The nation on Saturday observed Kashmir Solidarity Day and expressed solidarity with the people, who were deprived of their special status under the Indian Constitution on August 5, 2019, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The day, which was declared as a public holiday, also highlights the longstanding demand for self-determination and freedom from Indian occupation.

In their separate messages, President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan called upon the United Nations and international bodies to take note of the prevailing situation in the occupied territory and held India accountable for its gross human rights violation.

“Today, we pay tribute to the unparalleled commitment of Kashmiris for the attainment of their legitimate right to self-determination. The entire Pakistani nation stands with Kashmiris,” read President Alvi’s statement.

“It is our firm belief that the Kashmiris will succeed in their valiant struggle to secure freedom from oppression and illegal occupation,” he said, “The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest items on the agenda of the UN Security Council.”

It added that the dispute remained unresolved due to India’s “obstinate refusal” to honour its commitments and its “disrespect” for fundamental human rights and international law. “For more than seven decades, it has been a battle of hope against overwhelming odds, of courage against fear.”

The president also led a Kashmir solidarity walk in Islamabad. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir Chairman Shehryar Afridi, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, ministers, lawmakers, officers of the foreign office, Kashmiri leaders, media and a large number of people had participated in the walk.

Prime Minister Imran Khan slammed the incumbent Indian PM Narendra Modi’s policies in IIOJK and paid tributes to the Kashmiri brethren.

“It is time the world takes notice of India's grave human rights violations in IIOJK which include crimes against humanity, war crimes & genocidal acts as well as the threat of forced demographic change,” he said in a series of tweets.

In his message, which was shared by the Prime Minister Office, he said India has not reciprocated Pakistan’s efforts for peace.

Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa also paid tribute to the Kashmiris struggle.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also extended his support to the Kashmiri people.

#KashmirSolidarityDay

KashmirSolidarityDay was among the top trends on social media, with people sharing pictures and messages with the Kashmiri people.

One of the users shared a video of the late Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani.

Some shared pictures of the Kashmir Solidarity rally.

One of the users shared UN's report on Kashmir.

Another also paid tribute.