PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Sunday passed a resolution, demanding of the United Nations to take notice of the violations of human rights in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as people of Pakistan observed Kashmir Black Day on Sunday.

On October 27, 1947, India, without any legal justification, occupied the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The lawmakers, during a session held with deputy speaker Suriya Bibi in the chair, strongly condemned the violations of human rights, demographic changes and India’s crime against humanity in IIOJK.

The resolution, tabled by minister for law and parliamentary affairs Aftab Alam Afridi, said that during last 77 years, over 100,000 Kashmiris had been martyred, over 25,000 women widowed and thousands of children orphaned, besides thousands of Kashmiris were forced to flee their homes.

The house demanded of the international community to take notice of violation of human rights, changing of the status of the occupied territory after the revocation of the Article 35 (A) on August 5, 2019, dividing the region into Jammu and Kashmir and Laddakh, and giving Indian nationals the right of citizenship in the held territory.

Rallies, functions held across various cities to mark Kashmir Black Day

The resolution said that the house considered all these steps against the UN resolutions, according to them Kashmir was a disputed area. It read that the UN Security Council’s Resolution 91, which was passed in 1951, and 122 passed in 1957, clearly stated that no political steps could decide future of IIOJK except for a fair referendum.

The house expressed concern over the presence of over 0.9 million Indian military personnel in the held state, and giving them a licence to kill people under the black laws. “This house terms the threats by India’s political and military leaders to occupy Azad Jammu and Kashmir, a threat to the international peace, and that every citizen of AJK will deter possible Indian aggression,” the resolution said, adding that the house paid tribute to the residents of oppressed region.

The house demanded of the Indian government to restore the Article 35 (A) and give the residents of Kashmir the right to self-determination.

“Today, we observe black day and stand by the residents of India-held Kashmir and vow to continue supporting Kashmiris’ rights and independence,” the resolution read.

The lawmakers later held a walk in solidarity with the people of IIOJK.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur asked the international community to take notice of Indian aggression in Kashmir. He said people of Pakistan stood by the residents of the occupied territory in their movement for independence, according to a statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat on Sunday.

“International community should play its role in giving the people of IIOJK their right to self-determination as per the UN resolutions.

Also, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said October 27 was observed as a day of solidarity with people of IIOJK and that people of Pakistan would always extend their moral and diplomatic support to the people of the occupied state.

In Lakki Marwat, the elementary and secondary education department with support of boy scouts association observed Black Day on Sunday to condemn the occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by Indian armed forces.

In this connection, a rally was taken out from the Government Shaheed Mohammad Ghassan Khan Centennial Model High School No 1 in Lakki City, which converged at Kargil Chowk after marching on the Old Kutchery Road.

Meanwhile, a declamation contest was also held among school students at Government Higher Secondary School No 3, in the Michenkhel locality of Lakki city.

In Lower Dir, different functions were held to mark Kashmir Black Day. District administration in collaboration with the youth affairs, sports departments and Timergara municipal administration organised a function at the district assembly hall to mark the day.

Representatives and officials of various government departments and civil society, teachers, students, volunteers of civil defence and area elders attended the function. The participants also observed one-minute silence to show solidarity with the Kashmiri brothers.

National Commission for Human Development also arranged a function and walk in Chakdara to observe the Kashmir Black Day.

In Kohat, a function was held at the district council hall in connection with the Kashmir Black Day. A large number of people belonging to different walks of life participated in the ceremony. Students presented speeches and poems on the occasion.

Later, a walk was organised where the participants raised slogans in favour of oppressed Kashmiri people. They demanded of the UN to implement its resolutions on Kashmir.

In Shangla, rallies were held in different tehsils to mark Kashmir Black Day.

The main rally was organised in Alpuri, where officials of line departments and district administration were also in attendance. The participants marched through the Alpuri Bazaar carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against Indian aggression in held Kashmir. They demanded of the UN to protect the lives of the people of occupied Kashmir.

Rallies were also held in Charsadda, Bajaur and other districts.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2024