Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed on Wednesday to express wholehearted support of Pakistani nation to the just struggle of Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination under United Nations resolutions.    

This time the day was observed after India revoked the special status of occupied Kashmir in August last year in breach of all international laws, and since then the entire population of the held territory has been under lockdown.

One minute silence was observed at 10.00 am to pay homage to the martyrs of the liberation struggle of occupied Kashmir.

Human chains were formed at Kohala, Mangla, Barar Kot, Holar and Azad Pattan points linking Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

At Kohala, Punjab Minister Raja Rashid Hafeez, political leaders belonging to different parties of all four provinces, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were also present on this occasion.

Message of Foreign Minister:

In a message on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said the international community must do more to support the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in this time of trial and tribulation.

He said each additional second on the lockdown clock is a burden on the world’s collective conscience.

The Foreign Minister said the international community must act in support of the fundamental freedoms and basic human rights of Kashmiris and urge India to allow the UN Fact Finding Mission to occupied Kashmir to ascertain the reports of grave human rights violations there.

In her tweet, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the entire Pakistani nation stands as one in solidarity with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters. 

The Spokesperson said Pakistan will continue to raise its voice for their inalienable right to self-determination.

The entire Pakistani nation stands as one in solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters. We will continue to raise our voice for their inalienable right to self determination #LetKashmirSpeak #KashmirSolidarityDay

— Spokesperson MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) February 5, 2020

India's illegal annexation of occupied Kashmir violation of intl resolutions and laws: Bilawal

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said India's illegal annexation of occupied Kashmir is violation of international resolutions and laws.

In a tweet, he said occupied Kashmir has been in lockdown for over 180 days.

The PPP Chairman said we stand in solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters. He assured that his party will always fight for them.

Belgium

Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU) organized an event of candle light vigil in Brussels, the capital of Belgium in order to express solidarity with oppressed people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

The program was arranged in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day at Place du Luxembourg in front of EU parliament in Brussels, the EU headquarters.

A large number of people from all walks of life and representatives of different NGOs including members of Human Rights Organizations attended the event.

In a statement at eve of Kashmir Solidarity Day, Chairman Kashmir Council EU Ali Raza Syed expressed solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian occupied Kashmir suffering from Indian brutalities for last seven decades.

Meanwhile, Pakistani communities also held ceremonies in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day in various countries, including Britain, Malaysia, Algeria and Tajikistan, to express support to Kashmiri brethren in their just right to self-determination.

Addressing a seminar in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day at the British Parliament, Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Mohammad Nafees Zakaria underlined the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute in lines with UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiris.

British Parliamentarians and other speakers expressed deep concerns over gross human rights violations in occupied Kashmiris by Indian occupation forces.

Aman/Zahid/Abid/Khokhar