ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is getting ready to observe August 5 as ‘day of oppression’ to express solidarity with Kashmiri people of occupied Kashmir. To make the day even more result-oriented to seek support of international community for Kashmir cause, Pakistan Tehrik Insaf government has changed the name of Kashmir Highway to Sri Nagar Highway to make August 5, the day of solace for oppressed Kashmiris. Though the change of name of a road of Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital city, is symbolic, but its significance for Kashmir cause will be more than just a symbol. Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Defence minister, Pervez Khattak, on August 3, visited Line of Control (LoC) to express solidarity with Kashmiri under Indian curfew for the last one year. Meanwhile, Information minister, Shibli Faraz and Communication minister, Saeed Murad held a press conference in Islamabad to unveil PTI government plan for August 5. They called Indian step of imposing curfew in occupied Kashmir as worst act of oppression and urged upon the international community to come up to support Kashmir cause to help oppressed Kashmiris get freedom from Indian unlawful occupation.
Indian government had imposed curfew on August 5, 2019 in the occupied valley and its going unabated even after one year. Indian forces have killed 214l Kashmiris during the last one year besides injuring over 1390 innocent Kashmiri since August 5, 2019. A report, released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, said Indian troops martyred 214 Kashmiris including 4 women and 10 young boys during the curfew. It said at least 1390 people were critically injured due to the use of brute force by Indian troops on peaceful demonstrators and mourners in the territory. The killings since August 5, 2019 have been higher than those in the previous 10 years. The KMS added most of the victims were killed in fake encounters during cordon and search operations in the length and breadth of the territory.
