MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 10: A day ahead of the 29th death anniversary of Maqbool Butt, activists of pro-independence Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (NSF) organised a motorcycle rally here on Sunday to pay tribute to the disputed Himalayan region’s pioneer guerrilla leader.

The rally began from near the grave in Upper Adda of Gul Nawaz Butt, an NSF leader who was killed in 2005 earthquake, and ended in Chattar at the grave of Liaquat Awan, another NSF leader who was killed by Indian forces in 1990 when the group had made an attempt to cross the Line of Control from Chakothi sector. Holding red party flags, the NSF activists chanted slogans like “Long live Butt” and “Butt your devotees are numberless” as they drove through the main thoroughfare of Muzaffarabad.

Addressing the participants of the rally, NSF central secretary general Kamran Baig said the ideology of Maqbool Butt offered practicable solution to the problems of the Kashmiri nation. Mr Butt was the torchbearer for the people who were unwilling to compromise on freedom and independence of Kashmir, he added.

The NSF is regarded as the hard-line Kashmiri organisation which advocates complete independence of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Baig said an independent Kashmir would not only guarantee genuine freedom to the Kashmiris but also envisage peace, safety and rights of other people of the South Asian region.