Longest lockdown in held Kashmir's history: Punjab to observe 27th as black day

LAHORE: Provincial Law Minister and Chairman Kashmir Committee Punjab Raja Basharat has said that the Punjab government would observe the black day with the federal government on October 27 against the longest lockdown in the history of occupied Kashmir.

He was presiding over a review meeting of the proposed Black Day arrangements here on Thursday. Members of Kashmir Committee MPA Mahendra Pal Singh and MPA Nazir Ahmed Chauhan along with Secretary Information, Secretary I&C and officers of other concerned departments were also present on the occasion.

He said that from 90 Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam to Faisal Chowk rally would be organized on October 27 which would be led by Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Bazdar while all ministers, assembly members and members of civil society would participate. Information Secretary Raja Jahangir Anwar gave a briefing on the arrangements.

"We want to send a message to the world that the Kashmiri people will never bow to Indian oppression," Raja Basharat said. "Before the rally, the Governor and Chief Minister Punjab will speak to the media. At 7 o'clock in the evening, a one-minute blackout and torchbearer rallies will be held at the divisional headquarters across the province.

The law minister directed the transport department to put up banners in support of Kashmiris on public transport. "The rally will be widely covered on all media, including social media, so that message could reach to international community effectively, " he said.

Raja Basharat said that the determination of the Kashmiri people in the face of the worst Indian atrocities had set a precedent in the history. "We assure them that the entire Pakistani nation stands with the Kashmiris in this hour of hardship.

The manner in which Prime Minister Imran Khan has highlighted the Kashmir issue at the international level is unprecedented. With the efforts of the PTI government, the struggle of Kashmiris will be successful and they will be free. He said that the day is not far when Kashmir will become Pakistan's slogan and our dream would turn into a reality.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020