Tens of thousands of people marched in streets across the country on Wednesday to observe Black Day against Indian brutalities in Held Kashmir.
In one major protest, around 20,000 people blocked a highway connecting Islamabad to Muzaffarabad.
Hundreds of others participated in rallies in Muzaffarabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan and other cities, chanting slogans against the Indian administration of Kashmir and the actions of its security forces in the valley.More than 40 rallies were organised in Southern Punjab including Muzaffargarh, Rahimyarkhan ,Rajanpur, Lodhran, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Sadiqabad, Kotadu,Layyah,Khanewal,Sahiwal,Bhakkar,Rojhan and Taunsa Sharif.
Speakers urged the United Nations to intervene and resolve the Kashmir issue.
The federal government had directed ministries, divisions and provincial governments to observe the Day and express solidarity with Kashmiris.
Rallies and functions were arranged all over the country, Azad Kashmir and in Occupied Valley to draw attention of world community towards burning issue of Kashmir.
All officials of federal and provincial governments put on black armbands during their routine work to express solidarity with Kashmiri brethren. Special prayers were also held after Zohar for martyrs of Kashmir.
Pakistani missions abroad sensitised local media as well as various caucuses in different regions on Kashmir issue.
In big cities, banners were displayed at conspicuous places inscribed with slogans in favour of the Kashmiris freedom struggle. These included ‘down with Indian occupation’, ‘stop atrocities against Kashmiris’, ‘grant right of self-determination to Kashmiris’ and ‘international community should take notice of human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir’.
A large number of political, social, academic and non-governmental organisations observed this Day to highlight the plight of Kashmiri people.
President Mamnoon Hussain also observed Black Day. The president the staff of Aiwan-e-Sadr wore black bands around their arms, symbolising protest against the atrocities of Indian security forces in Occupied Kashmir.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his message pledged to continue extending moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris’ struggle.
In federal capital, a seminar titled `Indian oppression in Kashmir and its social impacts’ was arranged by National Council of Social Welfare and attended by a number of Hurriyet Leaders and others.
They condemned human rights violations in Kashmir and demanded implementation of the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir to decide its fate under the supervision of international body without any further delay.
The religious and political parties’ and Muttahida Jehad Council leaders demanded India withdraw its eight lakh troops from occupied Kashmir and resolve the dispute in the light of the four-point formula given by All Parties Hurriyat Conference central leader Syed Ali Geelani.
Addressing at the culminating point of the Kashmir Caravan in federal capital yesterday the political and religious leaders warned that in case India did not stop its blatant human rights violations in occupied valley the people living on both sides of Line of Control would undo this artificial barrier dividing the Kashmir nation and go to any extent to flush out Indian forces from the area.
Mere holding of black day to show solidarity with the Kashmiri nation was not enough and Pakistan government should take concrete steps for resolving this issue lingering for well over 69 years, they further demanded.
Addressing the gathering Amir Jamaat-i-Islami announced protest march up to Indian High Commission in Islamabad on July 24.
The leaders made it loud and clear that they do not want to have trade with India at the cost of the killings of innocent Kashmiris and demanded the government use its offices to highlight the plight of Kashmiris at all international forums.
Prominent among others who addressed the rally were Jamaat-ud-Dawa Amir Hafiz Saeed, Fazlur Rehman Khalil, Malik Rashid Ahmad, Ahmad Raza Kasuri, Abdullah Gul, cleric Amir Hamza and Sh Jameelur Rehman.
In Held Kashmir, Indian police and paramilitary soldiers in riot gear enforced a strict curfew for the 12th straight day Wednesday as life remained paralysed and streets deserted.
Indian forces removed dozens of black and Pakistani flags hoisted by residents observing black day to protest against unending atrocities of Indian authorities, particularly the recent killing of innocent demonstrators protesting against the killing of a young freedom fighter.
The largest street protests in recent years erupted after Indian troops on July 8 killed Burhan Wani, the popular 22-year-old leader of Hizbul Mujahideen.
India’s External Affairs Ministry responded to Pakistan’s call for a black day by saying Islamabad should stop “interfering in India’s internal affairs and destabilising the situation”.
Pakistan says it provides political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris demanding Kashmir’s independence or a merger with Pakistan.
In a statement, Nawaz Sharif said “Kashmir cannot be accepted as an internal matter of India” as the United Nations has already declared it a disputed area. He said India had promised to the world to arrange a plebiscite in Held Kashmir, but such a commitment was yet to be honoured.
During the recent protests, clashes between Indian forces and Kashmiris have left 47 people, mostly teens and young men, and a policeman dead. A man in his 50s, who was injured in firing by government forces during protests over the weekend, died in the main hospital of Srinagar on Wednesday.
Hundreds of volunteers and people attending to the injured in the hospital gathered outside on the main road and offered funeral prayer before his body was taken to his village for burial. They raised anti-India, pro-Pakistan and pro-freedom slogans.
Virtually no information was coming from most parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir, especially in the south where most of the killings have occurred, as cellular and internet services remained suspended. Newspapers were not printing and landline phone access was limited, except in Srinagar.
However, newspaper editors decided to publish Thursday editions after five days of disruption as the government apologised and regretted a ban imposed on Friday.
Despite round-the-clock curfew and information blackout, the protests, marked by clashes between rock-throwing Kashmiris and troops firing live ammunition, pellet guns and tear gas, have persisted. With shops closed, people were struggling to cope with shortages of food, medicines and other necessities.
