Sindh rises in support of Kashmir
Multiple rallies were carried out in Karachi in observance of Youm-e-Istehsal, which marks the completion of a year of curfew in IIOJK. PHOTO: REUTERS
Citizens, political activists, public servants and policemen took to the streets across Sindh to observe Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir on Wednesday, with dozens of rallies taken out in each district of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions.
Shouting slogans condemning Indian brutality in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and singing the national anthems of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, the participants expressed solidarity with the Kashmiris living under Indian occupation. District administrations across the province organised rallies in their respective districts, in addition to those arranged by political and religious parties, traders and ordinary citizens.
Hyderabad commissioner Muhammad Abbass Baloch and deputy commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro led a rally from Shahbaz Building, the regional headquarters of the provincial bureaucracy.
"By annulling Article 370 of the Indian constitution, a state of de facto curfew has been imposed in IIOJK," stated Baloch.
Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan also held an event to convey their solidarity with the Kashmiris. MQM-P Sindh organising committee in-charge Saleem Razzaq maintained that the day was not far when Youm-e-Istehsal would become Youm-e-Azadi for Kashmir. "The year-long curfew in the valley is an evident defeat of the Indian army," he added.
Speaking at an event in Tharparkar, MNA Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani said the global community was under a moral obligation to implement the United Nations resolution for a plebiscite in Kashmir. "The people of Pakistan desire a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute."
Dozens of rallies were also organized in Mirpurkhas, where divisional commissioner Abdul Waheed Shaikh told a rally that no power in the world could deny freedom to Kashmiris. "Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared Kashmir a jugular vein of Pakistan. No nation with self-respect and honour can let its jugular vein remain under the enemy's sword."
Rallies were also held in Nawabshah, Sanghar, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Badin, Thatta,
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2020.