Rallies, seminars mark Kashmir solidarity day in Pak

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Meanwhile, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir led a walk from China Chowk to Parade lane in front of the Parliament House, which was attended by the federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmed Watoo and Kashmiri leaders hailing from both sides of the line of control.

Islamabad, Feb 5: Kashmir solidarity day was observed on Saturday in Pakistan with people from all walks of life participating in day-long public rallies, seminars and symposiums across the country.

Jamaat Islami Pakistan organized a huge public-rally in the heart of the capital city, which was attended by people from all walks of life including men, women and school-going children. Standing alongside the road near Aabpara Chowk, participants of the rally formed a human chain on the occasion.

Addressing the rally, speakers paid rich tributes to Kashmiris and extended their support to their struggle. “Thousands of the people in the rally amply demonstrate Pakistani peoples’ allegiance and affinity with their Kashmiri brethren engaged in a struggle for right to self-determination”, they said.

Demanding international community to play its pro-active role in settling the long-pending issue in the region they remonstrated that the world body’s role was dormant vis-à-vis Kashmir while it has shown great interest and activism in settling the issue of East-Timor and Darfur in Sudan.

Lambasting the ruling elite of Pakistan, the speakers said that the present democratic dispensation has failed to highlight Kashmir cause at international level. The gathering was addressed by the JI chief Syed Munawar Hassan, Senator Professor Khursheed Ahmed, former MNA Mian Muahmmad Aslam, and Abdul Rasheed Turabi.

Syed Munawar Hassad addresses rally at Aabpara

While reiterating his country’s political moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris’ struggle Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman on the occasion said, “We reiterate that Pakistanwill continue to support the just cause of the people of Kashmir. We shall always stand by our Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the realization of their fundamental and inalienable rights”.

Nations he said cannot be defeated and “India should read the writing on the wall”, he said adding that it could not suppress Kashmiris’ indigenous movement by force. He added that the day was not far when the people of the region would realize their cherished goal of freedom.

Federal minister Manzoor Ahmad Watoo, JUI-F leader Moulana Muhammad Yousuf and APHC-M convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar also addressed the gathering. Saghar thanked the government and the people of Pakistan for their moral, political and diplomatic support and stressed the need for early resolution of Kashmir dispute.