Unfinished business: Kashmir struggle unites south Punjab

Citizens form human chains across region


Our Correspondents February 05, 2016
Activists of City District Government Multan and TMA's participating in a rally to condemn Indian aggression in Occupied Kashmir. PHOTO: APP

BAHAWALPUR/ MULTAN: Kashmir Day was marked across south Punjab on Friday with traditional zeal and passion to highlight the need to resolve the longstanding dispute in line with the resolutions of the United Nations (UN).

Activists from religious parties and political organisations formed a human chain from Multan’s Ghanta Ghar Chowk to Hussainagahi area. Rallies, public meetings, seminars and other events were organised across the length and breadth of south Punjab to bring the world’s attention to Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K’s) plight.

“The nation’s independence struggle is incomplete without the resolution of the J&K dispute,” Imran, one of the participants at a Kashmir Day rally, said. Ilahi Baksh, another participant, said the sacrifices of the people of the region would not go in vain. He said they would culminate in the area’s freedom. Another participant Hassan Murtaza said J&K was the jugular vein of the nation. He said Pakistanis would continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Kashmiris in their quest for freedom.

Traders’ associations also staged protest demonstrations on the occasion. Participants burnt tyres on roads to register their outrage over Indian atrocities in the region. Special functions were also arranged across educational institutions to express solidarity with the people of the disputed territory.

Citizens formed human chains in Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Vehari, Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh and Layyah to express solidarity with Kashmiris amid foolproof security arrangements. One-minute silence was also observed to pay homage to those martyred in Kashmir and pay tribute to them for striving for freedom.

Bahawalpur

Islamia University Vice Chancellor Qaiser Mushtaq said the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination had universal recognition.

The vice chancellor made the remarks while addressing faculty members and students at a special function organised in connection with Kashmir Day. Mushtaq said Pakistanis would continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of the territory till the dispute was resolved in line with the results of a plebiscite.  He said Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had called J&K the jugular vein of the nation. Mushtaq said Pakistanis had committed their support to Kashmiris in their struggle for freedom.

The varsity’s students expressed sentiments of support for the people of the region by delivering sympathetic speeches and wielding placards inscribed with pro-freedom slogans. The university’s security personnel also held a parade on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2016.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ