–Pakistan reaffirms commitment to Kashmir’s cause
–Srinagar, Muzaffarabad come to a halt
ISLAMABAD: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and across the world observed October 27 as a black day to mark illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by India and to reiterate their pledge to continue the liberation struggle till complete success.
Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and across the world observed October 27 as black day to mark illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by India and to reiterate their pledge to continue the liberation struggle till complete success, with Pakistan’s military and political leadership reaffirming their commitment to the Kashmir freedom movement.
A complete shutdown was observed in Occupied Kashmir and rallies were taken out in world capitals. The call for the shutdown was given by pro-freedom organisations. The capital of the Occupied Kashmir, Srinagar, also came to a standstill on a protest called by the pro-freedom leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik.
Kashmir Times reported the daily routine was disrupted, with no transport plying on the roads along with cessation of educational and business activities in the capital.
Meanwhile, a protest rally was taken out from Shaheed Burhan Wani Chowk to the UN Observer Office in Muzaffarabad. The participants urged the United Nations to implement its resolutions on Kashmir and put pressure on India to settle the lingering Kashmir dispute according to the will of the Kashmiri people.
In Islamabad, All Parties Hurriyet Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter also held a protest demonstration outside the office of Indian High Commissioner.
Addressing the protestors, the APHC leaders said that the killing of innocent people by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir was the worst type of state terrorism. They said that the people of Kashmir had been struggling for their right to self-determination for the past seven decades and had rendered unprecedented sacrifices for this purpose.
The protestors condemned the international community for its criminal silence over the Indian atrocities as they expressed concern over the unabated atrocities by the Indian troops in the region.
PRESIDENT REITERATES UNFLINCHING SUPPORT: In his message on the Black Day, President Mamnoon, while condemning the Indian aggression, reiterated Pakistan’s unflinching and steadfast moral, diplomatic and political support for just cause of the Kashmiri people.
The president urged India to implement the UN resolutions, as peace and prosperity of the entire region is linked with the resolution of the long-standing dispute. President Mamnoon further said India must honour commitments of its founding fathers [including Jawaharlal Nehru] and ensure implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.
He called for an independent, transparent and fair investigation into the human rights violations by Indian troops in the Kashmir region, under the United Nation.
ABBASI CONDEMNS INDIAN AGGRESSION: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi strongly condemned the Indian brutalities in Occupied Kashmir and urged the international community to take notice of the situation as Indian forces used pellet guns on the innocent Kashmiri people.
Chairing a meeting of the Kashmir Council on Thursday, the prime minister said Pakistan expressed solidarity with its Kashmiri brethren and had always extended moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiri people. He said Kashmir cause was a heroic struggle which would be remembered for times to come. Pakistan had raised the issue of Kashmir at every forum, he added.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment and support for the development of Kashmir.
He said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had allocated an unprecedented amount of resources for the development of Kashmir. “We need to prove with our actions that we are focused on the development and welfare of the Kashmiri brethren,” the prime minister remarked and directed for holding the sessions of Kashmir Council regularly.
During the meeting, the Kashmir Council offered special prayers for the martyrs of the Kashmir cause. The Council members highly appreciated the prime minister for effectively presenting the Kashmir issue at United Nations General Assembly this year.
Terming settlement of Kashmir dispute crucial for the regional development, Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir stressed that it was imperative to settle the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions. Peace and economic development in the region would remain a mirage in the absence of the settlement of regional disputes, he said, while urging the international community to play its due role in the resolution of the dispute in compliance with the wishes of the indigenous people.
The official spokesperson of Pakistan armed forces Major General Asif Ghafoor in a tweet condemned the ceasefire violations across Line of Control. The spokesperson added that the Indian state’s atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir cant’t deter their struggle for self-determination.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s resolute support to Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom from the illegal Indian occupation, Pakistan’s Ambassador to UN Dr Maleeha Lodhi said that a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute was the “only pathway for lasting peace and stability in South Asia”.
“The people of Pakistan are resolute in their abiding commitment and steadfast political, diplomatic and moral support to the legitimate cause of the Kashmiri people,” Ambassador Lodhi said.
“Every day of brutal Indian occupation is a black day,” she said. “The story of Kashmir has been an unremitting tale of pain and suffering, for generations of Kashmiri men, women and children,” the Pakistani envoy said. “For the last 70 years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have waited for fulfillment of the solemn pledge made to them by several UN Security Council resolutions to exercise their right to self-determination.”
On October 27, 1947 Indian troops landed in Srinagar and forcibly occupied Jammu and Kashmir in total disregard to the partition plan of the subcontinent and against the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The day is marked with a complete shutdown in the occupied territory.