Srinagar: As a show of collective grief and condemnation of terrorism, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Wednesday staged a protest rally in Srinagar, denouncing the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead.
The rally, led by Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, began from the party’s central office at Nawa-e-Subha and marched towards the historic Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk, as per news agency JKNS.
Chants of “Yeh tamasha nahin, yeh matam hai” (This is not a spectacle, this is mourning) echoed through the city center as participants expressed sorrow and outrage over the deadly assault.
Adding a personal dimension to the protest, Omar Abdullah’s sons — Zamir and Zahir Abdullah — joined the march, standing in solidarity with the bereaved families.
Several MLAs and top JKNC leaders also participated, emphasizing that the rally was not a political gesture, but a united call for justice, peace, and an end to violence in the region.
Speaking to reporters during the protest, JKNC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said, “This is the collective cry of our people. We demand a highest-level inquiry into this horrific act. Such violence seeks to derail Kashmir’s hard-won peace and cripple its tourism lifeline.”
Advisor’s Emotional Interaction with Tourists
As the procession neared Ghanta Ghar, a group of visibly upset tourists stopped Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, pleading for help to return home. “Please, we want to go back. Help us,” one of them said.
Visibly moved, Wani folded his hands and expressed deep remorse. “We are very sorry. We are with you. We condemn these killings, just as we have condemned every such tragedy over the years. Even our party has suffered — we have lost ministers, workers, our own loved ones to this violence,” he said, offering solace and solidarity in a moment of shared grief.
The peaceful rally concluded at Lal Chowk with renewed resolve to stand together against terrorism and uphold the values of Kashmiriyat. —(JKNS)
