Millions of Kashmiri Expatriates: Mirpur AJK Echoes with Mass Anti-India Protest Rallies and Demonstrations

English , Kashmir - آزاد جموں کشمیر , Snippets , / Tuesday, August 5th, 2025

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By Altaf Hamid Rao

MIRPUR (AJK), August 5: The lakeside district of Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir reverberated with powerful anti-India slogans and passionate public demonstrations as thousands marked the 6th anniversary of India’s unilateral and illegal abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, which revoked the special status of Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) on August 5, 2019.
In all three tehsils of the district, massive rallies and protest processions were held to observe the day as Kashmir Exploitation cum Black Day. The protests were organized under the joint efforts of the district administration, civil society, political and religious parties, the legal fraternity, media organizations, traders, and government and semi-government employees.
The central protest rally began from the District Courts Compound and was led by Deputy Commissioner Yasir Riaz Chaudhry, President of Kashmir Press Club Syed Abid Hussain Shah, President of District Bar Association Mahmood Hussain Plakvi Advocate, SSP Khurram Iqbal, and several other senior officials and political leaders. The rally traversed through Mian Muhammad Road and Allama Iqbal Road before culminating in a large public gathering.
Prominent figures included President AJK High Court Bar Association Raja Waseem Younis Advocate, Acting Chairman District Council Chaudhry Adnan Shaukat, PPP AJK leader Waqas Ashraf, Deputy Director Liberation Cell Azeem Sarwar, Tehsildar Imran Yousuf, DSP Chaudhry Ansar Ali, business leaders Chaudhry Tariq and Sohail Shuja Mujahid, journalists Zafar Mughal and Masood Rathore, and civil society activists including Muhammad Shaukat Ali Gujjar and Syed Qaiser Shah Kazmi.
Participants carried black flags, placards, and banners denouncing India’s revocation of Kashmir’s special status. Many wore black armbands, chanting slogans such as “Hai Haq Hamara Azadi,” “Tehreek-e-Azadi Kashmir Zindabad,” “Down with Modi,” “Release Hurriyat leaders,” and “Kashmir Banega Pakistan.” Slogans of support for the Pakistan Army and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir echoed throughout the rally.
Addressing the gathering, DC Yasir Riaz termed August 5, 2019, as the darkest day in Jammu and Kashmir’s history, condemning India’s forced and unconstitutional move as a blatant violation of international law and UN resolutions. He emphasized that this act must be taken seriously by the global community.
Speakers highlighted the military aggression committed by India and praised the response by Pakistan’s armed forces through Operation Banyan Marsus. They recalled how Pakistan successfully neutralized five Indian Rafale jets and dismantled India’s advanced defense systems, including the S-400. The May 10 response, referred to as the “Battle of Truth,” was hailed as a moment of glory for the Pakistan Army, whose air superiority and tactical prowess earned global respect.
District Bar Association President Mahmood Hussain Plakvi Advocate presented several resolutions during the event. The first resolution rejected the August 5, 2019 constitutional amendments, declaring them illegal and against the will of the Kashmiri people. The second resolution condemned the post-abrogation steps allowing Indian citizens to settle, buy land, and seek employment in IIOJK, thus altering the demography of the region.
Another resolution strongly protested the ongoing denial of fundamental human rights to Kashmiris and called on the United Nations Security Council and global human rights organizations to intervene and halt India’s repression. The gathering also expressed solidarity with Kashmiris imprisoned in Indian jails and demanded their immediate release.
Further resolutions reiterated that Jammu & Kashmir has never been and will never be a part of India. The people of the region reject India’s illegal, immoral, and unilateral actions and vow to continue their struggle until freedom is achieved. The resolutions demanded the restoration of Articles 370 and 35-A and a return to the pre-August 2019 status.
The gathering extended full support to the Kashmiri freedom movement and the Palestinian struggle, lauded Pakistan’s armed forces, and offered prayers for the success of the independence movements. A resolution thanked President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and COAS Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir for their steadfast support of the Kashmiri cause.
Speakers resolved that the people of Kashmir will never accept India’s hegemony and that the dream of a free Kashmir, ultimately part of Pakistan, will be realized. They vowed to expose Indian atrocities globally and demanded that the final settlement of the Kashmir dispute must align with UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The rally concluded with heartfelt prayers for the success of the freedom struggle, the integrity and prosperity of Pakistan, and the strength of its armed forces. The massive turnout and passionate demonstrations in Mirpur served as a powerful message to the international community and reaffirmed the unshakable resolve of Kashmiris across the globe.