13th July of every year is observed as Youme-e-Shuhadae Kashmir all over the world including Pakistan, Azad Kashmir and Indian Held Kashmir .This day reminds the world of those very tragic and pathetic moments when on the same day in 1931 outside the Sri Nagar Jail, 22 Kashmiri Muslims sacrificed their lives for a sacred cause. These Kashmiris were protesting outside the Sri Nagar jail were demanding the release of innocent Kashmiris who were kept in detention by the security forces of India. During the protest, at the time of prayer, a young Kashmiri started reciting Aazan but the Dogra soldiers shot him to death and did not let him complete the Aazan. The very next moment another young man stepped forward and started reciting the remaining verses of Aazan. He was also sent to death in the same way. Till the completion of Aazan there were 22 Kashmiris who had sacrificed their lives. Now after more than seven decades, the situation of the helpless Kashmiris is still the same. The scenic paradise of the Indian Occupied Kashmir is blazing with flames of fright and terror. Countless innocent Kashmiris have yet been injured and so many deprived of their lives. Schools, markets, offices, mosques and even the small mud-houses are presenting picture of a wasteland. Continuous curfew, non-stop strikes and much more Indian intransigence to delay meaningful dialogue on Kashmir and presence of its Army in the state are the main causes which never let the scenario change. Draconian laws like AFSPA and PSA have made the lives of Kashmiri people a never ending tale of distress and misfortunes. The UNO and the other caretakers of peace in the world must try to realize that the Kashmiris are a nation according to any definition and they must be given same rights which other nations are enjoying.
PROF ALI SUKHANVER,
Multan, July 11.