Protesters condemn brutalities of Indian forces

Punjab Assembly speaker expresses support for the struggle of Kashmiri people

LAHORE: Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed in the provincial capital on Friday. Rallies, functions and walks were held in different parts of the provincial capital to condemn the ongoing state terrorism and violence by the Indian army in occupied Kashmir.

The day was observed on the call of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi against the recent spate of killings in the occupied Kashmir. The Quran-o-Sunnah Movement took out a rally from Markaz Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Lawrence Road. The participants carried placards and chanted slogans against state terrorism in the Indian-held valley.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif the people of Occupied Kashmir were fighting for freedom and survival. He added history of the region has been written in the blood of its locals.

“The Pakistani government and the people have always raised a voice against the violations of human rights and state sponsored brutalities in Occupied Kashmir. In fact, refusing to grant the right to self-determination to Kashmiris shows weaknesses in moral diplomatic and political behaviors.”

In his message issued on Friday on Kashmir Solidarity Day, the Chief Minister said that Kashmir is the unfinished agenda of the independence of the subcontinent. “Kashmiris are rightful to ask this question to the world community that why are they being continuously deprived of their basic rights according to the charter of United Nations. The just solution of core issue of Kashmir is essential to fully benefit from natural and human resources of the South Asia,” he said. He added continued deprivation of Kashmiri people to their self-determination by India through state terrorism and atrocious occupation is highly condemnable, he added.



Shehbaz stated that solution of Kashmir issue is essential in the light of UN resolutions for maintaining durable peace in the region. “On this day, the whole nation is standing side-by-side with their Kashmiri brethren and I pay rich tributes to the brave struggle of the people for their inalienable right of self-determination,” the CM said. He stressed on the global community and human rights bodies to play an effective role to stop the worst cruelties meted out by the Indian forces.

Also, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah strongly condemned the brutal use of force by the Indian army in occupied Kashmir. He said an attempt to suppress the voice of Kashmiris had been thwarted. He added that such reprehensible Indian attempts aimed at silencing the voice of Kashmiris from reaching the international community would never succeed.

Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal highlighted the need for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding Kashmir dispute. He expressed Pakistan’s support to the “just struggle for securing their inalienable right to self-determination”. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) central leader Maulana Amjad Khan drew the attention of the international community towards Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir and urged a peaceful solution to the dispute.

Kashmiri leaders Ghulam Mohiuddin Dewan and Sardar Azeem Sarwar called on the international community to fulfill promises made with the people of Jammu and Kashmir by implementing the UN Security Council resolutions.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Solidarity Day was also observed in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions to condemn ongoing state terrorism and violence by the Indian army in Occupied Kashmir and martyrdom of 20 youths in a single day. After Friday prayers, more protestors staged a demonstration on Masoom Shah Road under the auspices of Jamaat-e-Islami, while Muslim League-Nawaz’s Youth wing organised a rally under the leadership of Abdul Rehman Faree which culminated at T Chowk after passing through different streets in New Multan.

Rallies, functions and walks were also held in Muzaffargarh, Lodhran, Khanewal, Vehari, Rajanpur, Layyah Sahiwal, Pakpattan and different other parts of the country. Pakistanis and Kashmiris living in those areas also hoped to expose Indian atrocities and highlight the need for a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

*WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2018.