RAWALPINDI: Mir Waiz Mohammad Farooq, Chairman of the Awami Action Committee, has thanked the people and the Prime Minister of Pakistan on his behalf, on behalf of the … Committee and the people of Kashmir by observing Self-Determination Day on March 17 in response to his call. Addressing a meeting of workers … in Srinagar, he said that the unstinted support of Pakistan had generated momentum in our struggle and I feel it my duty to thank the people of Pakistan and Prime Minister Bhutto for supporting our cause.

He described obstacles put in the way of the observance of the day and said our workers were beaten up and arrested en masse to make sure that the day was not observed but we resisted and I feel it my duty to congratulate the people of occupied Kashmir for their invincible spirit. … He condemned the repression against the Action Committee workers and particularly the youth who, he said, were tortured in interrogation camps and were implicated in false cases. … According to a Press Note issued by the Puppet Government of occupied Kashmir violent clashes took place between students and police in Srinagar and the students pelted stones on the police on Self-Determination Day.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2025