Pakistan, Kashmiris in IoK observe Black Day against India's illegal occupation

All three radio stations of AJK will broadcast special programmes in connection with Black Day.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and all over the world are observing Black Day today to convey a joint message that they have rejected India’s illegal occupation of their homeland on this day in the year 1947.

This was the day when Indian troops forcefully invaded Jammu and Kashmir and occupied it in blatant violation of the partition plan of the Subcontinent and against the Kashmiris’ aspirations.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, the 72 years struggle of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination will be highlighted today.

He said the world would be apprised once again of the enormity of the situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).

The spokesperson said the international community would be demanded to fulfill its promises, including provision of the right of self-determination to Kashmiris.

Several programmes, including rallies and seminars, have been planned throughout the country to express solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir.

Instructions have also been given to Pakistani missions abroad to organise events and engage with Pakistani Diaspora, local parliamentarians, think-tanks and intellectuals to highlight significance of the day.

In Azad Kashmir, rallies, demonstrations and protest gatherings will be held in all small and big cities of the state under the auspices of Kashmir Liberation Cell, Hurriyat and religious organisations.

On the directives of AJK’s Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, events to observe the Black Day will be arranged by districts and tehsil administrations.

Main function of the Black Day will be held in the state capital Muzaffarabad. PM Haider Khan will preside over the function. A rally will also be carried out at the end of programme.

All three radio stations of AJK will broadcast special programmes in connection with Black Day.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ali Amin Gandapur, in his message on the eve of Black Day, asked the international community to take early action against Indian unilateral and illegal step of August 5 as the people of the entire region have been suffering through stringent curfew for more than 84 days.

Meanwhile, in IoK, a complete shutdown is being observed today to mark the black day, though the Himalayan valley has been facing complete lockdown since Aug 5.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Gilani, in a statement, has asked the people of occupied Kashmir to march towards Lal Chowk of Srinagar, today and hold a sit-in protest to show the world that the resistance of Kashmiri people does not need means of telecommunications for their survival.

PM Khan reiterates solidarity with Kashmiris

Yesterday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the ongoing human rights violations in the IoJK have fully exposed the Indian façade of being the so-called ‘largest democracy’.

In his message to the nation on Kashmir Black Day, annually observed on Oct 27, the premier said the world community, international human rights organisations and the international media were calling India out on the tyranny in Kashmir.

He said the Kashmir Black Day being observed in Pakistan and across the world this year would be distinct from the past.

On Oct 27, 1947, India had illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and, on August 5, 2019, it took further steps to unilaterally alter the disputed status of the territory and change its demographic structure and identity.

“Pakistan, the Kashmiris and the Muslim Ummah have categorically rejected this travesty of law and justice,” he remarked. The prime minister said since Aug 5, the scale and intensity of the Indian government’s human rights violations had increased manifolds.

Through the deployment of additional troops and an unprecedented media and communications blackout, that had continued for almost three months, IoJK had been turned into the largest prison on the planet.

“There is a shortage of medicines and essential food items. Thousands have been arbitrarily detained. Thousands of young boys have been abducted, incarcerated in undisclosed locations, and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. The Indian state-terrorism has turned even more atrocious,” the prime minister stated.

The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s demands for immediate lifting of the curfew and communications blackout as well as rescinding of India’s illegal and unilateral actions.

He urged the international community to play its role in ensuring respect for the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people and averting grave risks to peace and security posed by India’s irresponsible actions.

Expressing Pakistan’s unshakable solidarity with the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister assured Kashmiri people that Pakistan would always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them.

“Pakistan will continue its full moral, political and diplomatic support until the Kashmiri people realize their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the applicable UN Security Council resolutions,’ he added.