The Embassy of Pakistan Ankara, in a virtual ceremony held today, launched the “Virtual Run for Kashmir” humanitarian initiative that aims to express solidarity with the oppressed people in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Speaking via a video message on the occasion, Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey, Syrus Sajjad Qazi, said that the military siege in IIOJ&K had continued for over a year since the illegal and unilateral Indian actions of 5 August 2019. During this time, the human rights and the humanitarian situation in the occupied region had deteriorated to an unprecedented level, with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (OIC IPHRC); as well as independent human rights organizations; civil society; parliaments of numerous countries; as well as international media organizations had all documented and condemned these atrocities.
He added that prolonged lockdown; arbitrary detentions, fake “encounters” and extra-judicial killings; indiscriminate and arbitrary use of force, including pellet guns, against unarmed Kashmiri protestors; and continued detention of the Kashmiri political leaders were all a blot on the collective conscience of the humanity.
Ambassador Qazi underlined the importance of continuing to fulfil our moral responsibility to highlight the suffering of the Kashmiris in IIOJ&K at all platforms. He said that “Run for Kashmir” initiative was part of these global efforts, and invited the Pakistani community and students in Turkey to join the initiative. He said that the purpose of the initiative was to encourage everyone to express their support for the Kashmiris by being part of a global virtual Marathon. He said that every step as part of this marathon would be a step towards justice and helping Kashmiris attain their inalienable right to self-determination.
Details regarding the initiative are available at the website: https://runforkashmir.org or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Run-for-Kashmir
In order to join the initiative, the Virtual app ‘runnerz’ can be downloaded from Apple Store or the Google Play Store at the following links respectively:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/runnerz-app/id1527099627
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.runkashmir.runforkashmir
Once registration process is complete after following the self-explanatory instructions, participants can record their running distance and time. Participants may then take a screen-shot of their milage from the app and highlight on the social media as a token of support for the oppressed people of the IIOJ&K.
Link to Ambassador Syrus Qazi video message https://twitter.com/PakTurkey/status/1298213731567116288?s=19