Muslim leaders, civil society groups condemn terror attack

A coalition of prominent Muslim leaders and civil society organisations has strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed at least 26 people and injured many others. The attack, which targeted innocent tourists at a popular destination in South Kashmir on Tuesday, has shocked the nation.

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the group, which includes former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, former Delhi-Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, ex-AMU Vice Chancellor Zamir Uddin Shah, former MP Shahid Siddiqui, and industrialist Saeed Shervani, called for national unity and immediate justice in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“We strongly condemn the savagery of the terrorists responsible for the gruesome and senseless killing of innocent tourists in Pahalgam,” the statement said. It expressed collective sorrow, stating, “We are furious, heartbroken, and filled with unimaginable grief and rage at this tragedy. We stand united with our fellow citizens, despite all attempts to divide us. The unity and peace of our country must be preserved at all costs.”

The group, which operates under the banner of “Citizens For Fraternity,” called for swift and decisive action against the perpetrators. “We are sure that the country will take prompt action against the perpetrators. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” the statement added.

Several other civil society organizations, including Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD), Bebaak Collective, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), and the Wisdom Foundation, also issued strong condemnations. In a joint statement, these groups urged the central and state governments to provide immediate compensation to victims’ families and ensure proper treatment for the injured.

“We join fellow Indians in offering our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. We also call for proper treatment of the injured,” the statement said. The groups also expressed hope that the authorities would quickly apprehend the attackers and bring them to justice.

In addition to their call for justice, the civil society organisations demanded a thorough investigation into the attack, urging the government to identify any security lapses and take necessary measures to prevent future incidents.

Delhi