Black Day Rally in Athmuqam Calls for Kashmiris’ Right to Self-Determination

Neelum:  On the occasion of Black Day, October 27, a grand rally was taken out under the auspices of the district administration and civil society from Shuhada-e-Bantal Chowk to Lorry Adda Athmuqam, in which people from different walks of life including Anjuman-e-Tajiran, civil society, students, lawyers and journalists participated.

The rally was led by Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Athmuqam, Chaudhry Muhammad Basharat. The participants were carrying banners and placards and chanting slogans against the arrival of the Indian army in occupied Jammu and Kashmir on October 27, 1947, and its military action, while expressing support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

Addressing the participants of the rally, the speakers said that October 27 is the darkest day in the history of the Kashmiri people, when Indian forces landed in Srinagar and the Indian occupation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir began. They said that the Kashmiri people have been struggling for their fundamental rights, freedom and right to self-determination for the past several decades, while the people of the occupied valley are still facing countless hardships and restrictions.

The speakers demanded from the international community and the United Nations to ensure implementation of their approved resolutions for the solution of the Kashmir issue and to give the Kashmiri people the right to decide their future through a free, fair and impartial plebiscite. They said that a just solution to the Kashmir issue is indispensable for establishing lasting peace in South Asia and international institutions should play an effective role in resolving this long-standing conflict.

The speakers further said that the people of Azad Kashmir stand with their brothers and sisters of occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle. The purpose of observing Black Day is to awaken the global conscience, to draw the world’s attention towards Indian actions and to reiterate support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

At the end of the rally, special prayers were offered for the freedom of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, their right to self-determination and for the martyrs of Kashmir.