Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will lead an all-party meeting on Thursday to discuss the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including 24 tourists on Tuesday.
The meeting is set for 3pm at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre, located by Dal Lake in Srinagar.
Invitations have been sent to all major political parties, including the Leader of Opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sunil Sharma, and Members of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir.
In a letter, Abdullah said, “This is not merely a tragedy for a region or party, but a wound upon the very soul of Jammu and Kashmir. Political leaders must act as custodians of democratic values and unite beyond political affiliations.”
During the meeting, attendees will discuss the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, condemn the killings, and consider ways to ensure peace, justice, and resilience.
They will also look into adopting a joint resolution and extend condolences to the victims' families. Abdullah said the invitation was extended not just in his official role but “as a friend and a fellow citizen,” calling for unity in this “hour of pain and resolve.”
A shutdown was observed across Kashmir on Wednesday in protest against the killing of tourists in Pahalgam. Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti was the first to call for the shutdown. “I appeal to all Kashmiris to support the bandh called by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries as a mark of respect for the innocent lives lost,” she said. The National Conference (NC) also supported this call.
Prominent religious leaders joined the protest as well. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, head of the Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU), condemned the killings as a “heinous crime” and urged for peaceful protests. Quoting the Quran, he wrote, “Whoever kills an innocent soul... it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.”
Also read
- Soon, Poonch’s Banwat View Point will have 105-ft-tall Tiranga, Indian Army confirms
- Jammu and Kashmir police detain over 200 suspected over-ground workers of terror groups
- Chinese man detained for visa violation in J&K, visited sensitive areas in Ladakh, had suspicious online activity
- J&K government promises inquiry into JDA after journalist Arfaz Daing's house demolition
Grand Mufti Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam also backed the bandh and called on people to mourn together. People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone suggested silent protests across towns and villages.
The business community participated in the protest too, with organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashmir (CCIK), Hoteliers Club, travel agents, transporters, and restaurant owners joining the shutdown. CCIK president Tariq Rashid Ghani said, “This barbaric act must be condemned by all.”
