SRINAGAR: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world observed Kashmir Martyrs’ Day on Sunday, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and reaffirming their unwavering commitment to continue the mission for the inalienable right to self-determination.
The day marks the anniversary of July 13, 1931, when 22 unarmed Kashmiris were shot dead by Dogra Maharaja troops outside Srinagar’s Central Jail during court proceedings against Abdul Qadeer, who had called on the people to resist the oppressive Dogra rule.
Rich tribute was paid to the martyrs of July 13 and all Kashmiris who sacrificed their lives for freedom.
The day is being marked by a complete shutdown in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and a march towards the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqashband Sahib in Srinagar, where the 22 martyrs of July 13, 1931, are buried.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), with the support of all pro-freedom leaders and organisations, has called for observance of the day.
In tribute to the martyrs, rallies, seminars, and conferences are being held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, and major capitals around the world.
In Muzaffarabad, Kashmir Liberation Cell, in collaboration with the APHC, AJK Chapter, arranged a public gathering followed by a rally.
Pasban e Hurriyat has also arranged a protest rally at Burhan Wani Shaheed Chowk.
Similarly, a smartly turned out Police contingent presented a salute at the Shuhada Monument as a mark of respect to the Shuhada.
Meanwhile, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Kashmiri politicians and leaders have been locked inside their homes to prevent them from attending the Martyrs’ Day ceremony in Srinagar.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message on the occasion, appealed to the international community and human rights organisations to take immediate notice of the ongoing Indian state terrorism and grave human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said the government of Pakistan will continue to extend its political, diplomatic, and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who are waging a struggle to gain their right to self-determination and freedom.
