The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Cell held a protest rally in front of Indian High Commission in Islamabad to observe India's Republic Day as Black Day. Besides APHC-AJK chapter office-holders, leaders of various political parties of Azad Kashmir also participated in the protest rally. Led by APHC-AJK Convener Mahmood Ahmed Saghar, the protesters were holding black flags, banners and placards with anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. Former Prime Minister Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan especially participated in the demonstration. Former Ameer of Azad Kashmir Jamaat-e-Islami Abdul Rasheed Tarabi, Hurriyat leaders Syed Yusuf Naseem, Farooq Rehmani, Ghulam Mohammad Safi, Altaf Hussain Wani and Ghulam Nabi Butt also participated in the demonstration. APHC-AJK leaders Sheikh Abdul Mateen, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Zahid Safi, General Secretary of Muslim Conference Mehr-un-Nisaa, Samia Sajid, senior journalist Bashir Usmani, Mahtab Ashraf, Rashid Kazmi, Director, Liberation Cell Raja Khan Afsar Khan, Sardar Sajid Mahmood, Sardar Najeeb Al-Ghafoor Khan, Chaudhry Shaheen, Rafiq Dar and others addressed the protest rally.

Speakers on the occasion said democracy is the name of respect for public opinion but India has never respected it. They said India has no right to celebrate its Republic Day in occupied Jammu as it has occupied Jammu and Kashmir against the will of the Kashmiri people. APHC-AJK Convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar in his address expressed concern over the growing Indian state terrorism in the occupied territory and said India is using brutal tactics to suppress the freedom spirit of the Kashmiris but will never succeed in its nefarious designs.  He said Kashmiris are sacrificing their lives for a great cause and they will continue their struggle till complete success.  Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, Ghulam Mohammad Safi, Mohammad Farooq Rahmani, Abdul Rasheed Turabi and other leaders said India is trying to change the demography of the territory and urged the international community to resolve the Kashmir dispute for lasting peace in South Asia.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)