Pakistan to observe 'Black Day' on Saturday to express solidarity with Kashmiris

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will observe Black Day on Saturday, October 27, to express solidarity with people of India-Occupied Kashmir in their struggle for their right to self determination.

According to a notification issued by interior ministry, the government has urged the public to wear black arm-bands, observe one minute silence at 1000 hours, besides offering Fateha for martyrs of India-Occupied Kashmir on the day.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur told the state-run news agency today that all the preparations have been finalized to observe October 27 as Black Day to convey a message to the international community that India’s occupation of Jammu and Kashmir was totally illegal, unjust and contrary to the Kashmiris’ aspirations.

The minister said that the day should be marked in a proper manner within Pakistan and abroad to expose Indian forces atrocities in Occupied Kashmir, adding that the  PTI government is committed to raise the Kashmir issue at all forums.

The minister said that Pakistani missions abroad will also arrange special seminars and talk shows  regarding the Kashmir issue on October 27 while a peaceful demonstrations will be held in front of Indian High Commissions and embassies across the world.

He said that protest demonstrations, photo exhibitions, talk shows, documentaries screening and speech contests would also be organized in educational institutions of Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan.

It is pertinent to note here that earlier in June this year, a United Nations Human Rights Commission report said that Indian security forces used excessive force that led to unlawful killings and a very high number of injuries in Kashmir.

Citing civil society estimates, the report said that up to 145 civilians were killed by the security forces between mid-July 2016 and the end of March 2018.

One of the most dangerous weapons used against protesters in 2016 – and which is still being employed by India security forces – was the pellet-firing shotgun.

According to official figures, 17 people were killed by shotgun pellets between July 2016 and August 2017, and 6,221 people were injured by the metal pellets between 2016 and March 2017. Civil society organizations believe that many of them have been partially or completely blinded.