- Title: Pakistanis rally for Kashmir as country observes 'Black Day'
- Date: 15th August 2019
- Summary: LAHORE, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 15, 2019) (REUTERS) CROWD WAVING FLAGS OF PAKISTAN AND AZAD (PAKISTAN-ADMINISTERED) KASHMIR HUGE BLACK COLOURED BOARD READING (Urdu) "BLACK DAY" WITH FLAGS IN FOREGROUND CROWD WAVING FLAGS CROWD CHANTING (Urdu): "KASHMIR WILL BECOME PAKISTAN" PROTEST LEADERS, INCLUDING PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, SHAH MAHMOOD QURESHI, ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, SHAH MAHMOOD QURESHI, SAYING: "My eyes, the eyes of the region and the eyes of the whole world are on the (U.N.) Security Council meeting tomorrow. Pakistan has decided that we will fight on diplomatic, political and legal fronts and we will support the Kashmiri people until our last breath. Pakistani people! Are you ready to support the Kashmiri people?" CROWD SAYING: "We are ready."
- Embargoed: 29th August 2019 21:02
- Keywords: Black Day India's Independence Day Kashmir revoke special status Azad Kashmir
- Location: LAHORE, KARACHI AND ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- City: LAHORE, KARACHI AND ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001ASBYFYF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Protest rallies were held across Pakistan as the country observed a 'Black Day' on Thursday (August 15) to coincide with India's Independence Day celebrations, in an angry display against New Delhi's decision to revoke special status for its portion of Kashmir.
India's decision this month, along with a communications blackout and curbs on the movement of those in Indian-administered Kashmir, caused fury in Pakistan, which cut trade and transport links and expelled India's envoy in retaliation.
More than one thousand people gathered in the eastern city of Lahore in a rally organised by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of Imran Khan. Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, while addressing the rally, said all eyes were set on Friday's United Nations Security Council meeting.
The 15-member Security Council is due to meet behind closed-doors, but Pakistan says it only has guaranteed support from China, which also claims part of India's Jammu and Kashmir state.
Smaller rallies were held in Karachi and Islamabad. Protesters in Karachi hung an effigy of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi with crane and set fire to it. An effigy was also burnt by Islamabad protesters.
Newspaper issues carried black borders and politicians, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, replaced their social media pictures with black squares. Flags on government buildings flew at half-mast.
(Production: Ahtesham Rana, Shahabuddin Shahab) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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