VIENNA, (Muhammad Amir Siddique) – A ceremony was held at the Pakistan Embassy in Vienna on the evening of August 5 under the patronage of the His Excellency Ambassador of Pakistan Mohammad Kamran Akhtar on the occasion of “Kashmir Exploitation Day”(Youm-e-Istehsal). In which members of the Pakistani, Kashmiri community, Egyptian community in Austria, representatives of the media and educational institutions participated in large numbers. The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Manzoor Ahmed Butt, before that, Third Secretary Syeda Mubashira Urooj welcomed the participants to the ceremony while performing the duties of the moderator.

On this occasion, First Secretary of the Embassy of Pakistan, Junaid Suleman, read out the messages issued by President of Pakistan His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari,His Excellency Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and His Excellency Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on the occasion of the Exploitation Day. These messages highlighted the illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019. A short documentary highlighting the Kashmir issue was screened at the event.

In his special address, His Excellency Ambassador of Pakistan Mohammad Kamran Akhtar urged the international community to play its role in implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir for lasting peace and stability in South Asia. He paid tribute to the sacrifices of the people of occupied Kashmir and expressed his resolute support for their heroic struggle to achieve their inalienable right to self-determination.

Speakers representing the international, Pakistani and Kashmiri communities based in Vienna, including Dr Ezat Awad (Prof Med Uni Vienna), Mr Aref Sen *(Advisor, European Youth Association) and Prof. Shaukat Mussarat Awan Chairman Kashmir Freedom Front Austria condemned India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 and subsequent measures, especially the domicile laws and land ownership laws. Finally, refreshments were arranged for the attendees at the embassy.