A large number of vehicles of Kashmir Caravan are moving towards Islamabad. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD: Members of various political parties and residents of the twin cities observed Black Day on Wednesday with calls for an end to human rights violations in Indian Kashmir.
People from all walks of life observed Black Day to highlight atrocities in Indian Kashmir, to awaken world conscience and to express solidarity with the people of the disputed territory.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) organised a protest rally outside the National Press Club to condemn killings in Kashmir by the Indian Army.
The rally was led by Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Dr Asif Kirmani, and CADD minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
Participants were carrying placards inscribed with anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.
Rashid said Kashmiris had been facing Indian excesses for several decades but recently a new wave of Indian atrocities was observed in the region.
He said Pakistani masses stand with their Kashmiri brethren and moral, political and diplomatic support for their just cause would continue till liberation of Kashmir.
Kirmani said dozens of Kashmiris had been martyred and hundreds injured during the last few days, which showed that India was trying to crush the freedom struggle through the barrel of a gun.
Sacrifices of Burhan Wani and tens of thousands of other Kashmiris will not go in vain and Kashmiris will soon get freedom from India, he said.
Chaudhry said participants of the rally strongly condemned Indian atrocities and voiced their support for the people of Kashmir.
Kashmir Caravan
Leaders of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Jamatud Dawa (JuD), Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM), and Ansarul Umma (AuU) on Wednesday urged upon the government to highlight Indian atrocities.
They were addressing participants of a Kashmir Caravan at Committee Chowk, Rawalpindi before moving towards Islamabad.
Prominent speakers included Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Sirajul Haq, Syed Salahuddin, and Maulana Fazalur Rehman Khalil. Highlighting Kashmir’s geographical, ideological, and economic importance, Sirajul Haq said the valley was a lifeline of Pakistan.
Saeed said people of Pakistan did not consider themselves separate from Kashmiris.
Killing of Burhan Vani had united the Kashmiri people and the international community should raise its voice against Indian excesses in Kashmir, he said.
Salahuddin said that Kashmiri people were hoisting Pakistani flags despite all cruelties. They have been burying their dead wrapped in Pakistani flags, he said.
Press conference
Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Chaudhry Barjees Tahir said world peace was linked to the solution of the Kashmir dispute.
He said this, while addressing a press conference on Wednesday.
He said the world should act now.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2016.
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