Pak PM Sharif doesn't understand ground realities of Kashmir: UKPNP

United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) chairman Shaukat Ali Kashmiri on Thursday criticised Nawaz Sharif for glorifying slain Hizbul Mujahidden commander Burhan Wani as a 'young symbol' of 'Kashmiri freedom movement' and said Pakistan's Prime Minister does not understand the ground realties of Kashmir.

He said that it was wrong to call Wani as the 'symbol' of' freedom movement' as he was carrying out communal activities in a multi religious Kashmir society.

"It is undisputed that Burhan Wani was the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, all his details are available in Facebook and other social media websites. Wani also claimed that he was fighting to uphold Islam," Ali told ANI.

"Kashmir society is demographically a multi cultural and multi religious society. Burhan Wani carried out communal movement, you cannot call it as a national liberation movement and I don't think PM Nawaz Sharif understands the ground realities of Kashmir which is why he is unable to explain it," he added.

Ali also said that Sharif should rather think about the atrocities in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Gilgit.

While addressing at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Sharif said, "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris."

The Prime Minister also extended support to the demands of Kashmiri people for self determination and called on the UN Security Council to hold free and fair plebiscite.

"The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under the UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said.

He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir.