has been using the social media to incite the youth in Jammu & Kashmir to participate in violence. Indian experts are opining that the coming together of these organizations will lead to escalation in terrorist activities in Jammu & Kashmir.

Indian Government has taken strong note of these developments. It is indicated that India is preparing to admonish and chide Pakistan in a suitable manner.