Muzaffarabad, Marking the 76th year since what he termed as India’s forceful occupation of Jammu and Kashmir on October 27, 1947, Imtiaz Ahmad Butt, Central Vice Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Party, has emphasized that the Kashmiri people wholly reject this action.

According to a news release by Kashmir Media Service, during his address at a news conference, Butt detailed the ensuing years of occupation, where he stated that Indian forces have continually targeted innocent Kashmiris voicing their demand for freedom. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, he claimed that large numbers of Kashmiris have been martyred by Indian troops in what he referred to as “Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

Furthering his condemnation, Butt noted the significant actions of the Modi-led Indian government on August 5, 2019. He articulated concerns over the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and alleged attempts to alter the region’s demography. Additionally, he drew attention to perceived human rights violations, including the eviction of Kashmiris from their ancestral lands and homes.

Butt made a fervent appeal to the global community, spotlighting organizations such as the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He implored them to intervene in the ongoing dispute, emphasizing the importance of bestowing the Kashmiri people with their inherent right to self-determination.

The news conference also saw the participation of central leaders from the Jammu and Kashmir Youth Movement, including Abdul Rashid Butt and Raheel Ahmed, among others.