RAWALPINDI: Black Day was observed on Friday to express solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir against the occupation of their region by the Indian forces in 1947.

Seminars, photographic exhibition and walk marked the Black Day.

On October 27, 1947, Indian forces entered Srinagar and declared it Indian part. In both sides ofKashmir, Black Day was observed to remind the United Nations about its resolution which guarantees right to self determination to Kashmiris.

Rawalpindi Arts Council organised a photographic exhibition and protest walk to mark the Black Day.

RAC Director Waqar Ahmad was chief guest at the inaugural ceremony. While speaking on the occasion, he said that the pain of Occupied Kashmir is the pain of Pakistan.

“Pakistan and Kashmir are two bodies like one soul. Fascist India has completely banned freedom of expression in Occupied Kashmir, where journalists are being massacred,” he said. Rawalpindi Arts Council has always presented the true image of Occupied Kashmir to the world, he added. He said that 76 years ago, India occupied Jammu and Kashmir illegally.

Other speakers said that the sun of freedom will surely rise.

They said that Kashmir is an incomplete agenda of partition of Indian Subcontinent. They said that Indian Army is involved in the genocide of Kashmiris in the occupied valley.

They said that the silence of the international community on the violation of human rights in Occupied Kashmir is a cause for concern.

Even after 76 years, they said that the United Nations has failed to implement the resolutions of the Security Council. The photo exhibition highlighted Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir.

During the exhibition, a documentary revealing Indian atrocities on Kashmiris was also shown.

Meanwhile, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Rawalpindi also arranged a walk from its offices to Murree Road to raise their voice for Kashmiris. PHA officials were carrying placards and raised slogans against the Indian forces.

Taxila

The tehsil administration Hassanabdal observed Black Day here on Friday to express solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir against the occupation of their region by the Indian forces in 1947.

The tehsil administration held a rally outside the municipal complex. Assistant commissioner Dr Sana Ramchand led it, while officials of the education and local government departments, representatives of religious groups, and members of Kashmiri community attended it.

The participants held placards inscribed with slogans against India over the occupation of Kashmir.

They demanded the United Nations resolve the longstanding dispute in line with the desires of the people of occupied Kashmir. Addressing to the participants, Dr Sana condemned India over the dispute and said Kashmir was part of Pakistan and no force could separate them. She said the people of Pakistan fully supported the demand of Kashmiris for the right to self-determination and that Kashmiris would get freedom soon.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2023