On the occasion of Black Day, observed on October 27 to mark India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, a delegation from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) met with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to discuss the ongoing situation in Kashmir. The meeting was attended by key provincial ministers, including Saeed Ghani, the Minister for Local Government, and Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjhar, the Minister for Home Affairs, Law, and Parliamentary Affairs.
The APHC delegation, led by its convener, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, included Advocate Pervez Ahmad, the General Secretary, as well as senior leaders Syed Ijaz Ahmad, Abdul Hameed Lone, and Sheikh Abdul Majeed. During the discussion, the delegation highlighted the significance of Black Day, a day that commemorates India’s unlawful occupation of Kashmir on October 27, 1947.
The Hurriyat leaders provided a comprehensive historical overview of the Kashmir conflict, emphasizing that the Kashmiri people have endured decades of brutal repression under Indian rule. They informed the Sindh Chief Minister about the ongoing human rights abuses in Kashmir, including extrajudicial killings, the detention of Hurriyat leaders, and the widespread violations of civil liberties. The delegation also shed light on the military presence in the region, the denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, and the persistent media blackout.
In response, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah assured the delegation of Sindh’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Kashmir. He reiterated that the Sindh government and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have always stood by the Kashmiri struggle and will continue to do so until Kashmiris attain freedom from Indian occupation. He further expressed that the government of Pakistan and the people of Sindh remain steadfast in their diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiri cause.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the Kashmir issue is not just a matter of concern for the people of Kashmir but for the entire Muslim Ummah and Pakistan. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advocating for the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination at every international forum.
APHC Convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi thanked the Sindh Chief Minister for his continued support and acknowledged that Pakistan’s steadfast backing serves as a source of hope and encouragement for the Kashmiri people. He stressed that despite India’s efforts to suppress the Kashmiri resistance, no force in the world can halt the Kashmiris’ quest for freedom. Safi expressed gratitude to the Sindh government for its resolute stance on Kashmir’s freedom struggle.