LAHORE: Opposition leader in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has expressed solidarity with the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir as they mark black day on Wednesday against the Indian occupation of the valley on Oct 27, 1947.
“India on Oct 27, 1947, illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir in violation of international law and principles. This day and the events occurring on this day are still an open challenge to the global conscience and to the UN Security Council,” the opposition leader said.
He reminded that on Aug 5, 2019, India repeated the events of the black day of Oct 27, 1947, by formalising its illegal and brutal occupation of the valley.
“These actions, making a mockery of the civilised world, have tarnished the image of international law and the UN Charter.” Shehbaz said, adding that without holding India accountable for its tyranny and oppression, the United Nations and its manifesto would seem like a cruel joke to the oppressed as well as the occupying forces. This genocide of the Kashmiris by India had revived the dark history of Hitler’s atrocities, he said.
He saluted the courage of the people of India-held Jammu and Kashmir for standing firm against Indian brutalities that could not shake their resolve. With their sacrifices, the people of Jammu and Kashmir had written a unique chapter of struggle for freedom in the history of the world, he said.
“On Oct 27, the Kashmiris pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for freedom and every Pakistani expresses complete and unshakeable solidarity with their oppressed Kashmiri brothers and sisters. Pakistan pledges to support the Kashmiris’ just struggle for independence. Like the dream of the establishment of Pakistan, the dream of independence of Jammu and Kashmir will also come true and that too sooner than the oppressive forces of India can imagine.”
He said he also salutes the resilience and defiance of the Kashmiri leadership that continued to endure every cruel act of India, including illegal imprisonment, but kept the flag of the freedom struggle flying high.
Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2021