London, 10th May, 2000
Kashmiri independence activists belonging to Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF -UK) have increased their share of the local council seats in various UK cities. At least four JKLF members and office bearers who fought the council elections on different party tickets have been successful over the past two years.
JKLF-UK vice president and veteran independence campaigner Masoom Ansari, who contested for Liberal Democrats won his seat in Birmingham while Qazi Sadique who is JKLF branch secretary in Accrington and a member of the national working committee won his seat for the Conservative party on May 4th elections. Ansari and Sadique add to last year's two successful JKLF activists Mohammed Nazam of Birmingham who contested the local council elections on 'Justice for Kashmir' platform, and Zulfiqar ALi who took the Rochdale central seat from a Labour candidate of Pakistani origin for the Liberal Demorcartic party. Nazam is JKLF's national organiser whereas Ali was their branch secretary for Huddersfield. JKLF members are delighted with the success of ever increasing Kashmiri activists in city halls where they hope to influence party politics in favour of Kashmir cause. There are now over 50 elected councilors of Kashmiri origin though out the UK. A newly formed Kashmiri group 'Justice for Kashmmir' has won 5 seats over the past 3 years in West Midlands city of Birmingham alone. Four years ago JKLF spokesman Qurban Hussain was the only man elected from Luton on Labour Party ticket. His term expired this year but according to Labour's staunch supporter in the JKLF, its general secretary Azmat Khan - who was invited to Downing Street by prime minister Tony Blair a couple of years ago - his members were committed to the Kashmir cause and would continue to use their influence in favour of the Kashmiri movement no matter which platform they spoke from. He said that JKLF members were encouraged to join mainstream parties and that strategy seems to have paid dividends.
"I am confident that our members will build on their success and work for the good of the movement in their own way in a more vigorous and committed manner ". He also appealed to the other newly elected councilors of Kashmiri origin up and down the country to make the Kashmir cause their number one priority and not allow local political compulsion to overtake their commitment for the freedom of their motherland.