KARACHI: Proces-sions, rallies, seminars and walks were held across Sindh on Friday to observe ‘Black Day’ marking anniversary of Indian invasion of Kashmir on Oct 27, 1947.

In Karachi, educational institutions, human rights organisations and civil society organised different events to mark the day. At the University of Karachi, “Kashmir Black Day” event was arranged by the KU Students’ Adviser Office to express solidarity with people of the occupied valley.

At Sindh Madressatul Islam University, students held an exhibition of posters carrying images of Kashmiri people being victimised by Indian forces.

Former Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab said in their messages that the world community should play its role in getting the longstanding dispute resolved.

In Hyderabad, processions were taken out by Sindh University and Hyderabad commissioner. Participants in the SU procession carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans demand that the United Nations resolve the longstanding dispute.

The university teachers said that Kashmir was part of Pakistan and Oct 27, 1947, was undoubtedly the blackest day in the history of mankind when India committed aggression against innocent Kashmiris.

They said that Indian forces had killed at least 80,000 Kashmiris and called for a negotiated settlement of the dispute, which would be the first step towards ensuring durable peace in the region.

Students and teachers of SU’s Laar campus Badin also organised a seminar to mark the day.

Hyderabad Commis-sioner Khalid Hyder Shah led a procession in which DC Tariq Qureshi, Mayor Kashif Shoro, officers, students and social activists took part. The commissioner said that Kashmir was Pakistan’s jugular vein and Kashmiri people should be given their right to self-determination.

Tando Allahyar DC Gohar Memon, who led a procession in the town, said in his speech before the participants that India had unleashed reign of terror against Kashmiris. Pakistani people had always raised their voice against Indian excesses in Kashmir, he said

In Nawabshah, Naushahro Feroze and Sanghar districts, processions were taken out by district administrations.

Speakers said at the gatherings that Indian forces were oppressing people of Kashmir. They condemned Indian conspiracy to convert Muslim majority into minority in the occupied Kashmir and demanded the United Nations implement its resolutions on the simmering dispute.

Officials of National Highway and Motorway police also took out a procession in Naushahro Feroze.

Similar processions were brought out in Daur, Qazi Ahmed and other towns of Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar.

In Larkana, the commissioner and deputy commissioners organised processions and gatherings in district headquarters.

The speakers said that people must learn meaning of freedom from people of Kashmir and Palestine who were sacrificing their lives for the noble cause.

Children from different schools staged tableaus and delivered speeches to mark the day. Motorway police, Larkana Social Alliance and other social organisations staged demonstrations and processions.

In Badin, district and taluka administrations observed black day by organising processions. The leaders demanded the UN take practical steps to hold plebiscite in occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

In Mirpurkhas, students, teachers, government officers and staff participated in different processions.

A similar procession was taken out in Digri town.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2023