Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over are observing Black Day today to tell the world that India has occupied Jammu and Kashmir against their will and is denying them their inalienable right to self-determination.

On October 27, 1947, Indian troops had invaded Jammu and Kashmir and occupied it in total violation of the Partition Plan of the subcontinent and against the Kashmiris' aspirations.                 

Messages of President and Prime Minister

President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have reiterated their unflinching diplomatic and political support for the just cause of the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In his message, the President paid homage to the sacrifices of the people of occupied Kashmir and said this support will continue till the realization of their lawful right to self-determination.

The President said that United Nations Security Council, through several of its resolutions, has validated the Kashmiris' right to decide their future through a fair and impartial plebiscite. 

In his separate message, the Prime Minister said Pakistan would not relent in its moral, political and diplomatic support until the Kashmiris realize their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He called for immediate implementation of the recommendation to set up a UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate human rights abuses by Indian occupation forces.    

Complete Shutdown in occupied Kashmir

In occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown was observed to mark the 27th October as Black Day to convey to the world that the Kashmiris reject India's illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Call for the shutdown was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik and supported by other pro-freedom organizations.

The puppet authorities have deployed hundreds of Indian forces personnel in Srinagar and other major towns to prevent people from holding anti-India demonstrations.

AJK-Black Day

In Azad Kashmir, main function of the day was held in Muzaffarabad which was attended by Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur and other prominent personalities.

Speaking on the occasion, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur saluted Kashmiri people for their passion and determination in their just cause.  

He said Pakistan will continue to extend moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri brother and sisters and raise voice for them at all available forums.

He said no power on earth can deprive Kashmiris of their right to self- determination acknowledged by the United Nations as well. 

In his address, AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan said that Azad Jammu and Kashmir was liberated by the sons of soil from Dogra rulers after tremendous sacrifices and reiterated the resolve of the Kashmiri people that struggle would continue till the liberation of the occupied part of Jammu and Kashmir from India and make it a part of Pakistan.

Other speakers strongly condemning recent mass killing of Kashmiri youth and scholars in occupied territory, appealed to the UN, international human rights organization and international civil society to take serious notice of Indian state terrorism designed to  crush indigenous struggle of Kashmir people for their birth right.

A rally was also taken out on the occasion. Participants of the rally holding placards and banners in their hands marched towards Burhan Muzaffarwani Chowk amid anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter staged protest in Islamabad today to condemn the Indian grave human righnts abuses and atrocities in occupied Kashmir.

The protestors were holding black flags and banners and chanting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.   

Speaking on the occasion, the APHC-AJK leaders reiterated their unflinching resolve to continue the struggle till resolution of the Kashmir issue. They said resolution of the lingering Kashmir issue is perquisite of world peace.

The leaders urged international community to pressurize India and play their due role for resolution of the Kashmir issue.

They said Pakistan is effectively raising the Kashmir cause at every forum.

They said New Delhi will not succeed to suppress the freedom movement of Kashmiri people by resorting to coward tactics and using force.

The leaders stressed India to stop spate of brutalities against the innocent people of Occupied Kashmir.               

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider also participated in a function in Islamabad today to mark the Day.

Addressing on the occasion, he said that Kashmir issue should be resolved in a way that is acceptable to all stakeholders.

He said peace in South Asia is directly linked with the resolution of lingering issue of Kashmir.

Raja Farooq Haider said India is pursuing a policy of regional hegemony and considers itself a descendent of imperialism.           

President AJK-Black Day

Meanwhile, addressing a seminar in Islamabad, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan says Kashmiris will continue their struggle against the Indian occupation till a plebiscite is held in Kashmir according to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. 

He said that India has martyred more than five hundred thousand Kashmiris since this occupation. A similar number was forced to migrate to Pakistan due to oppressive policies.

He said that freedom movement in Kashmir is not a terrorist movement but Kashmiris are fighting for their birth right to self-determination.

He said a politically and economically stronger Pakistan is very necessary for the resolution of Kashmir issue.

Message of Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Black Day

Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari's Message on “Black Day” against the Indian Brutalizes in Occupied Kashmir Islamabad October 27, 2018: The government of Pakistan and whole Pakistani Nation is observing October 27 as Black Day against the Indian brutalities and illegal occupation of Kashmir valley by India.

Dr. Shireen Mazari, Federal Minister for Human Rights shared in a special message that October 27 is marked as the Black Day as a protest against the illegal occupation of Kashmir at the hands of Indian forces. The people in Indian occupied Kashmir have suffered massive human rights abuse which is an open violation and negation of international human rights laws, conventions, basic norms of law and justice and commitments to safeguard the rights of people.

India unleash on unarmed innocent Kashmiris who are still facing atrocities by Indian forces but our support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir would continue till the realization of their right to self-determination. She said we are highly concerned over the oppression by Indian forces and the illegal and inhuman use of pellet guns, chemical weapons on unarmed Kashmiris is highly condemnable. She expressed that violence demonstrated against citizens of occupied Kashmir by Indian forces is nothing new. The Indian army commits such brutal acts every single day but the world's silence against human rights violations carried out by India is regrettable and unfortunate.

Adding that, international organizations working for the protection of human rights are also inaudible over this inexorable issue. She urged the international community to raise their voice against Indian atrocities and to help Kashmiris for the attainment of the Plebiscite which has been guaranteed by the UNSC and UNCIP resolutions. She added that now the time has come to move beyond clichés and to make mere declaratory statements of support for Kashmiris, struggling for their right to self determination, but to take some pragmatic steps to award the freedom to the Kashmiris which is guaranteed by UNSC and international conventions.

She expressed the Pakistan would continue exposing the human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir by Indian forces and international community should force India to put an immediate end to the ongoing worst violations of human rights in Kashmir valley. In this special message, Dr. Mazari said that to reaffirm the sense of solidarity today, whole Pakistani nation is standing by the innocent people of Indian Occupied Kashmir, who are sacrificing their lives for the attainment of plebiscite.

Meanwhile, talking to Radio Pakistan, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said that Pakistan will forcefully raise the Kashmir dispute and expose the Indian state terrorism and atrocities in occupied Kashmir at every forum. 

She said that Pakistan completely stands behind the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for right to self-determination.

The Minister said the world community should take notice of the human rights violations in the held territory.

Minister of State on Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi - Black Day

Minister of State on Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi has termed the statement of Indian Army Chief unacceptable, irresponsible and unethical for chances of improvement in bilateral relations between Pakistan and India.

Speaking in a program of News and Current Affairs Channel of Radio Pakistan tonight, the Minister said such statements undermine peace and put the stability of whole region at risk keeping in view the nuclear armed status of Pakistan and India.

He said as a responsible state Pakistan will continue highlighting Kashmir issue at all international forums. Shehryar Khan Afridi said unresolved status of Kashmir is a scar on the face of humanity and international community should take notice of Indian atrocities against unarmed Kashmiris.                         

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan also staged a protest rally in Islamabad.

Speaking on the occasion, Amir of the party, Siraj ul Haq said Pakistan will always stand by Kashmiris in their just struggle for freedom.

He said Kashmiris are brave people and will not surrender their rights. Siraj ul Haq said the atrocities committed by India in occupied Kashmir have overshadowed the brutalities perpetrated by Israel in Palestine.

Black Day-Karachi

Black Day was also observed in Karachi as the rest of the country to condemn the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian forces and violation of United Nations Security Council resolution.

in this connection, addressing a rally, Provincial Minister for Labor and Workforce, Ghulam Murtaza Baloch said that International Community should take action against Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir by Indian forces.

He said that no power can deprive Kashmiris of their right to self-determination acknowledged by the United Nations as well.

He said that the voice of Kashmir is being raised by Pakistan at every forum for many decades and government of Pakistan will continue its diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris.

Black Day-Larkana

Another rally was taken out in Larkana to express solidarity with Kashmiri brethren.

People from different walks of life, including social workers, businessmen, students and general public, participated in the rally.

Black Day-Peshawar

A rally in connection with Kashmir Black Day was taken out in Peshawar. It was arranged by District Administration.

The rally started from Khyber Bazar and after passing through various roads, terminated at Peshawar Press Club.

Addressing the rally, Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh asked the United Nations to implement its resolution on Kashmir so that Kashmiri people could decide their future by themselves.

Similar, rallies were also staged in Landi Kotal and Miran Shah to express solidarity with Kashmiri people. 

Members of the European and Belgiun Parliament and community leaders have demanded an independent international investigation into the gross human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir as recommended by the United Nation’s Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights in its report this year.             

They were addressing a conference organized by the Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels to draw attention of international community to the human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir.

The speakers condemned the use of pellet guns by Indian forces which had blinded thousands and killed hundreds of Kashmiris since martyrdom of young Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani in July 2016.

They referred to the report of UN Office of  the High Commissioner for Human Rights that  over 1,000 people were detained under the dracoman public state Act in just one year between March 2016 and August 2017.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Vice President of Brussels Parliament Eman Ozkara, Member Brussels Parliament Dr Manzoor Zahoor,  Belgian human rights activist Andy Vermaut, Honorary Cosul General of Pakistan in Gent Karin Zoeter , representative of student’s union of  KU Leaven University Wim Kneapen, consular Shazia Manzoor, Deputy Head of Mission,  Embassy of Pakistan Asif Memon and 7-years old Pakistani student  Maham Sohail.            

Video messages of members of European Parliament including those of Members of European Parliament Jean Lambert, Julie Ward, Amjad Bashir, Wajid Khan and Mishaal Malik wife of detained Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik were also present on the occasion.          

A documentary depicting human rights violations in occupied Kashmir was also screened.           

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Ali Jehangir Siddiqui reaffirmed the country's continued and unflinching political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people at a special event organized in Washington to mark Kashmir Black Day.

Ambassador Siddiqui referred to the recent UN OHCHR report on the situation in the occupied valley, highlighting the oppressive legal measures used by India to justify its brutality in the region. He also cited specific instances of violence as mentioned in the UN report that have been perpetrated by Indian security forces in Kashmir, including torture, killing, forced disappearances and sexual violence. He called on the American people to debate the Kashmir issue and appealed them to take cognizance of the plight of Kashmir people in the Indian-held Kashmir.

The AJK president, in a video message, condemned the Indian atrocities against innocent Kashmiris and highlighted international legal and human rights dimensions of the lingering Kashmir dispute that has vitiated peace and stability in the South Asian region, making it one of the most militarized regions on earth.

The event was attended by a large number of Pakistani Americans, Kashmiri community members and different segments of American civil society, including students from Washington-based universities and Capitol Hill staffers.

The Youth Assembly of Konya's Selçuklu Municipility and the Embassy of Pakistan jointly organized "Kashmir Black Day Seminar" in Turkey and expressed strong solidarity with the oppressed people of the Indian Occupied Kashmir  reaffirming unflinching support for their democratic right to self-determination.

Appreciating Turkey's steadfast support, Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkey Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi said the presence of such a large number of participants in the observance of "Black Day" today is a further manifestation of Turkey's abiding commitment to this noble cause.

He updated the audience about the gross violations of human rights. He said over 95,000 innocent Kashmiris have been martyred since 1989.

Ambassador Syrus Qazi reiterated Pakistan's maximum political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir.