IOK people celebrate Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day today

People in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir celebrate Independence Day and Thanksgiving Day with great enthusiasm and dignity.

According to Kashmir media service, call for observance of the day has been given by All Parties Hurriyat Conference and supported by various Hurriyat leaders and organizations on thanksgiving day.

They have also called for observance of India’s Independence Day, tomorrow (15th August), as a Black Day, and mark it by the complete shutdown to convey the message to the world that they reject India’s illegal occupation of their homeland.

The APHC in a statement in Srinagar maintained that Pakistan has always supported the Kashmiris’ just struggle for securing their right to self-determination. It appealed to the people to observe a complete shutdown on Indian Independence Day on Saturday.

Despite the heavy deployment of Indian troops, people hoisted Pakistani flags in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley to express their love for Pakistan.

Hundreds of posters released by Warseen-e-Shuhada Jammu and Kashmir and Tehreek-e-Azadi Jammu and Kashmir across the occupied territory had asked the people to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day as ‘Jashn-e-Azadi’ and observe India’s Independence Day as Black Day.

Hurriyat leaders and organizations including Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Bilal Siddiqui, Umar Aadil Dar, Abdul Samad Inqilabi, Muhammad Iqbal Mir, and Tehreek-e-Wahdat-e-Islami in their statements greeted the people and the government of Pakistan on the eve of their Independence Day. They said Pakistan is the center of hope not only for the Muslims of South Asia but also for the whole Ummah.

Meanwhile, the occupation authorities have deployed Indian troops in strength across the occupied territory. The deployment of the forces’ personnel is aimed to keep the people indoor and prevent them from staging pro-Pakistan and pro-freedom demonstrations, today, and anti-India demonstrations, tomorrow.

Indian troops and police personnel are conducting a random search of vehicles near a Cricket Stadium in Srinagar, the venue of the main function.

Similarly, police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in other districts of the Kashmir Valley.