Daily Times

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Monday said that Kashmiris in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir had been bracing the worst kind of Indian atrocities with bravery and reiterated that they were not alone in their just struggle for right to self-determination.

In a press statement on the Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir, the minister said the whole political and military leadership of Pakistan and the Pakistani nation had been standing in solidarity with the Kashmiris in their just struggle for the right to self-determination and prayed for their success to get rid of the illegal occupation of India.

Qureshi further said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan, as ambassador for the Kashmiris, has been raising the issue vociferously and openly at all fora including the United Nations.”

He said thousands of people in Serbia had been killed but the world remained silent. The international community must learn from these horrific experiences and should not shut their eyes over the situation in IOJ&K. China had altogether rejected Indian unilateral steps of August 5 last year over IOJ&K as it considered Indian occupation of lands as illegal, he said, adding India had gradually been exposed as the world witnessed its humiliation at Ladakh.

The foreign minister also urged the Muslim Ummah to play their effective role in supporting the oppressed Kashmiris by making their voice being heard through social media and at all level. The minister observed that Kashmiris’ struggle had a long history of sacrifices. India had been employing all kinds of sham tactics and illegal steps to suppress their voices. “From the year 1931 to till this day, there were many ups and downs in this historic struggle, but neither such spirit waned, nor the Kashmiri leadership waivered from its stance,” he added.

Earlier, separately, the foreign minister on his twitter account paid tribute to 22 Kashmiris who had laid down their lives during a protest against the Dogra forces in 1931. “I pay tribute to 22 sons of J&K whose courage in face of brutal Dogra forces re-galvanized a decades old struggle for self-determination in 1931; an inalienable right Kashmiris continue to die for to this day,” he added.

Qureshi further said that no occupation could subjugate spirit of brave Kashmiris (in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir).

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen M Mazari on Monday said 22 Kashmiris were martyred on this day (Kashmir Martyrs’ Day) in 1931, as they fought against ruler’s atrocities and for freedom.

The minister said in a twitter message that “since then generations of Kashmiris have continued their struggle for freedom from illegal Indian occupation, adding that thousands have been martyred”.

She said,” today the struggle continues as the fascist Modi government tries an illegal annexation of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and seeks to change the demography of the Occupied territory against all international law incl Fourth Geneva Convention”.

The minister offered salute the commitment and bravery of the Kashmiri people.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Monday paid homage to 22 Kashmiris martyred who was killed by the troops of Dogra Maharaja on July 13, 1931 for appearing outside the Central Jail in Srinagar in support of Abdul Qadeer who was charged for propelling people to defy the Dogra Rule.

In his message on Kashmir Martyrs Day, being observed across the country, today and both sides of the Line of Control, he said the Martyrs had sacrificed their lives for the glory of Islam and the right to self-determination for Kashmiris. India has failed badly to break the determination and courage of Kashmiri people and the sun of freedom would be rise soon in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

The Minister said, Pakistan would never step back for supporting the innocent people of Kashmir until the provision of their due rights and freedom. Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said would continue to plead the case of Kashmiris at every international forum as their Ambassador and Lawyer.