Massive protests and a candlelight vigil is being organised across Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to condemn the Pakistani invasion in the region on October 22, 1947.
Muzaffarabad [PoK] : In Muzaffarabad city, a protest rally was organised by the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) against the tribal and military attack on Jammu and Kashmir 75 years ago. The protesters in PoK shouted pro-freedom slogans as they demanded the Pakistani army and other administrators to leave the occupied territory. Speaking to ANI, UKPNP Chairman Sardar Shaulat Ali Kashmiri said: “Pakistan is the occupier and killer of hundreds and thousands of innocent people in Jammu and Kashmir.” A candlelight vigil was also organised at Neelum Bridge to pay tributes to the innocent civilians’ martyrs of the Pakistani invasion on October 22, 1947.
The protesters took an oath to continue the struggle against Pakistani occupation they attain freedom. The candlelight vigil was organised by the National Equality Party JKGBL. The protesters stood silent in the memory of the thousands of innocent and unarmed civilian citizens including the elderly, women and children who were brutally killed by Pakistan to occupy the state.
“Pakistan abducted all young women and sold them in the markets in the country and neighbouring Afghanistan”, said Sajjad Raja of National Equality Party JKGBL. The protesters demanded an unconditional apology from Pakistan and asked Pakistan to quit the state. National Equality Party JKGBL also organised a protest from Lal Chowk Upper Adda that passed through the various streets of Muzaffarabad and ended at Neelum Bridge.
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Bangladesh: Protests held against Pakistan’s invasion of Kashmir in 1947
Dhaka : A massive protest was held in Dhaka city of Bangladesh to mark October 22 as “Black Day” when Pakistan led tribal forces attacked the innocent Kashmiri population in 1947 to take control of Jammu and Kashmir under the code name “Operation Gulmarg.” The event drew parallel to the 1971 Genocide under the code name “Operation Searchlight” by Pak Army in Bangladesh. Rationalism and Liberalism Practice Forum, Bangladesh, organised a seminar on the day at Dhaka Reporters Unity, which was attended by more than 100 participants. Banners and placards condemning the massacre in Kashmir by Pakistan backed tribals were displayed in the seminar hall.
Open dialogue, a Dhaka based NGO, organized a human chain of more than 100 people on the “Black Day” with banners “Disgusting Blueprint of Pakistan Army” in front of the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. Through the human chain Pakistan Army’s atrocities towards women, children, plunder and loot were highlighted in posters and banners with Indicative slogans such as “Kashmir invasion – Pakistan’s pre-planned attack, executed by the army and tribal invaders in Unison”, “Invaders playing victims – Pakistan is the butcher of Jammu and Kashmir”, “Pakistan’s heinous conspiracy – 1947 and 1971 genocide”. A street play was also organized in front of the National Press Club to highlight Black Day – Pak Army’s atrocities on innocent Kashmiri people by Pakistan-led tribal forces under the code name “Operation Gulmarg”. A similar operation under the code name “Operation Searchlight” was conducted in the 1971 BD war, these similarities were also highlighted through the act. The act saw more than 200 spectators. Bangladesh Social Activists Forum (BSAF), Bangladesh organized a Human Chains to mark the occasion of “Black Day” on October 22 at Hadis Park, Khulna and Rajshahi University, Rajshahi wherein more than 400 participants took part. The participants were seen wearing T-shirts with ‘BLACK DAY marked on them as a statement of protest against the killings of Innocent Kashmiris in 1947 and genocide in 1971. Through the human chain, Pak Army’s atrocities were highlighted, indicative slogans both in English and Bengali were flashed in posters/banners against Pakistan’s nefarious act. Later, the participants formed a Bike rally and moved around the city to spread the message. Swadhinata Sangram Parishad, when 20 members of the organisation aggregated in front of Pakistan High Commission, Dhaka, at 8.00 am, to participate in a demonstration against Pak Army genocide in Kashmir on October 22, 1947, Pak genocide in Bangladesh (March 25, 1971) and killing of Bangabandhu (August 15, 1975) and Pak-backed Taliban atrocities in Afghanistan (2021). The members held posters, banners stating the above and urging Pakistan to apologise. Muktijoddha Mancha organised a photo exhibition (at 3 pm), discussion seminar (at 4 pm) and screening of a documentary (at 6 pm) in front of the National Museum, Shahbag, Dhaka University area, on the same occasion. A total of around 500 people, including college students, professors and passers-by attended the events, which were appreciated by the crowd too. About 20 Kashmiri medical students studying at Dhaka University also independently protested wearing black badges and carrying posters condemning Pakistan. Brahmanbaria’s Human Rights Organisation and Udichi organised a human chain, participated by around 400 people, carrying posters, banners etc. highlighting Pakistan’s atrocities on humanity and use of terrorism as state policy. Around 5000 handbills, highlighting the cause of Black Day and Pakistan’s past record were distributed among aware people of Khagrachari, Rangamati, Bandarban and Chittagong. Similar programmes were organized in different places in Bangladesh, which witnessed demonstrations against Pakistan’s heinous act in 1947 and 1971.
Black Day to be observed in Netherlands to mark Pakistan’s ‘invasion’ of J-K in 1947
A Black Day will be observed and protest held on Friday near the Pakistani embassy in the Netherlands against the “invasion” of Jammu and Kashmir nearly over 70 years back, said Committee Black Day 22 October 1947 in a press release. “The protest will take place on 22 October 2021 at 10 30 am in front of The Peace Palace, Carniegieplein 2 2517 KJ, The Hague, Pakistani refugees, Bangladeshi, Afghani and HR supports will walk towards the Pakistani Embassy Amaliastraat 8, 2514 JC The Hague, and protest minorities heavily prosecuted in Pakistan,” the committee said. It further said that Pakistan had “invaded Kashmir” on October 22, 1947, and brought in its wake horrifying stories of “mass plunder and vandalism”. “On this Black Day, we come forward to raise awareness about the sentiments of human rights against minorities,” the release stated. Stressing the urgent need to highlight the issue, the Committee said that the minorities need to be saved from various extreme human rights abuses. When “Pakistan invaded Kashmir” over 70 years back, the Committee said thousands of men, women and children were killed while the raiders carried out a siege of the then bustling town of Baramulla.
