Cross-border firing: Protests held against Indian aggression

Demonstrators demand UN to take notice of ceasefire violations

MUZAFFARABAD: As India continued its cross-border shelling at the Line of Control (LoC), people in  different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Monday staged rallies against the continuous ceasefire violations in the border regions.

Hundreds of people in Tatapani area of Kotli, close to LoC, took to the streets on Monday and chanted  anti-India slogans calling for an end to the cross-border firing. “We want freedom; stop ceasefire violation on LoC. Where is the United Nations,” they cried.

The protesters were also carrying banners inscribed with messages against the ongoing human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir.



“Modi stop bloodshed of Kashmiris” one such banner read, calling on the Indian prime minister to restrain his troops in the disputed region. “Give Kashmiris their right of self-determination” read another banner. “Indians have violated the ceasefire, which means they have attacked the sovereignty of Pakistan,” said Nadeem Hassan, one of the protestors taking part in the rally.

“The Nawaz Sharif led-government should raise the issue of recent ceasefire violations committed by Indian army at international forums,” he added. Another protester said that Indian forces had no respect for  humanity and attacking innocent civilians living along the LoC was the worst kind of human rights violation.

Protests were also staged in Muzaffarabad against the Indian aggression. Demonstrators gathered at Gharipan Chowk, where they burnt an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The protesters were chanting  slogans vociferously  in favour of Kashmir liberation movement and Pakistan army. Later the protesters  dispersed  peacefully.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2016.