Nation observes Youm-e-Istehsal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is observing Youm-e-Istehsal on Tuesday to mark five years since India revoked the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The day is being observed to express unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and protest New Delhi’s unilateral move on August 5, 2019.

On this day in 2019, the Indian government illegally scrapped Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status. The move, widely criticised by Pakistan, Kashmiris, and the global community, was seen as an attempt to change the region’s demographic and political landscape.

Special events, rallies, and walks were held across Pakistan, including in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. In Islamabad, a rally led by officials from the Foreign Office began from the ministry and culminated at D-Chowk, with participation from people belonging to various walks of life.

At 10:00 am, a one-minute silence was observed nationwide in honour of the Kashmiri struggle.

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Pakistani embassies and missions abroad also marked the occasion with special ceremonies and discussions. State broadcasters aired documentaries and special programmes focusing on the sacrifices of Kashmiri people and the ongoing human rights violations in the region.

In separate messages, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the Kashmiri people’s resilience and reiterated Pakistan’s diplomatic, political, and moral support for their freedom struggle. They urged the international community to hold India accountable for its actions and called for the immediate reversal of the August 5 decision. President Zardari termed India’s move a clear attempt to alter the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. PM Shehbaz said the day serves as a stark reminder of India’s policies of repression and unilateralism. He also stressed that the detention of Kashmiri leaders cannot suppress the freedom movement.

Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, heads of Pakistan Navy and Air Force, and the armed forces, reaffirmed full support for the Kashmiri people. According to ISPR, the military leadership stands firmly with Kashmiris in their just struggle, in line with international laws and UN Security Council resolutions.

NA PASSES UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION ON YOUM-E-ISTEHSAL

The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution in connection with Youm-e-Istehsal, strongly condemning India’s illegal actions in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

According to the resolution, the House reaffirmed its unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. It stated that the Indian government’s measures taken on August 5 were unlawful and rejected by Pakistan.

The resolution rejected all unconstitutional actions and domestic laws imposed by India in the occupied territory, terming them a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

The House paid tribute to the sacrifices, courage, and resilience of the Kashmiri people and strongly condemned the atrocities committed by Indian forces.