Protests, rallies, and messages of solidarity observed nationwide
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Sunday observed Kashmir Black Day with rallies, speeches, and demonstrations held across the country to denounce India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and reaffirm unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. The day October 27 marks the anniversary of India’s forcible annexation of the region in 1947, an act that remains a dark chapter in the subcontinent’s history.
From Islamabad to Karachi, Lahore to Peshawar, government officials, political leaders, students, and civil society members took to the streets, waving Kashmiri flags and holding placards demanding justice and freedom for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: “Freedom is the right of every Kashmiri”
In Peshawar, a large rally was organized from the Civil Secretariat to the Governor’s House, led by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. The event was attended by departmental secretaries, schoolchildren, and government employees. Participants observed a minute of silence in honor of Kashmiris who have lost their lives under Indian occupation.
Addressing the crowd, Governor Kundi declared that the world must decide whether the Kashmir issue would be resolved through diplomacy or conflict. “Pakistan has always stood firm — both on the battlefield and at the diplomatic front,” he said. He also highlighted Pakistan’s broader role in promoting peace, including its support for the people of Palestine.
Educationist Syed Qasim Ali Shah, speaking at the rally, said that India could no longer match Pakistan’s moral and political strength. “We want peace, not war but whenever India looks at us with hostility, it will get a strong response,” he said.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi also expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people, recalling that Indian forces began their illegal occupation on October 27, 1947. “That oppression continues to this day,” he noted, urging international organizations to act against Indian atrocities.
Islamabad: National leadership stands united
In the federal capital, a central rally was held on Constitution Avenue under the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs, with participation from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Engr Amir Muqam, Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch, and other officials led the march from the Foreign Office to D-Chowk.
Protesters, including Hurriyat leaders, students, and civil society activists, raised slogans demanding freedom for Kashmir and calling for international intervention.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued a statement paying tribute to Kashmiri martyrs and denouncing India’s ongoing human rights abuses including pellet gun injuries, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. “October 27 remains the darkest day in history,” Naqvi said. “Thousands of Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives, yet their spirit of resistance has never weakened.”
Amir Muqam reaffirmed Pakistan’s moral, diplomatic, and political support for the Kashmiri people. “Our prayers and our hearts are with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters who have endured decades of injustice,” he said. “Their resilience is a reminder to the world that no power can suppress the will of a nation.”
Sindh: PPP leadership condemns Indian actions
In Karachi, rallies were held under the banner of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that October 27 symbolizes “decades of sacrifice, courage, and struggle by the people of occupied Kashmir.” He condemned the post-2019 restrictions imposed after India revoked the region’s special status, saying: “Fake encounters, torture, and disappearances have become the norm.”
Bilawal urged the international community to “heed the call of conscience” and uphold the UN’s resolutions guaranteeing the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Kashmiri brothers, following the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto,” he said.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also marked the day, calling Kashmir “the lifeline of Pakistan.” He said, “The world must not stay silent in the face of India’s human rights violations.” Shah expressed confidence that the people of Kashmir would one day see freedom and justice prevail.
National leadership: Pakistan’s resolve remains firm
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both issued statements reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmir cause.
President Zardari urged the United Nations and international human rights organizations to hold India accountable for systematic violations in IIOJK. “After August 2019, India’s brutal campaign intensified from mass detentions to draconian laws designed to strip Kashmiris of their basic rights,” he said. “The UN owes it to the people of Kashmir to act decisively.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message, said peace in South Asia would remain impossible without resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions. “Every year, October 27 reminds us of the darkest day in Kashmir’s history,” he said. “The people of Pakistan stand firmly with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters. We will continue our struggle until the promise of self-determination is fulfilled. Inshallah, that day is not far.”
Pakistan Embassy in Beijing joins observance
The Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing also marked Kashmir Black Day with an event honoring the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people. Messages from Pakistan’s leadership were shared, reaffirming continued political, diplomatic, and moral support for Kashmiris in their fight for freedom and justice.
Across the nation and beyond, Pakistan’s message remained consistent and clear that the struggle of the Kashmiri people is not forgotten, and their quest for freedom continues to echo in every corner of Pakistan.
