PHOTO: EXPRESS.
KARACHI: Hundreds of protesters, including women and children, took to Shahrae Faisal on Sunday to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir and protest the Indian oppression, particularly New Delhi's move to withdraw the special status of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
Despite the rough weather conditions, a large number of people, including workers and leaders of various political as well as religio-political parties participated in the march.
During the march, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Senator Sirajul Haq demanded the government to provide a clear road map for the freedom of IOK. He said that the struggle of the Kashmiri people for their freedom from Indian occupation was legitimate by all means and international laws.
The JI chief said that more than 600,000 Indian troops were present in an internationally-recognised disputed territory. In this scenario, he said, being a party to the conflict, the Pakistan Army should also be there. Expressing his full confidence in the capabilities of the Pakistan Army, the JI chief said that the government and the army should announce a roadmap for the freedom of the occupied territory.
In response to the Indian move to unilaterally withdraw Article 370 and 35A of its constitution, he demanded the government to revoke the Simla Accord and take solid measures to eliminate the fence along the 450-kilometre-long Line of Control.
He also demanded of the government to provide representation to the people of occupied Kashmir in the legislative assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The JI chief warned the government of a massive march to Islamabad if the ruling regime failed in playing its due role. He regretted that no solid activity was being seen on the level of the government or the state.
Senator Sirajul Haq assured the government that the entire nation would support the rulers, if Islamabad took a step for the freedom of Kashmir.
Addressing the protesters, Pakistan Peoples Party's Senator Raza Rabbani said that the situation in occupied Kashmir merited called for a struggle and practical steps, instead of taking the route of lame excuses. He said that Pakistan doesn't want war but any dialogue with the Modi government in India was out of the question without ending the ruthless Indian oppression in the occupied territory. He lamented that the international community was playing the role of a silent spectator.
Milli Muslim League's leader Hafiz Amjad, Qazi Ahmed Noorani of the Jamiat Ulma-e-Pakistan, Omer Khan of Islami Jamiat Talba and other leaders of JI also addressed the march.
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