ISLAMABAD : The All Parties Hurriyet Conference in Indian Occupied Kashmir, the forum led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Hurriyet leaders while condemning the ban on airing of Islamic TV channels in the territory have termed the move as strangulation of the freedom of expression.

An APHC spokesman in a statement issued in Srinagar said, "It is quite strange to ban those Islamic channels, which are specific for Quran and religious programs. It is tantamount to a direct interference in religious matters." The spokesman termed the ban as highly deplorable and said, "It is a step towards creation of Hindu Rashtra". Kashmir Media Service reported.

The APHC spokesman deplored that puppet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, with her eyes shut was obeying her masters in New Delhi and implementing their agenda. "These steps reflect their future course of targeting the Muslim community and Islam. Its repercussions may perhaps be severe if the decision is not revoked by authorities," he added.

The Mirwaiz-led forum terming as fascist approach the ban on more than 30 TV channels in Kashmir following blackout of social networking sites, in a statement in Srinagar said, "The real purpose behind all these actions is to isolate the Kashmiri population."

A spokesman quoting Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, "The authorities do not want the reality of Kashmir to be highlighted internationally and they do not want people of Kashmir to have access to information other than what India filters into Kashmir through its state and corporate run media."

"The restrictions on social media and TV channels in Kashmir have been imposed at the behest of the communal forces of India," the Mirwaiz said and cautioned that these restrictions could further deteriorate the situation in the territory.

Hurriyet leaders including Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Masroor Abbas Ansari in their statements said, the ban is evidence that New Delhi has lost its control on the Kashmiri people. They said that the so-called rulers were enforcing laws on daily basis which only prevail during emergency.-APP