F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and world over observed Youm-e-Istehsaal on Saturday. The major purpose of observing the day is to send a clear message to New Delhi government that Kashmiris out rightly reject actions taken by Modi-led Indian government on August 5, 2019 and illegal occupation of their homeland.
The Modi-led Hindutva regime on August 5, 2019, revoked Article 370 that granted special status to the internationally recognized disputed territory and imposed a brutal military siege.
Meanwhile, APHC leaders Khadim Hussain, Syed Sibte Shabbir Qummi and Umar Mughal in their statements said August 05 is a black day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir when India attacked Jammu and Kashmir on this day in 2019 and took away the unique identity of Kashmiris. They said that after October 27, 1947, this was the second time when India fully demonstrated its colonial and anti-Muslim mentality.
The APHC leaders said that the only purpose of the Indian move of August 5, 2019 was to change Jammu and Kashmir from a Muslim majority to a Muslim minority territory. They deplored that the Modi government is using brutal tactics to advance its Hindutva agenda in occupied Kashmir. On the other hand, Indian police arrested several leaders and activists of People Democratic Party and National Conference to stop protests and seminars and conferences in the territory.
Those arrested included PDP youth President Waheed Parra while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti was put under house arrest at her residence in Srinagar. The AJK Legislative Assembly in its special session on Youm e Istehsal also adopted a unanimous resolution rejecting Indian steps taken on 5 Aug 2019 and strongly condemned human rights abuses in IIOJK. In the resolution, the house reiterated to stand by Kashmiris till the realization of their right to self-determination and termed 5 Aug as a black day in the history of Kashmir.
Meanwhile, The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly has unanimously approved the resolution condemning India’s withdrawal of Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019. In the session presided over by Speaker Nazir Ahmed, Member of Assembly Amjad Hussain presented the joint resolution condemning India’s termination of the special status of Kashmir.
In connection with Youm-e-Istehsaal, a rally was held on the Constitution Avenue in Islamabad today to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmir people and condemn the Indian illegal steps of 5th August in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The rally led by Adviser on Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira was taken out from Radio Pakistan Chowk and culminated at D-Chowk. The Secretary Foreign Affairs, the leadership of APHC AJK chapter and people belonging to different walks of life participated in the rally.
The participants chanted slogans in support of Pakistan and the Kashmiri people. They were also carrying banners inscribed with slogans in support of Kashmiri people and against the Indian oppression. Speaking to the participants of the rally at D-Chowk, Adviser on Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding commitment to Kashmir cause and urged the international community to fulfill the promises made with the Kashmiri people for right to self-determination.
