Pak expats hold function to mark ‘Kashmir Black Day’
The Pakistani Embassy on Friday observed “Kashmir Black Day,” with a reiteration of their national resolve to help secure the right to selfdetermination for the Kashmiri people by passing a unanimous resolution in favor of the territory’s right to self-rule.
Khayyam Akbar, charge d’ affaires at Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh, presided over the session organized here at the embassy premises in the Diplomatic Quarter.
In his keynote address, Akbar underlined, “the day is observed in remembrance of illegal occupation of Kashmir by India.”
He appreciated Kashmiris for the long and continuous struggle for their right to selfdetermination, “The day is not far when they will get freedom from Indian clutches of slavery,” he observed.
He further assured that Pakistani people are unanimously standing with Kasmiris in their sustained struggle for their rights.
Expressing surprise on the approach of newly elected Indian government, Akbar said, “Pakistan expected the new Indian government to solve Kashmir issue by negotiation but unfortunately they have closed the door of negotiation and became more aggressive by unlimited violations on the border and Line of Control (LoC).”
“Our valiant armed forces retaliated against the Indian aggression with full force and succeeded in averting their heinous designs,” the charge d’ affaires maintained.
Quoting Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif’s recent speech in UN, he said that Pakistan can not sideline Kashmir issue and must stand in full solidarity with the great cause.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Mashari Al-Saud graced the occasion as chief guest and expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
A number of other speakers highlighted the importance of Kashmir issue and condemned the “Indian occupation of Kashmir and human rights violations in the beautiful valley by Indian armed forces.”
Commemorating Kashmir Day, they appealed to UN to solve Kashmir issue according to Security Council’s resolutions and pledged to continue their support to Kashmiri people till they finally get their right to self-determination. Ahmed Bakhsh, an Arab journalist, expressed in his speech grief over the worst violations of human rights in Kashmir and went on to say that Kashmir is a jugular vein of Pakistan.
Faiz Najdi, a Pakistani journalist, said that Kashmir and Palestine issues are similar as the oldest issues on UN agenda and implementation of resolutions regarding these issues are long awaited.
A young student, Omer Zahoor, reminded of the responsibilities of Pakistani community toward the Kashmir issue.
Other speakers included Abdul Basit, Abid Gill, Asif Qureshi, Chaudhary Rafiq, Nazim Malik and Rashid Butt, who addressed the meeting in solidarity with Kashmiri people.
At the end, a resolution was moved by Atiq Raz condemning the Indian occupation of Kashmir which was unanimously adopted by the huge audiences attending the occasion.
Speaking to Arab News, audiences at the program observed that Kashmiris have remained resolute and steadfast in the face of oppression spanning over six decades.
“We Pakistanis believe that the use of force, coercion and violation of basic human rights can never succeed in suppressing an indigenous struggle for a just cause. Their perseverance will bear fruit,’’ they said.
Pakistan has been observing this day for years to reassure Kashmiri people of their political, moral and diplomatic support toward their cause for the right to self-determination as they say is enshrined in the UN charter and relevant resolutions.