::JAMMU AND KASHMIR HIGH COURT BAR ASSOCIATION,SRINAGAR.KASHMIR

J&K High court Bar Association reiterates its long standing policy on proposed 2008 state assembly elections that elections to the state legislature are not substitute of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir as guaranteed by the United Nations resolutions dated 13 th of August 1948 and 5 th January 1949 for final dispensation of the dispute on Jammu and Kashmir. Bar Association considers the proposed elections to the state legislature as a traditional military operation in furtherance of continuing Indian Occupation in Jammu and Kashmir and therefore, Bar Association reject the said elections and considers these elections meaningless and purposeless exercise. And accordingly rejects the electoral polity. The United Nations resolutions dated 1950, 1952 and 1957 are attestation to the political belief of the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the elections to the state legislature cannot be substitute to the plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir. Bar Association believes in comprehensive efforts aimed at final disposition of the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir and believes that the elections cannot lead to any solution of Kashmir problem.

Bar Association is witness to this truth that the people of Jammu and Kashmir as a nation have rejected the farcical electoral exercises in the past and are sure to reject the same in future elections. In this backdrop Bar Association feels it appropriate to appeal the people of Jammu and Kashmir, not to participate in the electoral battle in the proposed elections. It is the national duty of every patriot to protect the honour of thousands of martyrs and the precious sacrifices laid down in life and property by the people of Jammu and Kashmir and see to it that Indian design are a defeated at all costs, therefore, it is need of the hour to raise their voice for their freedom and final disposition of the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir instead involving themselves in meaningless electoral battle.

Bar Association condemns the arrest of freedom leaders namely Mohammad Yaseen Malik and Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah who have been tonight after announcing the anti-election campaign in District Bandipora. Their arrests and the arrests of number of freedom leaders including Shabir Ahmad Shah, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrahi, Bashir Ahmad Andrabi, Mohtarma Aasiya Andrabi and others demonstrate the shallowness of Indian Democracy and freedom of expression and other rights in Jammu and Kashmir. Bar Association feels the Indian authorities with reference to Kashmir neither believe in democratic traditions nor are they in a position to accord democratic rights in Jammu and Kashmir. Bar Association declares its support to the General strike called on 24 th October 2008 by the Freedom leaders.

G.N. Shaheen
General Secretary,
J&K High Court Bar Association.
Dated : 23.10.2008