Islamabad/Web Desk:
The nation is observing Youm-e-Istehsal on Thursday, 5th August to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people on completion of two years of the military siege of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It was on the 5th of August 2019 that the special constitutional status of IIOJ&K was scrapped by the Modi government.
A host of events have been arranged in order to denounce the Indian unilateral illegal actions against the Kashmiri people. Solidarity walks are arranged in all the main cities including the federal capital. A rally was arranged at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark the day. President Arif Alvi led the rally in Islamabad.
The participants of the walk wore black bands and carry the flags of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. One minute silence is to be observed across the country. Traffic halted for one minute. Radio and television channels played Pakistan and AJK national anthems immediately after one-minute silence.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan in his message on Youm-e-Istehsal said: “Today marks two years since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).
PM Imran Khan urges the world to hold India accountable. Prime Minister Imran Khan has reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause.
“We will continue to extend all possible assistance to Kashmiris till the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination and a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people,” he said.
Speaking to the media, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to support oppressed Kashmiris. “A day will come when they get the freedom from Indian occupation. Indian Aug 5 actions have been rejected by the people of Kashmir and the rest of the world,” he noted.
Speaking at the rally, President Alvi said no Pakistani will rest until occupied Kashmir, under Indian military siege, is not liberated. “Pakistan will liberate occupied Kashmir,” he said. “Let me warn India that Pakistan is a strong nation,” he added.
President Alvi said that Islamabad would not hold talks with New Delhi until it reversed its August 5 actions. The Pakistani president reminded the world of its promises to the people of Kashmir. “The UN promised to grant the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir,” he noted.
President Alvi said India was changing the demographics of occupied Kashmir to suit its agenda, adding that New Delhi had trampled the principles of freedom and was setting back efforts to restore peace in the region.
The president also led prayers for the martyrs in occupied Kashmir.
