ISLAMABAD: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu Kashmir and Pakistan (APHC-AJK) chapter with the collaboration of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Cell held a protest demonstration in front of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, on Friday to mark India’s Republic Day as Black Day.
Besides the leaders of APHC-AJK, leaders and heads of various political parties of Azad Jammu and Kashmir also took part in the protest demonstration. APHC convenor Mahmood Ahmad Saghar led the protest. Former Prime Minister of AJK Raja Farooq Haider Khan, Shaikh Abdulmatin, Abdul Rasheed Turrabi, Syed Yousaf Nasim, Ghulam Nabi batt, Farooq Rehmani, Secretary General MC Mehrunnisa, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Samia Sajid, Mahtab Ashraf, Raja Khan Afsar Khan,Sardar Sajid Mehmood, Sardar Najib ul Ghafoor Khan, Bashir Usmani, Rafiq Dar and others spokes on the occasion.
They said democracy is the name of respect for public opinion but India has never respected the sentiments of the community. They said India has no right to celebrate its “Republic Day” in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and as it has occupied the territory against the will of the people of Kashmir.
The protesters were also holding black flags and banners and placards with slogans against India and in favour of Kashmir’s freedom from Indian occupation.
On the occasion, the APHC-AJK Convener, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar expressed concern over the rising Indian state terrorism in IIOJK and stated that India had been using brutal tactics to suppress the Kashmiris’ freedom sentiment but miserably failed in its nefarious plans. He added that the Kashmiris were sacrificing their lives for a great cause and would continue their struggle till they achieved their cherished goal.
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Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, the APHC leaders, including Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Abdul Rashid Turabi and Muhammad Farooq Rehmani deplored that New Delhi was trying to change the demographic composition of IIOJK.
They asked the international community to put pressure on New Delhi to settle the lingering Kashmir dispute by giving the Kashmiris their right to self-determination so that lasting peace could be established in the region. An anti-India rally was held at the end of the protest demonstration.
