MT Desk: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reiterated Pakistan’s political, diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiri people. In their separate messages on the occasion of Kashmir Martyrs` Day, they said the day serves as a reminder of the inherited resilience, resistance against brutal forces, and unwavering determination of Kashmiris for their freedom.

President Zardari lauded the unwavering courage, determination, and sacrifices of the Kashmiri people, who have resisted Indian occupation for decades and continue their struggle for self-determination.“I pay tribute to the 22 great Kashmiri martyrs who sacrificed their lives against oppression and barbarism and for the right to freedom, outside Srinagar Jail on July 13, 1931.”

“The great struggle that the Kashmiri people are carrying forward today is a continuation of the sacrifices of these 22 martyrs.

 The candle of freedom that their sacrifice lit in the hearts of the Kashmiri nation is still burning brightly today,” he added. President concluded his message saying India’s "illegal occupation" of Kashmir had turned the region into a military prison, where "extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, political imprisonment, demographic changes, and systematic efforts to erase Muslim identity" were ongoing.

Prime Minister Shehbaz, in his message, said the Kashmiris have been, and continue to, sacrifice their lives in pursuit of their legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination.

“Today, the Government of Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to the resolution of the Kashmir issue and the right of self-determination of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with United Nations resolutions.”

Interior minister honours Kashmiri martyrs

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute to the 22 Kashmiri martyrs who were killed on July 13, 1931, calling their sacrifice a powerful symbol of resistance against oppression. Speaking on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, he drew parallels between the repressive actions of the Dogra regime and current policies in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), alleging extrajudicial killings, silencing of journalists and cultural suppression.

Naqvi accused the Modi government of echoing previous injustices, describing it as a “mockery of human dignity” that uses state power to suppress belief, identity and dissent. He added that India rejected a peace initiative when US President Donald Trump offered to mediate, proving a reluctance to engage in dialogue.

To honour the martyrs, rallies, seminars, and conferences are being held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan, and in major capitals around the world. In Muzaffarabad, the Kashmir Liberation Cell, in collaboration with the AJK chapter of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, has organised a public gathering followed by a rally. Pasban-e-Hurriyat has also arranged a protest rally at Burhan Wani Shaheed Chowk. Additionally, a smartly turned-out police contingent will present a ceremonial salute at the Shuhada Monument to pay respect to the martyrs.