Bureau Report
Bhimber: A ceremony was held at the Shuhada Memorial in Kalri Akbarabad to mark Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Jammu, observed on November 6, and honor those who died in the Kashmir freedom movement. AJK President Dr Muhammad Najeeb Khan laid a floral wreath and led prayers, while a police contingent presented a guard of honor. Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, former leaders Sardar Yaqoob Khan, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and Raja Farooq Haider Khan, military and civil officials, martyrs’ families and students of Army Public School, Kalri also attended.
The memorial, established by Lieutenant General (Retd) Raja Sher Afghan Khan, carries the names of about 5,000 martyrs since 1947. Speakers praised his initiative as a way to pass the legacy of sacrifice to future generations.
President Najeeb said educating the youth about their forefathers’ struggle is an essential responsibility, noting that nearly 100,000 Kashmiri youth serve in the Pakistan Army. Other speakers called for resolving the Kashmir dispute, securing the right to self-determination, and expressed solidarity with people in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Sardar Farooq Sikandar urged dialogue and tolerance, warning that irresponsible social media use widens social divisions.
