APHC Calls for Complete Strike Against Waqf Amendment Act

Tensions continue to rise in IIOJK as new laws and policies provoke public outrage and calls for international intervention.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has urged the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to observe a complete strike on Friday, April 25. This protest is in response to the controversial Waqf Amendment Act 2025 and the mass issuance of domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris.

In a statement issued from Srinagar, APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas expressed grave concerns over these developments. He described the recent parliamentary actions as clear violations of international laws and an outright attack on Kashmiri identity. According to Minhas, these decisions are part of a broader agenda to dilute the Muslim majority and alter the region’s demographic character.

He further condemned India’s ongoing occupation and the systematic revocation of the political rights of Kashmiris. Minhas stressed that the daily lives of the people in the region have been severely affected due to state-sponsored violence and oppressive policies.

The APHC statement painted a grim picture of life in IIOJK following the August 5, 2019 move, when the Indian government revoked the special status of the valley. Since then, the region has been under heightened military control, with restrictions choking civil liberties and economic activities.

Minhas criticized the BJP-led government for pushing the people of IIOJK into poverty by stripping them of access to jobs, resources, and their own land. He warned that these actions are not only unlawful but also threaten the stability of the region.

The APHC also extended its support to the victims of the Ramban tragedy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. As a step toward economic revival, the group demanded the reopening of the Srinagar-Rawalpindi Road, which historically connected the region with Pakistan and supported trade and family ties.

Another major demand from APHC is the immediate release of thousands of political prisoners, including Hurriyat leaders and young Kashmiris. Many of these individuals, the statement says, have been jailed under politically motivated charges.

Calling for unity, the APHC appealed to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir to stand against what they described as anti-Kashmiri and anti-Muslim policies. The organization urged citizens to protect their religious and cultural heritage, including mosques, spiritual centers, and educational institutions, from further encroachment by BJP-RSS forces.