Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 3: Head of All India Imam Organisation, Dr Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, today said that Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would `very soon’ be re-integrated with India.
“I want to say one thing to our neighbouring country from standing here in Kashmir that PoK, which is an integral part of India, will definitely rejoin India because the people of PoK want to have a referendum there,” Ilyasi told reporters here.
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He claimed that the residents of PoK are keen to re-integrate with India, citing the development and prosperity witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir.
“God willing, their ‘Ghar Wapsi’ will take place soon. It is the people there who want it. They are happy to see the development of Kashmir. Seeing how Kashmir is progressing today, PoK will be rejoined with India very soon,” he added.
The head of Imams’ body said he was very happy to see a “transformed” Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.
“It has become a new Kashmir. Today’s Kashmir has become excellent. There is prosperity throughout, and tourism has increased. The people here are prosperous. There was a time when young people and children here used to throw stones. Today, they have pens in their hands. They are studying,” he said.
Referring to last year’s terror attack in Baisaran meadows in Pahlagam that left 25 tourists and a local pony handler dead, Ilyasi said tourism had briefly declined after the incident but urged people to visit the region.
“I want to tell everyone that they should visit Kashmir as there is no atmosphere of fear now,” he added.
On the conflict in West Asia, he said war benefits no one and expressed hope for peace.
“Wars harm everyone, they are a sign of destruction. I have hope from our country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, and God willing, he will mediate, and the war will end soon,” he said.
Dr Ilyasi was accompanied by J&K Waqf Board Chairperson, Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi. He lauded the functioning of the J&K Waqf Board under Dr Andrabi.
She informed Dr Imam Ilyasi that J&K Waqf Board became the first in India to not only streamline the monthly remuneration to Imams & Khateebs into regular salaries but also increased it manifold as Board believes that their responsibilities are very important in leading not only the collective prayers but also inculcating positivity and compassion among the people following them. Dr Ilyasi apprecited the reformative decisions of Dr Andrabi for making J&K Waqf Board a true success story.
Prominent Imams and Khateebs of Waqf Board and the Executive Magistrate of the Board Ishtiyaq Mohiuddin was also present.
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