Pakistani American host event to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day

Pakistani and Kashmiris around the world observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on Feb. 5 every year. To mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day, a Seminar was organized by the Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago on February 05, 2020. It was attended by people from different walks of life, including members of human rights group, think tanks, academia, students, representatives of community and journalists.
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This year the solidarity day was observed when the entire population of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir is practically under lock down since August 2019 when the Indian government revoked the special status of the territory in violation of international treaties.
Messages of the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan were read out to the audience.

One-minute silence to express solidarity with the besieged people of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K) was observed by the audience. A special documentary highlighting the situation in the IOJ&K and unwavering resolve of the people of Kashmir to pursue their freedom was also screened.

The Seminar was addressed by several renowned Speakers. They highlighted the ongoing atrocities of the Indian security forces in IOJ&K and unanimously condemned illegal actions of India scrapping special status of the IOJ&K and placing millions of people under an unprecedented and unhuman lockdown which was in its six months. They further said that continued Indian repression has only emboldened the resolve of the people of IOJ&K to pursue their legitimate right to self-determination with more vigor and zeal. They called upon the international community and a Human Rights organization to cease their silence and play active role in lifting blockade of the IOJ&K and work for resolution of this dispute as per aspirations of its people.

Consul General of Pakistan in Chicago, Mr. Javed Ahmed Umrani, in his introductory remarks said that Since 5 August 2019, the scale and intensity of the Indian government’s human rights violations have increased several-folds. Through the deployment of over 900,000 troops and an unprecedented and unabated media and communications blackout, IOJ&K has been turned into the largest prison on earth. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s demands for immediate lifting of the curfew and communications blackout as well as rescinding of India’s illegal and unilateral actions. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s full moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir in their just struggle to attain their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the applicable UN Security Council resolutions.