Islamabad: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) has marked the 26th anniversary of the Poonch massacre, paying tribute to the 19 victims of the tragic event. Ghulam Muhammad Safi, the Convener of APHC-AJK, led the remembrance and reiterated calls for justice.

According to Kashmir Media Service, on the night of August 3 and 4, 1998, members of the Rashtriya Rifles of the Indian Army killed 19 individuals, including Shaheed Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh, also known as Major Gul, and members of his family in the Sialan area of Sarnakot, Poonch district. The victims spanned several generations of the Lassa Sheikh, Ahmed Din Sheikh, and Hasan Muhammad families.

In a statement issued today, Safi emphasized the ongoing absence of justice for the families of the victims, despite the registration of a case following significant public outcry. He highlighted that, after 26 years, the alleged perpetrators remain unpunished and continue to move freely.

Safi also condemned the Indian government’s actions on August 5, 2019, involving the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and supported the observance of this date as a Black Day and Youm-e-Istehsaal-e-Kashmir. He called upon the international community to intervene and halt what he described as state terrorism by India in the region.