Paying rich tributes to the JKLF founder Amanullah Khan, senior leader Muhammad Yasin Malik on Thursday said he was a symbol of struggle and his tireless work for Kashmir would remain a corner stone of the struggle for ages to come.

“He (Khan) was a noble son of soil who from his youth till the time of his demise stood firm on his ideology and despite numerous challenges and hardships never budged or compromised on it.

“He was an ideologue, a great orator, prolific writer, a high class intellectual . . . and above all a humble Muslim who e throughout his life to uphold the cause of Kashmiris,” said Malik, the JKLF chairman at a remembrance meeting which was held at JKLF headquarter here on Thursday.

The senior party leaders and the activists participated and addressed the meeting and paid rich tributes to Khan.

The condolence meetings were also held at district offices across Kashmir, a statement said, adding that similar meetings were held in various cities of Pakistan administered Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

Malik said during his life Khan championed the cause of Kashmir on international front. “He was the first Kashmiri to address a press conference and present the case of Kashmiris to international community at the UN office in New York and even distributed pamphlets regarding Kashmir freedom struggle during Indian delegation head’s address at General assembly,” said Malik.

Malik said the life and struggle of Khan was a testimony of his resilience and today “when freedom struggle has entered into a new phase, we need to look and seek guidance from his life and struggle.”

He said when Kashmiris were facing “aggression and operation all out to wipe out Kashmiri resistance, we need to follow the doctrine of unity and steadfastness of Amanullah Khan”.

“In 1988, when JKLF launched a new phase of resistance, it was Amanullah Khan who invited and forged unity with all other parties and groups. Even at his deathbed he reunited JKLF and forged an exemplary unity among the resistance camp,” said the JKLF chairman.