ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: Kashmiris on Monday observed a black day in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir like elsewhere in the world and condemned the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by India, calling for immediate settlement of the longstanding dispute.

It was on October 27, 1947, when Indian troops invaded Kashmir in clear violation of the partition plan of the subcontinent.

The call for observance of a black day was given by Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee.

In Islamabad, a big protest rally was taken out to mark the event. The rally led by All Parties Hurriet Conference (APHC) Azad Kashmir chapter’s convenor Syed Yousaf Naseem and other APHC leaders. It was attended by prominent Kashmiri leaders and a large number of activists.

The protesters, including women, children and senior citizens, also staged a sit-in outside the offices of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of Kashmir’s liberation and condemning the Indian atrocities against the Kashmiris.

Leaders of the APHC while speaking on the occasion termed the massacre of Kashmiris as the worst example of India’s state terrorism. They condemned the increasing atrocities of the Indian occupation troops in the held Kashmir, but made it clear that the Kashmiris’ struggle to achieve the inherent right to self-determination could not be quelled through the brutal use of force.

The protesters urged the international community to persuade India to withdraw troops from the held Kashmir and repeal all black laws enforced there. They also demanded immediate release of those languishing in jails for demanding their internationally recognised right to self-determination.

They said Kashmiris were waging a struggle to achieve their right and half a million Kashmiris had laid down their lives for the noble cause.

Jammu Kashmir People’s Muslim League President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry asked the Pakistani government to come out with a clear-cut policy on Kashmir, saying that contradictory statements of politicians were creating disappointment among the Kashmiris.

He said the government should convene another in-camera session of the parliament wherein the Kashmiri leaders should also be invited.

Stressing that a true representative government in Azad Kashmir can only help resolve the Kashmir issue, he urged the centre to dismiss the present AJK government, which he alleged had been brought in power through massively rigged elections.

He said the federal government should give a timeframe for holding of free and fair polls in Azad Kashmir.

A memorandum was submitted to the UNMOGIP office for its onward transmission to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calling for implementation of the relevant resolutions on Kashmir.

Agencies Add: Kashmiris on both sides of Line of Control (LoC) and the world observed black day on Monday to mark 61 years of Indian occupation of Kashmir.

In this connection, a rally was held in Bagh which was participated by a large number of people, APP reported.Addressing the gathering, Muslim Conference Bagh district president Sardar Mir Akbar Khan asked India to show flexibility in its behaviour in response to Pakistan’s sincere efforts for solving all problems, including the core issue of Kashmir.

He said Indian rulers must acknowledge the fact that no nation could be deprived of its fundamental right to self-determination by using brutal force against people.

Rejecting the Indian government’s claim that the Pakistani government was carrying out operations in the held valley, he maintained that the world was well aware of the fact that Kashmiris would not abstain from rendering their lives for their indigenous freedom struggle.

A central leader of People’s Party Azad Kashmir, Ziaul Qamar, expressed the resolve that the occupied Kashmir would become the part of Pakistan under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who were sincere to solve this lingering issue.

Anjuman Tajran Bagh president Syed Sadiq Hussain Gardezi said October 27 would be observed as a black day in Kashmir’s history when the Indian government subjugated innocent Kashmiris using brute military force. Other speakers also spoke at length and urged upon India to implement the resolutions adopted by the United Nations on Kashmir.

They also hoped that the day was not far when “Kashmiris on the other side of LoC would win freedom from the torrent clutches of Indian forces”.

They also recalled the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris during their freedom struggle and paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Kashmir.