Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday paid tribute to Kashmiris Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmiri (Kashmir Martyrs Day), saying that he has kept the “flame of freedom” alive despite Indian aggression.
It was on July 13, 1931, when hundreds of Kashmiris gathered outside the premises of the Central Jail in Srinagar, where Abdul Qadir, a resident of British India, was being tried for sedition against the Dogra ruler for inciting Kashmiris. In a meeting at Khanqah-e-Mulla on 21 June of the same year.
During the afternoon prayer, a member of the crowd stood up to offer prayers and was shot by the police. He was succeeded by another member who met the same fate. In all, 22 people rose to meet the call of prayer and all were shot and killed.
Kashmir Martyrs Day was also celebrated in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). However, in December 2019, four months after revoking the occupied Valley’s special status, the BJP government removed the day from the region’s official holiday list.
In a tweet paying tribute to Kashmiris, PM Shahbaz said: “Kashmir Martyrs’ Day commemorates the sacrifices that Kashmiris have made for their unwavering and UN-sanctioned right of self-determination. Keeping the flame of freedom alive from the Indian yoke Generations of Kashmiris in the face of Indian tyranny and oppression.”
The Prime Minister’s son, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz also paid tribute to the people of IIOJK. “Our heart beats with the brave Kashmiris.”
Pakistan urges India to stop state terrorism in Occupied Kashmir
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office (FO) in a statement said that the government and people of Pakistan are observing Martyrs’ Day and paying tribute to the 22 Kashmiris who made the ultimate sacrifice by Dogra forces using indiscriminate force on them in 1931. . ,
“On this gloomy day, we join our Kashmiri brothers on both sides of the Line of Control to commemorate the contribution of the martyrs of 1931,” the FO said.
However, it expressed regret that Kashmiris are still struggling against illegal occupation of India.
“Even today, the 900,000-strong Indian occupation forces continue to take Kashmiri people hostage under the worst military siege to maintain their wrongful occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.
“India’s illegal and unilateral action of August 5, 2019 was another attempt to deprive the Kashmiri people of their unique identity and convert them into a minority in their own land,” the FO said.
The FO statement said that since then over 640 Kashmiris have been martyred in extra-judicial killings, while 120 have been “cold blooded martyrs” this year alone.
“In 2020, hurting the sentiments of Kashmiris, India canceled the regional public holiday on Kashmir Martyrs Day, which had been observed every year since 1948. India also called off the traditional Guard of Honor ceremony at the Shaheed Cemetery .
“As we honor the invaluable sacrifices of the heroes of 1931 as well as all the innocent Kashmiris who have sacrificed their lives in this just struggle, Pakistan once again calls on India to immediately stop its state terrorism at IIOJK, all Urges to stop human rights violations, release all political prisoners, remove inhuman military sieges, halt its efforts to change the demographic composition of the occupied territory, and allow the Kashmiri people to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination. “
The FO also called on the international community, global human rights organizations and the United Nations to pay attention to the serious human rights and humanitarian situation at IIOJK and to ensure a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of Kashmiri. People.