Calls to end Indian hegemony reverberate across Karachi

Various rallies, events mark Kashmir Solidarity Day

KARACHI: Several processions, seminars and photo exhibitions were held across the city on Friday as the world marked "Kashmir Solidarity Day" in support of the Kashmiri people's struggle for self-determination.

One of the biggest rallies was organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) from Jail Chowrangi to Quaid-e-Azam's Mausoleum. JI's Pakistan deputy chief Asadullah Bhutto, while addressing participants, said the Kashmir dispute is not only an incomplete agenda of partition but also a matter of life and death for Pakistanis as well as Kashmiris.



Besides party workers, a number of human rights activists, lawyers and members of civil society also participated in the rally to raise their voice against human rights violations in Kashmir and demanded the global community to respect the will of Kashmiris.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, JI's Karachi chief, said the Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir is illegal as per all international laws. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also marked the occasion at an event held at its headquarters, Nine Zero.

The issue of Kashmir should be resolved according to the wishes of its people, said party leader Nasreen Jalil. The MQM leader added that they condemned the atrocities of Indian armed forces on innocent civilians in Kashmir. The party leader claimed that India boasted of being a democratic country, but it failed in giving rights to Kashmiris.

At the occasion, students from Kashmir also sang songs. Joint incharge of the party's Kashmir committee, Maroof Mughal, said people were fighting for independence on both sides of Kashmir. "The Kashmiris can't be free till they have the right of self-determination."

The Sindh government's human rights department also staged a rally from DJ Science College to Karachi Press Club. "Kashmir is a part of Pakistan and we will continue to raise our voice for the rights of Kashmiris," said Pakistan Peoples Party leader Nadia Gabol while addressing the rally attended by students of various schools.

Jamaatud Dawa's central leader, Maulana Ameer Hamza, made it clear that the Kashmir is not a dispute between the two countries but is an international issue. The group held a rally from University Road to Shahrae Kashmir. Hamza also criticised the role of the international community in this regard.



The banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat also held a rally at Nagan Chowrangi. "Pakistan should also send the army in Kashmir like India has done," said the group's leader, Allama Rab Nawaz Hanfi, while addressing participants. He said on one side India is responsible for the bloodshed in Kashmir, and on the other, India's intelligence agency, RAW, is involved in terror activities inside Pakistan.