Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday described the martyrs of July 13, 1931 as the forefathers of the today’s resistance by the Kashmiri people and said the day wasn’t far when Kashmir would be liberated.
And in Occupied Kashmir, a complete shutdown, marked by curfew-like restrictions, was being observed in the memory of the 90th Kashmir Martyrs Day.
Imran, expressing his views on the Kashmir Martyrs Day, said they saluted the Kashmiris for their continued struggle against the illegal and barbaric Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Their descendants have, generation after generation, laid down their lives for freedom”, said the prime minister in a series of tweets.
He added that they continued fighting and defying valiantly a Hindutva Supremacist regime bent on demographic engineering to wipe out the Kashmiri people and their identity.
Talking about the role Islamabad has played to promote the struggle of the Kashmiris, Imran said Pakistan had always stood steadfast for the Kashmiri right to self-determination.
Pakistan would continue to support the just struggle till the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir was liberated from the clutches of illegal occupation, he added. “That day is not far.”
Similarly, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said 22 Kashmiri youth took on despotic Dogra Raj in 1931 and wrote a history of bravery.
“Despite intensification of violence post-August 5 by India, Kashmiris of all ages and cross genders were challenging Modi’s fascism today with their blood. They are hope of future!” he added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said no occupation could subjugate spirit of the brave Kashmir.
On the other hand, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said success in the ongoing struggle was the destiny of the Kashmiri people.
In a statement, he said the Kashmir Martyrs Day was reminiscent of the utmost price paid for freedom by brave the Kashmiris.
“Every single drop of blood shall not be forgotten nor be forgiven. Decades of Indian atrocities failed to suppress insurmountable spirit,” added Maj Gen Babar.
Kashmir Media Service reported that the strike call was given by the veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat forum.
Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed by the Delhi-run government in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir valley to prevent anti-India protests and rallies and a march towards Mazar-e-Shuhada, Naqshband Sahib in Srinagar. Barricades have been placed near the historic clock tower in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, while the forcers’ personnel deployed in strength to prevent the march.
Almost all Hurriyat leaders and activists, including Syed Ali Gilani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, are either languishing in jails or under house detention. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Chairman, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and several Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists were arrested, yesterday.
It was on the 13th of July 1931 when the troops of Dogra Maharaja had killed 22 Kashmiris, one after another, who had turned up in thousands outside Central Jail in Srinagar during the court proceedings against one Abdul Qadeer who had asked Kashmiri people to defy the Dogra rule.
It was time for Zuhr prayers when a young man started the call for prayers (Azaan) but was shot dead by the Maharaja’s soldiers. Thus, 22 youth sacrificed their lives till the completion of Azaan.