Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi urged international community, especially international human rights organisations and United Nations human rights machinery to take cognizance of dire human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Arif Alvi in message on Kashmir Martyrs Day observed Thursday called upon these global bodies to ensure peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and wishes of Kashmiri people.

He said on this solemn occasion, he pays homage to 22 Kashmiri martyrs, who rendered ultimate sacrifice while braving indiscriminate firing by Dogra forces in 1931.

He said that as they honoured invaluable sacrifices of heroes of 1931 as well as all innocent Kashmiris who had laid down their lives in their this just struggle, they once again urged India to immediately halt repression in IIOJK, cease all human rights violations, release all political prisoners, lift military siege, stop its attempts to change demographic structure of occupied territory and let Kashmiri people exercise their legitimate right to self-determination.

On this somber day, he said, people of Pakistan joined their Kashmiri brethren in commemorating sacrifice of Martyrs of 1931. Regrettably, President noted that Kashmiris were still struggling against India's illegal occupation. Even today, over 900,000-strong Indian forces continued to hold Kashmiri people hostage to perpetuate their wrongful occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

President said India's illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 were yet another attempt to strip Kashmiri people of their distinct identity and turn them into minority in their own land.

"Subsequent to these measures, hurting sentiments of Kashmiris, India scrapped regional public holiday on Kashmir Martyrs' Day, which had been observed every year since 1948. India also discontinued traditional Guard of Honor ceremony at Martyrs' Graveyard," he deplored.