Kashmiris to Observe August-15 as Black Day
'Pakistan Times' Kashmir Bureau

SRINAGAR (IHK): Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over, will observe India’s Independence Day on August 15 as Black Day, marking it with complete protest strike in occupied Kashmir beside rallies and processions in world capitals.

The Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, senior Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani, the President of Democratic Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmad Shah and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik have given call for the observance of the Black Day on August 15 to draw world attention to the fact that the people of Kashmir were continuously being denied their basic right to self-determination.

Meanwhile, Srinagar’s Bakhshi stadium and Jammu’s Maulana Azad Stadium, where the August 15 official functions will be held, have been sealed off and heavy contingents of paramilitary forces have been deployed in all the major towns and cities of occupied Kashmir, reports KMS.

In a statement in Srinagar, APHC spokesman has reiterated that Kashmiris will continue their righteous struggle until a just and viable resolution of Kashmir issue.

The spokesman said that the Indian troops had made the life of people in occupied territory miserable in the name of so-called security arrangements in the run up to India’s Independence Day on August 15.

“Troopers have been deployed in strength at every lane, street and road, making free movement of people very difficult. Crackdowns, search operations, frisking, raids and arrests are rampant.

The entire valley gives a look of a garrison where civilian movement on roads is scarce in the evening,” the statement added.●