Black Day: Indian atrocities in held Kashmir condemned

Government urged to highlight the issue at international level

LAHORE: Speakers at a house meeting of the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) sought changes in the composition of the Kashmir Committee as it observed a Black Day on Wednesday in solidarity with the struggle of people of Indian-held Kashmir for their right of self determination.

They said it should be ensured that members of the committee were well aware of the history of the Kashmir dispute.

They condemned the Indian government for its use of brute force to suppress Kashmiris struggle for their right of self determination. They also criticised the federal government for what they said were half-hearted efforts at highlighting the Kashmir issue at the international forum.

“Women and youth of Kashimr are on the streets, struggling for their right of self determination but our political leadership is playing the role of silent spectators,” they said. They threatened the government with nation-wide street agitation if it continued to ignore the Kashmiris cause.

Some lawyers said that Indian government understood the language of guns only. It lacked the capability to hold a dialogue on the Kashmir issue, they said.

“The real face of India should be exposed before the international community. We should highlight the plight of innocent Kashmiris losing their lives at the hands of Indian forces,” LBA president Arshad Jahangir Jhoja said.

He stressed the need for a more effective policy on the Kashmir issue.

LBA Secretary Shahid Nawab Cheema said the federal government should step up its efforts for resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the United Nations’ resolutions. He said it was embarrassing that political leaders of the country had not been able to unanimously condemn Indian forces’ atrocities in the region.

After the session, a rally was taken out from Aiwan-i-Adl to the PMG Chowk. Participants chanted slogans in support of Kashmiris right of self determination and condemned the Indian aggression against unarmed protesters.

Speaking to APP, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab president Pervaiz Malik called upon the international community to take notice of the gross violations of human rights in Indian-held Kashmir. “Pakistan will continue its political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people,” he said. He said Indian forces could not be allowed to deny Kashmiris their fundamental right of self determination through state-sponsored terrorism.

Malik said Kashmiris’ struggle would soon bear fruit as it had entered a a decisive phase. He said the Pakistan government and the entire nation were observing black day to express solidarity with Kashmir struggle.

“Our government’s stance on Kashmir is very clear. We will continue to support the Kashmiri people’s struggle till they get liberation from Indian oppression.

Black Day was also observed at the Aiwan-i-Karkunan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan. Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust Chairman Muhammad Rafique Tarar led a walk to protest Indian forces’ atrocities in the region. Justice (r) Mian Mahboob Ahmad and Nazaria-i- Pakistan Trust secretary Shahid Rasheed were in attendance.

Officers and other staff at all provincial government departments wore black armbands to work to express solidarity with  the Kashmiri people.

Corner meetings and walks were held at various offices to where international community was urged to take notice of Indian atrocities. Prayer sessions were arranged for Kashmiris who have lost their lives in the struggle.

A ceremony held in Sargodha in connection with the Black Day was attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Chaudhry Hamid Hameed and MPA Chaudhry Abdul Razzaq Dhilon.

Speakers at rallies held in southern districts demanded that the government should revise curricula taught in schools to ensure that the future generation was taught about the atrocities committed in Kashmir by the Indian armed forces.

Major rallies were held by the PML-N, Jamaatud Dawa and Jamiat Ahle-Hadith.

In Faisalabad, the district administration arranged various events to condemn the Indian forces’ atrocities and to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people. A prayer ceremony was held at the TMA Hall, Lyallpur Complex, where DCO Salman Ghani, MPAs Haji Ilyas Ansari and Madiha Rana, Operations SSP Irfanullah were in attendance. Separately, a seminar was held on the issue at the Sanatzar Social Welfare Complex.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2016.