#IIOJKUnderSiege – Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir observed as a sign of protest

The entire nation united on August 5 (Wednesday) to observe Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir as a sign of protest and expression of solidarity with the Kashmiris brethren against the Indian move last year on the same day to revoke the special status of the Occupied Kashmir.

In this connection, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the Kashmiri people in the Indian-held Kashmir had been subjected to a brutal fascist military siege by India since the illegal action of August 5 last year followed by efforts to change the demography of the region.

The prime minister, in a series of tweets, said, “I will address the AJK Assembly today to show solidarity with Kashmiris on Youm-e-Istehsal.”

I will address the AJK Assembly today to show solidarity with Kashmiris on Youm-e-Istehsal. Kashmiris in IIOJK have been subjected to a brutal fascist military siege by India since its illegal actions of 5th Aug last year followed by efforts to change the demography of IIOJK.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 5, 2020

“I will continue to be an ambassador for all Kashmiris whose voices India has tried to silence through its brutal illegal occupation,” he added.

https://youtu.be/4xAuL25xqB4

Imran said his government had raised the Kashmir issue effectively after many years before the United Nations and exposed the Hindutva supremacist fascism of the Modi government.

“We have also depicted the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” he said added, “Our commitment to the UNSC resolutions in the political map of Pakistan released yesterday.”

As the nation is observing the day across the country, massive rallies are being conducted in all the towns and cities.

In Islamabad, President Arif Alvi told a rally that the actions taken by New Delhi regarding Kashmir were illegal and asked the United Nations to take notice of the developments.

“We appeal to the United Nations that media should be allowed to enter the [Occupied] Kashmir,” said Alvi, adding that the Kashmiris were not ready to remain part of India.

Shehbaz Sharif: We are one on Kashmir

Opposition Leader in National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif in a tweet said, “Irrespective of our political/internal differences, today we are together in calling out India for its crimes against humanity in IOK and expressing our unflinching solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters who are battling Modi's fascism with heroic courage.”

Shehbaz Sharif said, “World will be thankful to Kashmiris for standing up to state terrorism & keeping banner of freedom afloat at a time when doing so was not easy. With IOK having been reduced to prison for a year, peace on South Asia is precariously poised. International community should pay heed.”

Irrespective of our political/internal differences, today we are together in calling out India for its crimes against humanity in IOK & expressing our unflinching solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers&sisters who are battling Modi's fascism with heroic courage! #5thAugustBlackDay

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 5, 2020

In Lahore, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Information Minister Fayyaz Al Hassan Chauhan, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Akhtar Malik, Dr Yasmeen Rashid took out a rally from Governor House to Charing Cross to show solidarity with Kashmiris in IOK.

Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar addressing a Youm-e-Istehsal rally at Charing Cross said that 220 million people of Pakistan are united to show solidarity with Kashmiris.

Sarwar said, “On 5 August Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi violated all United Nations rules and he no doubt is Hitler's successor.”

“Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that I am the ambassador of Kashmiris. We will highlight the atrocities taking place in Kashmir at all the international forums,” the governor said.

The Punjab Governor said that there was a time when the international community was not ready to listen to the voice of Kashmir and we faced difficulties in presenting the cause of Kashmir but now Kashmir’s voice is being reached everywhere.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar arrived at Governor House where sirens sounded for one minute to show solidarity with the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Usman Buzdar said that India’s arrogant attitude is a threat to regional peace and Narendra Modi's worst face has been exposed to the world.

“The people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been imprisoned for a year. We express our full solidarity with the Kashmiri people on this day and the whole of Pakistan has stood up for the just rights of Kashmiris,” he said while addressing the participants of the rally.

Sindh governor, chief minister

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah addressing a rally organized by the Karachi Commissioner on Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir at Seaview said that the longest curfew in the history of the world has been in force in Occupied Kashmir for a year now.

“Despite the atrocities, Kashmiris are still fighting for their rights. Sindh Assembly is presenting a special resolution for Kashmiris in the assembly today,” Murad Ali Shah said. Leaders from different political parties, civil society and business communities participated in the rally. 

Sindh Governor Imran Ismael said, “India has to leave the Occupied Valley one day and Kashmiris will get liberation. Prime Minister Imran Khan has unveiled a new political map of Pakistan that shows the occupied valley as part of Pakistan.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President and parliamentary party leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh said, “India is occupying the great valley of Kashmir. Kashmiris have been besieged for a year and thousands of youths have been arrested and martyred.”

Foreign Minister Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a tweet said, “Children beaten to death Young men picked up in the dead of the night and made to disappear. Women widowed. Demographic alteration. Communication blackout. Unimaginable savagery. This is #IIOJK, 1 year on. Pakistan will always stand by the people of Kashmir.”

Children beaten to death. Young men picked up in the dead of the night and made to disappear. Women widowed. Demographic alteration. Communication blackout. Unimaginable savagery. This is #IIOJK, 1 year on. Pakistan will always stand by the people of Kashmir. #IIOJKUnderSiege pic.twitter.com/OyWu6a9JZq

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) August 5, 2020

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman in a message on "Kashmir Exploitation Day" said 5 August is another dark chapter in the history of atrocities against the Kashmiri people.

Shah Farman said India’s illegal move to change the special constitutional status of Occupied Kashmir further intensified the Kashmiri’s struggle for independence and curfew and siege imposed by Indian Army since last 5th has been an illegal and cruel act.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Accountability & Interior Mirza Shahzad Akbar said, ‘On this dark day in history, every Pakistani condemns India's aggressive occupation of Kashmir and with Kashmiris at every step in their struggle for self-determination. The United Nations has a duty to act against Indian human rights violations and exploitations, Kashmiris can decide their own future.”

تاریخ کے اس سیاہ دن ہر پاکستانی کشمیر پر انڈیاکے غاصبانہ قبضہ کی مذمت کرتا ہےاورکشمیر کے حق خود ارادیت کے حصول کی جدو جہد میں ہر قدم پر ان کے ساتھ ہے.انسانی حقوق کی پامالی اور استحصال پر اقوامِ عالم پہ فرض ہے، وہ اپنا کردار ادا کریں تاکہ کشمیری اپنے مستقبل کا فیصلہ خود کر سکیں

— Mirza Shahzad Akbar (@ShazadAkbar) August 5, 2020

One-minute silence was observed at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headquarters in Lahore on the day of exploitation of Kashmiris being observed today. PCB and National High Performance Center staff observed a minute's silence to show solidarity with Kashmiris all the staff also gathered at Gaddafi Stadium.