Kashmiris observe Black Day in IOK

ISLAMABAD: The people of Indian Occupied Kashmir on Wednesday observed a Black Day as India celebrated its Independence Day.

There was a complete shutdown in Srinagar and other districts of the occupied valley as shops, offices, fuel stations and other businesses remained closed. The political activists of Kashmir, however, were subjected to harassment and arrests by the occupation forces for observing a strike on Indian Independence Day.

Kashmiri leaders criticised India for imposing its Independence Day celebrations on the people of the occupied valley who have been protesting for their just right of self-determination.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman Syed Ali Gilani on Wednesday said that India had no right to celebrate its Independence Day in the valley. He said that Indian Independence Day brings countless miseries to the people of IOK in terms of unending night raids, harassment, arrests of youth and a suffocating environment. He further said that forcing the people of IOK to participate in the celebrations of Indian Independence Day is not ethically justified.

Meanwhile, mobile services remained suspended in IOK. According to officials of mobile phone companies, they were given directives to suspend mobile services on 15 August.