The government announced on Sunday that the country would observe ‘Youm-i-Istehsal’ on Monday (tomorrow) to mark the fifth anniversary of India’s decision to revoke the special status of occupied Kashmir in its constitution.
“A joint main event of Pakistani and Kashmiri leadership has been approved for the day, with PM Shehbaz expected to visit Muzaffarabad on August 5 to show solidarity with Kashmiris,” a post from PTV News said on the X, erstwhile Twitter.
The BJP-led Indian government stripped the Muslim-majority territory of Kashmir of its special constitutional status by repealing Article 370 of the Indian constitution on August 5, 2019. This allowed people from the rest of India to acquire property and settle permanently in the region, which was seen by Kashmiris and critics as an attempt to change the demographic makeup of the area.
In response, the Pakistani government designated August 5 as ‘Youm-e-Istehsal’, which has been observed annually since 2020 as a show of solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
The preparations for this year’s commemoration were discussed at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, which was attended by federal ministers and senior government officials. Details about the specific events and activities planned for Youm-i-Istehsal on Monday were not provided in the announcement.
According to the PTV News post, the premier would “give an important policy statement” on the day, but did not provide details.
Other plans for the day include a special walk to mark the day, as well as ceremonies across all provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
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Special broadcasts would be aired to commemorate the sacrifices of Kashmiris and highlight alleged human rights violations by India in the territory.
“Youm-i-Istehsal will highlight the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, violations of the fundamental rights of Kashmiris, and India’s breach of promises,” the PML-N said in a post on X.
Pakistan has been urging the international community to pressure India to restore the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, end repression in the valley, and foster conditions conducive to resolving the longstanding dispute threatening regional stability.
