Kashmir Martyrs' Day observed amid strike in Indian-occupied valley

Kashmir Martyrs' Day is being observed today in Pakistan and across the world to honour the sacrifice of the 22 Kashmiris killed on July 13, 1931, during a protest against Dogra rule in Srinagar.

While global observances mark the day with solemn tributes, a complete shutdown is being enforced in Indian-occupied Kashmir as a sign of protest against the ongoing oppression.

According to reports from Srinagar, a significant protest march is expected today from various parts of the city towards the Naqshband Sahib Martyrs' Cemetery, where the 1931 martyrs are buried.

In Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Kashmir and expressed unwavering solidarity with those resisting Indian occupation.

President Zardari stated that Pakistan honours the bravery, determination, and sacrifices of the Kashmiri people who continue to stand firm against Indian domination.

Both leaders called on the international community and global human rights organisations to take urgent notice of Indian state-sponsored terrorism in occupied Kashmir.

On the occasion of Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued a powerful message, saluting the brave Kashmiris who laid down their lives on July 13, 1931, in defiance of tyranny and in respect of the call to prayer (Azaan).

Naqvi paid heartfelt tribute to the 22 Kashmiri martyrs, who, unarmed, faced bullets with their chests out in reverence to Azaan. “The blood spilled on July 13, 1931, was the first chime of a free conscience against a system bent on silencing the oppressed,” he said.

Drawing a parallel between Dogra rule and modern-day India, he stated, “The Dogra regime’s guns and the Indian state's violence are merely two faces of the same cruelty.”

Mohsin Naqvi condemned the ongoing repression in Indian-occupied Kashmir, where faith, identity, free expression, and resistance are being crushed under state force. “Such actions are an affront to human dignity,” he added.

He accused the Modi-led Indian government of continuing the brutal legacy of Dogra rule, committing atrocities against Kashmiris. He noted that India’s state policies have led to the genocide of Kashmiri youth, extrajudicial killings, and a chilling silence imposed on journalists, shaming the very idea of humanity.

Recalling past peace efforts, Naqvi pointed out that US President Donald Trump's mediation offer opened a window to peace, which India refused, showing its "militaristic mindset".

“No bullet, prison, or curfew can suppress the cry for freedom that rose from the blood of martyrs. This call will live on for generations,” said Naqvi.

He emphasised that Kashmir Martyrs’ Day is not just a day of remembrance but also of renewing Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmir cause. “Pakistan stands as the protector, advocate, and guarantor of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination,” he declared.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in his message, paid rich tribute to the 22 Kashmiris martyred by Dogra forces on July 13, 1931, calling them symbols of courage and resistance.

Bilawal said these brave Kashmiris sacrificed their lives in front of Srinagar Central Jail for a great cause. “They were not just defending their right to speak, but the dignity and honor of their entire nation,” he stated.

Bilawal emphasized that the blood of the martyrs reminds the world that freedom cannot be crushed by bullets. “Their sacrifice is an everlasting tale of resistance against tyranny and injustice,” he added.

The PPP chairman said the party, following the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, has always stood by the Kashmiri people in their freedom struggle.

He affirmed that the memory of July 13 lives on in every Kashmiri’s heart and renewed commitment to the martyrs' cause.

Bilawal stressed that peace in the region is only possible when the Kashmir issue is resolved in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

He also urged the international community to take serious notice of the ongoing human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir and play an active role in ensuring justice, dignity, and freedom for Kashmiris.

On the solemn occasion of Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, Mishal Malik, wife of jailed Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik in India, shared a powerful video message, affirming that the sacrifices of Kashmiris will not go in vain and that one day, the Azaan (call to prayer) of freedom will echo through the skies of Kashmir.

Mishal Malik said that the struggle and sacrifice would continue till the last breath of every Kashmiri, as they are committed to the cause of freedom. “Victory of truth and justice is near, InshaAllah,” she declared, with strong hope and emotional resolve.

Recalling the incident of July 13, 1931, she described it as one of the most significant days in Kashmir’s history, when 27 Kashmiris were martyred while ensuring the Azaan was completed. She emphasised that these sacrifices were not in vain — they shook the conscience of the world and ignited the Kashmir freedom movement.

“This day became the foundation of our ongoing struggle,” she added. “Even today, Kashmiris continue the movement with the same spirit and promise that one day, the skies of Kashmir will truly resonate with the call of liberty.”

Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir, also known as Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, commemorates the killing of 22 unarmed Kashmiris by the Dogra forces on July 13, 1931, at the Central Jail in Srinagar.

Though the day is no longer recognised as an official holiday in occupied Kashmir, it continues to be observed in Pakistan and by Kashmiri communities worldwide, particularly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

Reporter: Hashir Warriach