Sindh set to mark Youm-e-Istehsal

All set for observing the third anniversary of India's military siege of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), known as Youm-e-Istehsal, across Sindh on August 5 (Friday).

Rallies have been planned in all big and small towns, including Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore-Kandhkot, and all other districts of the province to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiris. On August 5, 2019, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi abolished Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution which granted special status to IIOJK and made the entire Constitution of India applicable to the disputed state.

Sukkur Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Phull, while talking to APP on Wednesday, urged the world to take note of the atrocities committed in IIOJK. India's illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 and subsequent measures, particularly pertaining to the domicile rules and the land ownership laws, were aimed at changing the demographic structure of IIOJK and converting the Kashmiris into a minority in their own land, he said. He vowed to continue supporting Kashmiris' right to self-determination as accorded to them by the UN.

Meanwhile, the Protection and Human Rights Organization (PHRO) in collaboration with Inter Global Human Development Society (IGHDS) organised an event titled 'Youm-e-Istehsal' to mark the Indian military siege of IIOJK at a hotel on Wednesday.

PHRO CEO Samreen Najeeb highlighted that the fascist Modi-led government attempted to change the internationally-recognized disputed status of IIOJK on August, 5, 2019, by abrogating Articles 370 and 35A of India's constitution, thereby not only violating the UNSC resolutions but its very own constitution by depriving IIOJK of its special status.

She said the Indian government deployed thousands of additional troops to the disputed region, imposed a crippling curfew, cutting off access to essential services, arrested political leaders and shut down all forms of communication; which have resulted in one of the greatest humanitarian crises the world has ever witnessed.

IGHDS CEO Nosheen Khan, in her address, emphasized that the unilateral act of the Indian government has defied Kashmiris' aspirations and has planted the seeds for greater resistance in the IIOJK.

Sindh Rural Support Organisation's Manager Muhammad Akram said that the world is slowly recognizing the Indian government's atrocities and oppression of the Kashmiri people and the day is not far when they will attain their right to self-determination.

On occasion, Moona Bhutto, Keenjhar Nazeer, Rafia Awan, Bashir Soomro, and others also addressed the gathering. People from all aspects of life, including lawyers, journalists, social workers, religious leaders and the Christian community participated in the event.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2022.