Pakistan renames Kashmir Highway as Srinagar Highway ahead of Youm-e-Istehsal

ISLAMABAD : Pakistani authorities on Monday have renamed its major Kashmir Highway as Srinagar Highway in federal capital Islamabad to express solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir ahead of Youm-e-Istehsal. According to details, all the direction boards on Dhokari Chowk, Faizabad, Zero Point, Golra Chowk and Express Highway have also been changed to replace Kashmir Highway with Srinagar Highway name. The highway will be officially inaugurated on August 5. The decision was taken to observe first anniversary of Indian government scrapping special status of the occupied Kashmir. Meanwhile, the nation will observe Youm-e-Istehsal on Wednesday (August 05) to mark the first anniversary of India’s illegal action of scrapping the special constitutional status of Indian Illigally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. One minutes silence will be observed across the country in the morning to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people. Since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution in August, last year, the Modi-led fascist Indian government continues to adhere to the policy of coercion, torture and deception to undermine the Muslim majority character of Jammu and Kashmir by changing its demography. Prime Minister Imran Khan will address the Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to further highlight the Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom and their sufferings at the hands of Indian occupation forces. President Dr Arif Alvi will also lead a rally on the day while all the Chief Ministers will speak at their respective assemblies to condemn Indian brutalities on the people of held valley. Meanwhile, in a message to the people, the veteran Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Geelani, has called for observing complete shutdown on Wednesday. Earlier, foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had announced to observe ‘Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir’ (Day of Exploitation in occupied Kashmir) on August 5. He said that shining India has been turned into burning India. Last year, Modi government launched demographic apartheid in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and divided the region into three parts, he added. FM Qureshi asserted that Kashmiri people are facing immense difficulties, pain and persecution under the continued military siege for the last one year. We are going to change the name of Kashmir Highway with Srinagar Highway, he told.  Meanwhile, Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over will observe Wednesday, August 5, as Yaum-e-Istehsal to denounce illegal, immoral and unconstitutional step, which India took on this day in 2019 to strip Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir of its special status.