Nation observes Youm-e-Istehsal in solidarity with Kashmiris
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: File
Youm-e-Istehsal was observed across Pakistan and around the world on Friday to mark the completion of third year of Indian military siege of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and denounce illegal, immoral and unconstitutional step to strip its special status.
A series of activities, including seminars and conferences to mark the Youm-e-Istehsal, were held in the federal capital and other all major cities of the country to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people while rallies were also staged with vibrant participation of people from all walks of life.
The whole nation expressed solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren and expressed their support to them in their just struggle for right to independence and against the atrocities committed by the Indian forces.
Kashmiris living on both the sides of the Line of Control and all over the world also observed Youm-e-Istehsal to condemn unconstitutional step taken by India on August 5, 2019.
President Alvi said that since August 5, 2019, more than 650 extra-judicial killings in Kashmir. “In Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, destruction and burning of houses, execution of collective punishment and other methods of subjugation are the daily routine,” Alvi said.
He observed that the “extreme cruelty and coercion” of the occupation forces could not break the spirit of the Kashmiris. He reiterated that Pakistan and the international community had rejected Indian actions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday condemned India’s use of “unbridled force with complete impunity” in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as the country observes the third anniversary of unilateral measures taken by New Delhi to alter the status of the disputed territory.
Taking to his official Twitter handle, the prime minister said Friday marked the sombre third anniversary of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, which aimed at changing the internationally-recognised disputed status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Separately, the armed forces said in a statement that they stood with the “brave and resilient” people of IIOJK in their struggle for the right to self-determination as per UN resolutions.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has addressed a letter to the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha, apprising him about the dire situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In the letter, the foreign minister recalled that three years ago, on August 5, 2019, India imposed illegal and unilateral measures in IIOJK.
Indian envoy summoned
Meanwhile, the Indian Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad was called to the Foreign Ministry and conveyed Pakistan’s unequivocal rejection of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK)
“A strong protest was registered over the series of illegitimate measures taken by India in order to unilaterally alter the internationally-recognised disputed status of the territory and to accentuate its brutal military occupation,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
The foreign Office also called upon the international community, international human rights organisations and particularly the UN and its human rights machinery to hold India accountable for its reprehensible conduct and ensure a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Senate resolution
In connection with the third anniversary of the unilateral Indian actions in IIOJK, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution, expressing solidarity with the Kashmiris. Leader of the House Azam Nazir Tarar moved the resolution on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal.
The motion stated that India violated the UN resolutions on August 5, 2019. It added that Pakistan had raised a strong voice regarding the status of Kashmir and approached international forums on this issue. It was also stated that Pakistan would not rest until the freedom of Kashmir.
"The onus is on India to create conditions for a dialogue to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," Ambassador Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, said in his opening remarks at a webinar on Friday organized by the Pakistan Mission to mark Youm-e-Istehsal - the third anniversary of the Indian siege of occupied Jammu & Kashmir.