MUZAFFARABAD: People in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) marked India’s Independence Day as a ‘black day’ on Monday by staging anti-India and pro-freedom rallies and demonstrations like their brethren across the Line of Control (LoC).

The mega event of the day was a “freedom march” under the aegis of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) that started from here and concluded in the border town of Chakothi, 3km from the LoC.

The march was led by Senator Sirajul Haq and Abdul Rashid Turabi, chiefs of the JI’s Pakistan and AJK chapters, respectively.

Condemning the reign of terror let loose by Indian troops in the held territory, Mr Haq assured the struggling Kashmiris of persistent support by people of Pakistan until they achieved their goal of freedom.

“It’s a black day for us all… We have come here to join our voice with that of our freedom-seeking brethren across the bloody line (LoC),” he said. “I want to tell cowardly Indian soldiers that the day is not far when they will be held accountable for their crimes against humanity.”

He said Kashmir was not a regional or territorial dispute but an ideological issue which needed immediate settlement in accordance with the settled principles.

“The freedom of Kashmir is our duty and also a historical debt which must be cleared by the rulers (of Pakistan) or else history will never forgive them,” the JI leader said.

“If the prime minister takes one step for settlement of the issue, we will take 100,” he added.

He said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself been involved in terrorism but he was pointing fingers at Pakistan.

He said talks with India could be held only on the Kashmir issue.

Mr Haq said today every child of Pakistan was determined like Burhan Wani to lay down his life for freedom of Kashmir.

The repression unleashed by Indians on Kashmiris and other minorities would soon lead to the creation of another Pakistan in India, he said.

The JI chief called upon the United Nations to implement its resolutions on Kashmir and said, “What kind of UN is it that settles the issues of East Timor and South Sudan in months but remains indifferent to Kashmir?”

He said Syed Ali Shah Geelani was a leader greater than Nelson Mandela and whenever he gave a call “we will trample this blood line (LoC)”.

Mr Turabi, TV anchor Reham Khan and others also spoke on the occasion.

Separately, Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme Marvi Memon led a rally in the same area.

Speaking as a representative of the federal government at different gatherings during the rally, she said India’s Independence Day would remain a black day for Kashmiris until New Delhi gave freedom to Kashmir.

On the other hand, she said, Pakistan dedicated its 70th Independence Day to the people of Kashmir in a manifestation of unprecedented attachment of people of Pakistan and the PML-N government with the freedom-seeking people of the held territory.

She said Pakistan was raising its voice for the cause of Kashmiri people at every forum while India was misleading the world by terming the Kashmir freedom movement terrorism though there was a clear difference between the two.

“In the garb of curbing terrorist activities, India itself is committing state terrorism in held Kashmir by arresting, injuring and killing innocent people,” she said. “India cannot keep Kashmiris enslaved for long through the use of its military might.”

AJK Minister for Education Syed Iftikhar Gillani also spoke at the gatherings.

Earlier, a public meeting was held outside the District Headquarters Complex in Muzaffarabad to mark the black day. It was addressed by AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider and leaders of the JI and other political parties.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2016