Political leaders in AJK observe 'Youm-e-Istehsal'

Youm-e-Istehsal was observed on Friday, across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with the pledge to continue the support to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their fight for seeking rights of self-determination.

In this regard, a rally was led by AJK’s Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, Minister for Local Government Khawaja Farooq and Former Premier Farooq Haider from District Complex to United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) as a protest against the re-annexation of IIOJK with India on August 5, 2019.

"Dividing IIOJK into two union territories while merging them into India at gunpoint and under lockdown was the violation of the UN charter and its resolutions on IIOJK but the government in AJK will continue to raise their voices against the human rights abuses committed by the Indian Army in IIOJK at the international level," said the premier.

In another event to condemn the act, President of Pakistan Peoples’ Party AJK Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen said, “Modi’s fascist regime in New Delhi forcibly merged IIOJK with its union and dozens of measures have been taken during the last three years to convert Muslim majority into a minority. More than 4 million state subject certificates have already been issued to extremist Hindus”.

“India must understand that IIOJK is an international dispute which can only be resolved as per UN resolutions through tripartite talks between Kashmiris, Pakistan and India," he added

Read: Youm-e–Istehsal observed in several world capitals

Whereas in a statement issued by Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM) Chairman Altaf Ahmed Bhat, he urged Kashmiris across the globe to raise their voice against IIOJK oppression and aimed to carry out their rightful struggle till complete freedom from Indian illegal occupation.

“On this day Hindu extremist backed Modi government and revoked the special status of IIOJK while violating the spirit of United Nations resolutions on the vexed Kashmir issue," Bhat said recalling August 5.

"August 5, should be observed every year as an “Exploitation Day,” and Kashmiri diaspora should protest outside Indian embassies across the globe every year as they did yesterday."

“Kashmiris will never relinquish their rightful struggle for their rights. Scrapping India’s only Muslim-majority state with its autonomy reflects the real face of the Hindu extremist Modi regime. It was very unfortunate that the Muslim majority state of Jammu and Kashmir was also split into two federally administered territories. On this day Indian authorities locked the IIOJk down, detaining thousands of people that include dozens of top politicians, imposing restrictions on public movement and enforced a communications blackout for months.”

Bhat added that the “pro-freedom leadership in IIOJK has been in disarray since August 5 when hundreds of leaders and activists were detained and jailed in different Indian cities. Despite these inhuman tactics of India, the people of IIOJK will never compromise on their freedom struggle.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned India’s use of “unbridled force with complete impunity” in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as the country observed the third anniversary of unilateral measures taken by New Delhi to alter the status of the disputed territory.

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).