Nation to observe Kashmir Hour today

Imran urges need to express solidarity with Kashmiris, slam India’s ‘fascist oppression’

ISLAMABAD: The nation will observe Kashmir Hour on Friday (today) from 12pm to 12:30pm on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people in the wake of India revoking the special status of the occupied valley and imposing a lockdown there which entered its 25th consecutive day on Thursday.

The main event of the Kashmir Hour will be organised on Islamabad’s Constitution Avenue where the prime minister will arrive accompanied by members of parliament. Federal ministers and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders will also gather at D-Chowk. Besides, the premier will address students at the lawn of Parliament House. Siren will blare at noon and traffic signals will be turned red on all thoroughfares of federal capital. The National Anthem will be sung along with the anthem of Kashmir. Government employees will leave their offices at noon to participate in Kashmir Hour on the streets.

The government has also postponed the joint session of parliament called to mark the start of the new parliamentary year.

Protest demonstrations have been organised at specified locations in all districts of the country. The locations will be selected by deputy commissioners. On the directives of the prime minister, elected representatives will lead the demonstrations in their respective constituencies. Members of the civil society and students have also been invited to participate in the protests.

In a series of tweets on Thursday, PM Imran called on all Pakistanis to participate in ‘Kashmir Hour’ to express solidarity with Kashmiris and condemn India’s “fascist oppression” in the disputed territory.

"I want all Pakistanis to come out tomorrow (Friday) 12 noon-12.30 pm to show solidarity with the Kashmiri people," the premier wrote on Twitter, adding: "We must send a strong message to Kashmiris that our nation stands resolutely behind them."

PM Imran further said New Delhi’s attempt to change the demography of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) was a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention.

He added that the nearly month-long curfew in the occupied valley and the use of force against Kashmiri civilians were “all part of the ethnic cleansing agenda of the Modi government and its illegal annexation of IOK”.

In his address to the nation this week, PM Imran Khan announced the government’s plan to observe Kashmir Hour every Friday from 12pm to 12pm to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday said Pakistan would give a “strong message to the world by expressing solidarity with the oppressed people of occupied Kashmir on Friday.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Major General Asif Ghafoor said in line with the government’s announcement, the National Anthem and the anthem of Kashmir will be sung, while sirens will blare on Friday noon to mark the Kashmir Hour. Maj Gen Ghafoor appealed to the country’s youth to participate in the government’s initiative to observe ‘Kashmir Hour’ every week.

Tensions have soared since August 5 when the Indian government stripped the occupied Kashmir of its special status, which prevented outsiders from buying property and settling in the disputed territory -- a move aimed at changing the demography of the Muslim-dominated valley.

A day before the move, India imposed a curfew and communication blockade in the occupied valley. The heavy restrictions on movement and communication blackout continued for the 25th straight day on Thursday.