A special conference was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom, under the auspices of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK to honour the life, legacy, and struggle of the veteran Kashmiri resistance leader, Shaheed Syed Ali Gilani. The conference drew a large gathering of British Kashmiris, Pakistani diaspora, community leaders, and activists, who paid rich tributes to Syed Ali Gilani for his unwavering stand on the Kashmir cause and his lifelong struggle against Indian occupation.

Dr Khalid Mehmood, former Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami AJK & GB, attended as chief guest, while President Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, Fahim Kayani, presided over the event. Prominent speakers included Muhammad Ghalib, President TeK Europe; Mufti Majeed Nadeem, Vice President TeK UK; former Lord Mayor Ghazanfar Khaliq; Qamar Abbas, Convener JI AJK UK; Inam ul Haq, Secretary General APIKCC; Ch. Shakeel; Khawajah Suleman; Maulana Sarfraz Madani; Hafiz Idrees; Dr Khurram Bashir; Ch. Ikram ul Haq; and Iftikhar Jugu. 

The speakers described Syed Ali Gilani as a towering political figure, a staunch supporter of Pakistan, and a symbol of Kashmir’s resistance against Indian occupation. They recalled that despite decades of imprisonment, house arrests, and immense hardships, Gilani never compromised on his principles and remained steadfast in his call for the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The speakers highlighted his lifelong devotion to the Kashmir cause, rejecting any solution short of complete freedom, and noted that his slogan “Hum Pakistani hain, Pakistan hamara hai” continues to echo in the hearts of Kashmiris worldwide.

They further underscored the responsibility of the diaspora to carry forward Gilani’s mission by advocating for Kashmir on international platforms, engaging policymakers, and raising awareness about the ongoing human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. 

Concluding the event, the leadership of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK reaffirmed their pledge to stand by the people of Kashmir until their legitimate right to freedom is achieved, echoing Syed Ali Gilani’s lifelong struggle for justice and self-determination. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)