ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the martyrs of Kashmir on the occasion of Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering political, diplomatic and moral support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle for the right to self-determination.
In a message issued on the occasion of “Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir (Kashmir Martyrs’ Day)”, the Prime Minister said the day is observed every year on July 13 to commemorate the 22 Kashmiris who were martyred in 1931 when the Dogra administration opened fire on peaceful demonstrators in Srinagar.
He said their sacrifice marked a defining moment in the political awakening of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their struggle for dignity, fundamental rights and identity.
The Prime Minister said Kashmir Martyrs’ Day symbolises the resilience, courage and unwavering determination of the Kashmiri people, whose sacrifices have inspired generations to continue their just struggle for justice and the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.
He said that despite heavy militarisation, continued repression and alleged human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the resolve of the Kashmiri people remains unshaken. He added that arbitrary detentions, suppression of political dissent, restrictions on the media, and attempts to alter the demographic and political landscape of the occupied territory had been widely documented and condemned by international human rights organisations and United Nations human rights mechanisms.
Paying homage to the courage, resilience and sacrifices of the martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said their enduring legacy would continue to strengthen the resolve of future generations in the pursuit of their legitimate rights.
Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast political, diplomatic and moral support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and reaffirmed the country’s solidarity with their struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
He said lasting peace and stability in South Asia remain contingent upon the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026