Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad resonated with slogans in favour of the Kashmiri people as well as against the ongoing Indian hostility in the valley on Wednesday.The government also announced the observation a “Black Day”.

Initially, the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced to observe a “Black Day” to slam the Indian atrocities in Indian-held Kashmir on July 19, but later on the date was changed due to Kashmir’s accession on the same date and it was decided to observe a “Black Day” on July 20 (Wednesday).

As per the directions of the federal government, the officials working in all the ministries and the government attached departments wore black arm bands while performing their duties to express their political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris during working hours.

The legal fraternity also observed the Black Day. The Rawalpindi District Bar Association and Islamabad District Bar Association held special references in this regard. The lawyers’ leadership demanded the prompt implementation of the United Nations’ resolutions on the Kashmir issue.

Addressing the participants of a protest rally in Islamabad on Wednesday, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid said that the Kashmiris were raising their voice for their fundamental rights.

The State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Mayor Islamabad Shaikh Ansar Aziz, were also present on the occasion.

The Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, attended a separate function. He said, “Pakistan is trying to mobilise the public opinion in different countries to get support for the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

The concept to observe the Black Day surfaced after the ongoing Indian hostility and brutality to curb the protests which emerged soon after the martyrdom of Hurriyat commander Burhan Wani in Indian-held Kashmir.

The main roads of the twin cities were decorated with banners and hoardings containing slogans which proclaimed: “Plebiscite is the fundamental right of the Kashmiris”; “Kashmir Baney Ga Pakistan”, and several other similar ones condemning the Indian aggression in occupied Kashmir.

The biggest show of the twin cities was the “Azadi Kashmir Karwan” which was held under the flag of the Tehreek Azadi-e-Kashmir, but Jamat-ud-Dawa Pakistan and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan were the major promoters of the two-day event, which started from Lahore under the leadership of Hafiz Saeed Ahmed and Liaqat Baloch.

A large number of protesters reached Islamabad by crossing the main Murree road, whereas the last stage was set at the main Kashmir Highway in front of the Pakistan Sports Board.

The Ameer JI Sirajul Haq, the President Awami Muslim League Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed, the President Pakistan Muslim League-Z Ijazul-Haq and Commander Salah-ud-Deen were the key speaker in the occasion.

While addressing the protesters, Hafiz Saeed said, “Islamabad is not our destination, but the ultimate destination of Azadi Karwan is Kashmir.” Ameer JI Sirajul Haq declared Kashmir issue as an issue of life and death for Pakistan. He demanded that government should completely disconnect bilateral relations with India till the resolution of Kashmir dispute.

The Kashmir Highway and the Murree road had become choked due to the presence of protesters, but the traffic police diverted the traffic on other roads.